HDGH's Assertive Community Treatment Team for Children is the First Program of its Kind in Ontario

HDGH’s Regional Children’s Centre (RCC) is pleased to announce the rebranding of its RCC Intensive Outreach Team to the Assertive Community Treatment Team for Children (ACT-C). This new name reflects the program’s growth into a more comprehensive, community-based model of care that aligns with the successful approach of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams used for adults, but tailored to the needs of children and families facing complex mental health challenges.

To the best of our knowledge, we are the first facility in Canada to offer this specialized program specifically for children as young as 6 years of age. ACT-C provides a transdisciplinary, family-centered clinical approach designed to support children, ages 6-12, and their families in their home environment and the community. By expanding the team and services, RCC continues to demonstrate its commitment to evolving its care models based on the unique needs of the community.

The team works collaboratively with other community service providers, such as Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society (WECAS), to ensure a comprehensive support system for families. The model is designed to be flexible, meet families where they are, and reduce families’ reliance on emergency services such as hospitals, police, or other crisis services, while providing the same intensity of support that a child and family would receive in a live-in treatment setting. Services that include individual and family counselling, in-home behaviour management education, recreational activities, and skill-building initiatives.



On February 11, HDGH, alongside the Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor Police Services, Essex-Windsor EMS and Windsor Regional Hospital announced plans to expand services at the HDGH Mental Health and Addictions Urgent Crisis Centre (MHAUCC). This expansion means policing and EMS partners will now have access 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to the MHAUCC to quickly transition voluntary individuals in crisis to subject matter experts, freeing up time to respond to priority incidents and reducing emergency room wait times. This proof of concept is the first step to further enhancements that will be made at the MHAUCC in the future. Once dropped off at the MHAUCC, clients will experience specialized care as part of a stabilization unit. Four beds will be dedicated to supporting clients while they wait for initial assessments. Clients will be supported by HDGH staff including RPN’s and linkages to primary care at CMHA Health Centre can also be made.

By utilizing this alternative to the emergency department, emergency personnel can get back on the road quicker, streamlining frontline operations and improving response times to high-priority calls. Current walk-in crisis services will remain between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., 7 days a week for anyone experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis. Between June 24 and December 31 of last year, the MHAUCC saw 943 clients, 44 of those clients were transferred directly from the emergency department. The partnership has allowed for a seamless transition for clients in need.

This partnership highlights the strength of cross-sectoral collaborations, enabling us to connect individuals with the right resources faster and more effectively. Similar programs such as the Windsor Crisis Response Team (CRT) have diverted over 90% of clients from the emergency room.

We look forward to continuing this relationship with our partners as we create a more focused specialized system for those struggling with mental health and addictions.



What does a Psychologist do?

The month of February marked Psychology Month with our blog sharing details of how these integral members of our team support our patients and clients at HDGH.

Clinical psychologists are mental health clinicians with doctoral degrees who are registered with the College of Psychologists and Behavioural Analysts of Ontario. At HDGH, psychology plays a part in a number of the adult services, as well as in the children's services at the Regional Children’s Centre.

Taking a Deep Dive into Codependency

Fulfilling relationships and connections are essential for living happy, fulfilling lives. However, we often don’t critically examine whether what we were taught about relationships serves us. Life doesn’t come with a guidebook to tell us how to do these things.

In our March blog post, Sean Bays, HDGH Problem Gambling Counsellor, discusses codependency - what can cause it, how it impacts our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and ways to recover.

HDGH Attends Glengarry Community Care Fair

On Tuesday, March 11th team members from HDGH's Centre for Problem Gambling and Digital Dependency and Withdrawal Management Services attended a community fair at Chateau Masson to directly share resources to residents of Windsor's Glengarry neighbourhood.

Such outreach events are held as part of a community effort to support these residents by offering education, healthcare services, and navigation support, all while improving access for some of our community's at-risk individuals,

We’re proud to have contributed to this initiative and to have connected with individuals who can benefit from the resources and support we provide. It was a another rewarding experience that truly highlighted the importance of community collaboration.

Honouring the Feast of Saint Joseph

On Thursday, March 20th, we welcomed Bishop Ronald Fabbro and Father Eugene Roy to celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph. In his address to the packed Chrysler Room in the Dr. Y. Emara Centre for Healthy Aging and Mobility, Bishop Fabbro acknowledged and reflected upon Pope Francis' message to open our hearts to the mercy and love of God; and to go about our lives as His pilgrims of hope, much like St. Joseph did.

St. Joseph, our patron saint, is honoured yearly mid-March for his role as the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus, and as a model of faith, strength, and dedication.

As healthcare professionals all of the little moments we share with our patients and clients beyond their basic care needs, are all rays of light filling the darkness of suffering.

We welcome everyone to join us as pilgrims of hope towards our brothers and sisters.

In addition to presiding over mass, Bishop Fabbro and Fr. Roy joined our Executive Team and Spiritual Health Team for lunch and thoughtful conversation.

They were also kind enough to spend some of their visit with patients at the end of their life journey on our Palliative Care unit.

We continue to be grateful for the dedicated faith leaders of our community who are willing and devoted to spending their time with the patients, clients, and staff at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.

HDGH's Annual Geriatric Conference a Success

A fantastic morning was had at HDGH’s Annual Geriatric Conference Saturday, February 22nd. We were thrilled to host over 70 attendees for a morning of learning, networking, and plenty of great conversations. A big thank you to our brilliant presenters — Dr. Cassidy, Jessica Little, Dr. Seski, Dr. Winger, Dr. van Wyk, Dr. Quan, and Dr. Khan — and to our generous sponsors:

• Gold Sponsors: Chartwell, Eisai Limited, Windsor Heart Institute, Kinetic Konnection, GlaxoSmithKline
• Silver Sponsors: Abbott, Hear Us Audiology, Amgen Canada
• Exhibitor Sponsor: Xperience Home Healthcare

We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2026!