If you are experiencing a health crisis, please go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 911.

The province of Ontario is now in Step 3 of its Roadmap to Reopen. Strides Toronto is gradually expanding our in-person services. Services are available in person, as well as online and by telephone. Clients can book appointments by contacting their service provider or calling 416-438-3697. We continue to accept new requests for service.

To access the What’s Up Walk-In, please call 1-866-585-6486. The telephone and virtual walk-in hours are Monday – Friday 9AM to 7PM with the last session between 6:30pm and 7:00pm.

The health and safety of our clients and staff is very important to us. We have taken a number of precautions and implemented processes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at our locations. This video explains what you can expect when you come in to Strides Toronto for service.

All staff and clients entering Strides Toronto locations must answer NO to all of the questions in this COVID-19 Self-Assessment.

We will continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation and take actions, as necessary, to maintain the health and safety of our clients and service providers in line with public health advice and best practices.  If you think you may have COVID-19, please visit the City of Toronto’s assessment page. Updates on Strides Toronto services will be provided via this website.  For more information on COVID-19 please see visit Toronto Public Health’s website.

Strides Toronto applauds the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services announcement on August 4th committing funding for foundational services addressing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a part of the new needs-based Ontario Autism Program (OAP) designed to provide families and caregivers a range of evidence-based services to support their children’s learning and development. Foundational Family Services will be individualized and responsive to families’ changing needs over time.

Strides Toronto is pleased to be offering Foundational Family Services in a variety of formats including group, individual, self-directed, virtual, and in-person services (temporarily on hold due to COVID-19). All families registered in the OAP are eligible to receive these services and supports at no cost. You can choose to access these services at any point based on your needs. There are no limits to the number of times you can register for these services.

We offer a wide range of Foundational Family Services. These services and supports may include:

Workshops and Coaching Sessions
We offer a variety of virtual education opportunities on a wide range of topics. Workshops will be delivered online either through video links or through our Zoom Healthcare video conferencing platform.

Coaching is integrated into our various services to support parents and caregivers to implement the recommended strategies and transfer skills.

Brief Targeted Consultation
This brief service includes coaching and strategies using Applied Behaviour Analysis principles (ABA) to address your child/youth’s individual strengths, needs, and goals. Consultations will be offered by phone or by video through our secure Zoom Healthcare platform to help address a specific goal.

Transition Supports
We provide supports and services to promote a smooth transition into the school system and the broader community.

Family Resource and Clinic Days
We have an established parent education curriculum, including training packages to support social communication and behaviour management. Strides Toronto encourages active engagement and participation in treatment sessions so parents can learn techniques for home and community settings

For more information about Strides Toronto’s Foundational Family Services, please contact 416-438-3697, ext. 19055, or email autism@stridestoronto.ca.

As leaders of Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health Agencies in the city of Toronto, we share our collective outrage and sadness at the violent incidents of anti-Black racism that have occurred in the last few weeks. These instances of Police brutality against members of the Black community have shaken our clients, families, communities and organizations. We acknowledge that these events are only the most recent manifestations of systemic anti-Black racism that has existed for generations, having devastating impact and persistently traumatizing Black communities. As leaders, agencies, a service network and as a society, we have the responsibility to be active allies in making the changes required to create a just and equitable society.

We stand firmly with the Black community and our colleagues to condemn all forms of racism. We recognize racism as a public health crisis that reveals itself in many ways: from microaggressions to physical violence to systemic perpetuation of power and privilege. These societal, structural and individual aggressions have had a significant impact on the mental health and life outcomes of Black community members.

We commit to working with the Lead Agency to form a Task Force with the mandate to develop a multi-year road map to make a measurable impact in relation to anti-Black racism. As first steps in this mandate, we commit to provide training to all sector staff, management and boards of directors. We will work towards aligning our sector’s programs, policies and practices with best practices in anti-racism and anti-oppression.

Externally, we will raise awareness of the impact of anti-Black racism on children, youth and families. We will support initiatives aimed at changing the systems and policies that enable anti-Black racism today, including increased accountability and transparency in systems that have historically oppressed the Black community. We are committed to collective action to address anti-Black racism in our organizations and in our city.

Finally, we know the much-needed discussions of the last few weeks may be unearthing new pain for the very communities it is intended to lift up. Please remember that our organizations are here for children, youth and families if you need support. To access services, call Mental Health TO at 1-866-585-6486 (toll free) or view a list of children and youth service providers.

An interview with David Willis, Strides Toronto director, with the Global New morning show offering tips to help identify troubled kids and teens and support them through the pandemic.

With the evolving news regarding COVID19, here is a helpful resource created by Children’s Mental Health Ontario when talking to your anxious child about COVID 19.