FAQs

• A community Steering Committee with key partners and community members with lived and living experience is leading the project
• Each clinic site has their own working group who are developing the clinic services
• Public Health and Paramedic Services is supporting the coordination of this project

• As the Steering Committee moves into implementation, the goal is to open two sites in each Ontario Health Team area that serve all residents: 
  • The Cambridge North Dumfries Ontario Health Team will lead ‘The Community Mental Health and Addictions Clinic’ serving the Cambridge-North Dumfries area.
  • Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington and Thresholds Homes and Support, on behalf of the Kitchener-Waterloo-Wilmot-Wellesley-Woolwich Ontario Health Team (KW4 OHT) members, will lead the ‘Mental Health and Addiction Integrated Crisis Care Centre’ serving the Kitchener-Waterloo-Wilmot-Wellesley-Woolwich area.  

Two mental health and addictions clinics are on track to open in the summer of 2024 in Waterloo Region.

The initial goal is to open two sites in each Ontario Health Team area that serve all residents: one in Cambridge North Dumfries area and one in Kitchener, Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot, Woolwich area.  Locations are being secured for both sites and will be shared when they are finalized. 

The two clinic sites will be in the community, outside of the hospital setting. We will share the locations when they are finalized.  Each of the hospitals in Waterloo Region are involved in the Steering Committee.

The Cambridge North Dumfries Ontario Health Team is leading ‘The Community Mental Health and Addictions Clinic’ serving the Cambridge-North Dumfries area.

Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington and Thresholds Homes and Support are leading the ‘Mental Health and Addiction Integrated Crisis Care Centre’ serving the Kitchener-Waterloo-Wilmot-Wellesley-Woolwich area. 

We plan to submit a regional proposal for provincial funding. We are looking for sustainable funding for this project. Reallocation and co-location of existing resources may also help to support the clinic. 

The clinic will support anyone with mental health and substance use concerns. We will ensure there are walk-in options available for people who do not want to or are not able to call 911. Additional details will be decided by the working groups for each clinic with input from the community. The clinic could act as a first point of contact for someone experiencing mental health or substance use concerns, but depending on their situation, that individual could be referred to care that is more appropriate. This could include children and youth being transferred to providers who specialize in care for this age group.

No. Individuals calling 911 receive a complete assessment from paramedics on the scene, who are trained to determine if an individual is eligible to be taken to the clinic. Individuals must consent to be transported to the alternate destination clinic. Often, transport to the hospital will still be necessary. There may be times that an individual would benefit from the clinic but would first need medical evaluation in the hospital. 

Each clinic has their own working group who are developing the services, hours, and staffing model for each of the different clinics.

The clinics are developing referral processes and will look at ways to refer patients from the hospital.

There are representatives on the steering committee who can speak to a variety of perspectives, including individuals with lived experience and service providers. The project will also explore ways to engage a variety of groups across Waterloo Region at key points in the project.