New CK treatment centre should lower wait times for kids with autism, FASD, province says
The project will cost nearly $66 million
Kids who need access to services for autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and physiotherapy should have shorter wait times in the future now that the province has broken ground on a larger building for them.
With a new facility now under construction, the Children's Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent marked a "milestone" on Monday.
The centre, which currently serves about 3,700 children, offers services including speech language pathology, physiotherapy, audiology, Ontario Autism Program services and respite services as well as services for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, among other treatments.
Treatment centre staff, leaders and provincial representatives celebrated the start of the $66-million construction project. The province is funding nearly $59 million of the project.
CEO Donna Litwin-Makey called the ground breaking "an incredible step forward."
"This significant provincial investment will meet the needs of our Chatham-Kent children, youth and families with physical, developmental and communication needs," Litwin-Makey said.
The new 58,000-square foot facility will replace the existing building, allowing the centre to expand and reduce the wait list for services, the province said.
"This modern state-of-the-art centre will offer a variety of specialized services in a safe and accessible environment, ensuring that our children and their families receive the best possible care," said Trevor Jones, Conservative MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington.