NEOFACS is proud to share that our Directors of Services Lauren Smith and Josée Bélanger delivered a Lightning Talk earlier this week at the Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) Conference 2026.
Their presentation, “Beyond ‘Treatment Ready’: How Cross-Sector Collaboration Transforms Outcomes for Ontario’s Most Complex Youth,” highlighted NEOFACS’ Intensive Services Program (ISP) — an innovative model bringing together child welfare, child and youth mental health services, and key community partners to better support youth with complex and intersecting needs.
ISP is a live-in care program offering support to our community’s most vulnerable youth, including those facing housing instability, mental health challenges, substance use, or risk of human trafficking.
Aligned with the conference theme, “Interwoven: Co‑Creating the Future of Child and Youth Mental Health”, the presentation emphasized a critical system insight:
Children, youth, and families face a system designed around categories of services — but their lives, and their needs, do not fit in boxes.
Our collaborative model—built with community partners including adult mental health and substance use services, withdrawal management teams, and youth wellness hubs—proves that when services align expertise instead of maintaining silos, youth can stabilize, engage in treatment, and move toward independent living.
NEOFACS is grateful for the opportunity to share this work and contribute to conversations shaping the future of child and youth mental health across Ontario.