About Kinark

Kinark has worked with children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families for many years across southern and central Ontario. We are proud of our 20-year history of providing high quality, evidenced-based services to thousands of children and youth and their families. We offer respite camps for both children with autism and family groups.

Our team of skilled clinicians, including Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBA), deliver caring, responsive and family centred Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) services individualized to meet the unique strengths and needs of each child and youth with ASD. Our school support staff have helped thousands of children transition effectively into school. 

Kinark Autism Services are offered primarily in the areas of York Region, Simcoe County and Durham Region.  If you live outside of these areas or want to learn more about services, call us and speak with a Service Representative at 1-800-283-3377 toll free.

Our team of mental health professionals includes child and youth workers, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. All of them specialize in treating children and youth with significant mental health challenges that affect their lives at home, at school and in their communities.

Our services include individual and group therapy and counselling, crisis support, and more intensive in-home and out-of-home treatment. Services are provided in an environment that best meets the needs of clients. This could be in one of Kinark’s many community-based locations or in a client’s home, school, or in a home-like setting where clients live and receive treatment for longer periods of time. Our therapists are trained in several different treatment approaches shown to be effective in treating various mental health conditions: treatment is customized, based on client needs, diagnoses and goals.

Services are provided in York Region, Durham Region, Simcoe County, Northumberland County, and Peterborough County.

Central Intake serves as the gateway to Kinark’s Child and Youth Mental Health services. To learn more about the services we provide or to refer someone for treatment, call 1-888-454-6275 toll-free.

Syl Apps Youth Centre

Forensic mental health services relate to assessment and treatment services for young people who have significant mental health issues. Some have broken the law while others may be at risk of harming themselves. Youth referred to Kinark’s Forensic Mental Health and Youth Justice Program are some of the most complex clients that we see. They are assessed and treated at Syl Apps Youth Centre (SAYC), a secure facility located in Oakville, Ontario. Services are divided into three streams:

1. Our secure treatment program offers assessment and treatment for young people at risk to themselves or others because of their mental health issues. They need to be treated in a safe and secure place.
2. Youth who have been charged with or found guilty of a significant crime and have serious mental health issues are often referred to us by other youth justice programs for assessment and treatment.
3. Kinark also serves as a provincial resource for youth in conflict with the law who have been identified by the courts as being not criminally responsible for their actions or who are unfit to stand trial due to a mental illness.

Services are referred through the court systems. For more information, call us at 905-844-4110. 

Intensive Support and Supervision (ISSP)

Kinark also offers an Intensive Support and Supervision Program (ISSP). This program is designed for youth in conflict with the law who have mental health issues that can be best treated in the community. The ISSP program is delivered by Kinark staff in partnership with youth probation services. The goal of the program is to address each youth’s mental health issues and strengthen their overall well-being to prevent further criminal behaviour. The program is offered in Dufferin County, Halton, Peel and York Regions as well as in Simcoe County to youth who meet the eligibility criteria.

Services are referred through probation officers. For more information, call us at 1-855-364-0059 ext. 2311

The Kinark Outdoor Centre (KOC) has a rich history in residential camping, outdoor education, recreational programming, and community building. From skill development, family enrichment, social recreation, respite, and adventure-based experiences, the KOC offers high-quality programming and once-in-a-lifetime experiences in a safe, well-supported and natural environment.

The KOC has a uniquely diverse client group. Our ability to meet the needs and goals of these groups is unparalleled in our creation and delivery of programs. We offer a variety of adapted traditional camp experiences by customizing programs to meet the needs of our visitors.

The KOC is located in Minden, Ontario. Situated on 600 hectares of land, the KOC is nestled in the forest along the shores of Grey Lake. The Kinark Outdoor Centre welcomes guests from all walks of life for a variety of different programs, including Autism Respite, and Community and School Group Bookings.

For more information, visit the KOC website.

Supervised Access

Kinark’s highly respected Supervised Access programs provide safe, neutral and accessible locations where children can be supported during visits with their parents who are involved in custody/access disputes. Funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General, Kinark provides supervised access in Simcoe and Muskoka, as well as the Four Counties (Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton). Kinark also provides administrative support to the Toronto Supervised Access program.

For more information, call us at Simcoe/Muskoka: 1-800-230-8534 Ext. 6334; Peterborough: 1-800-386-6561 Ext. 5065.

Durham Region Central Intake

Central Intake is the front door for families and youth in Durham Region who are looking for mental health supports and resources. When a family or youth calls, they speak directly with a clinician who guides them through the process and directs them to an appropriate agency or service in the community who can offer support for their situation. Intake services are provided for Kinark Child and Family Services; Chimo; Frontenac Youth Services; John Howard Society of Durham Region; and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

Central Intake is also the front door to access all of Kinark’s community-based child and youth mental health programs in York Region, Simoce County, Northumberland County, Peterborough County and Durham Region.  

For more information, call us at 1-888-454-6275.