NEWS RELEASE
NEW PATH YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES
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New Path Youth and Family Services (New Path) welcomed members of the public to celebrate the opening of a new classroom at its Residential Treatment Program in Cookstown. The new classroom space replaces former, decades old portables and was designed specifically to better meet the needs of New Path’s students. It was made possible through a $150,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) Capital Grant, made in 2016, as well as financial support from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS).
Chris Samis, Superintendent of Program and Special Education, Simcoe County District School Board, Allan Craig, Simcoe-York Grant Review Team Member, Ontario Trillium Foundation, along with parents, students, and New Path staff were on hand to congratulate New Path on the alternative classroom opening.
“It feels great to move from the old portables to a new building with more physical space in the main classroom, a second classroom area for those benefiting from fewer distractions, and a room that the students have dubbed the Chill Room,” says Gord Bain, Residential Program Manager, New Path Youth and Family Services. “We are so grateful to the Trillium Foundation and MCYS for their financial contributions, without which this would not have been possible. We are also so thankful for all the amazing community support we’ve received, including from our contractors and community businesses who have enabled us to create this amazing new space.”
Youth attending New Path’s Residential Treatment Program come from Simcoe County and York Region and are some of the most complex youth that require additional supports from all sectors, especially education and mental health supports, to meet their diverse and complex needs. This initiative is helping children and youth who are facing barriers in completing their education to develop strong emotional and social skills and has a positive impact on their lives and the community at large.
“New Path does incredibly important work supporting youth in our region and I want to congratulate them on the opening of this new classroom,” says Ann Hoggarth, MPP for Barrie. “Our government is proud to support resources like these which give young people facing barriers the extra tools they need to have a bright and successful future.”
New Path’s Residential Treatment Program is located on 25 acres in Cookstown and is home to youth, between the ages of 12 and 17, who are experiencing significant social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and who require an intensive 24-hour therapeutic setting. A typical residential placement ranges from 6-12 months. Over the past 5 years, New Path has consistently surpassed occupancy rates set by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
“I am thrilled to launch New Path’s school facility on its 25-acre Cookstown site. As Lead Agency for child and youth mental health services in Simcoe County, this new facility will support the continuing realignment of services by enhancing both educational and day treatment supports for youth with complex needs,” says Glen Newby, New Path Youth and Family Services CEO. “I so appreciate the funding support and partnership with the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS).”
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