Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca (Hands) says in a news release that In response to the current pandemic, the agency has changed the way it serves clients, moving the majority of its services to online and telephone support.
“The safety of our clients, our employees and the public is our top priority and we are happy to report that over the past week, Hands has been able to transition to telephone and online delivery for the majority of the services we provide,” said Andrea Roberts, CEO of Hands.
“Our child and youth mental health services are especially important in these difficult times. We will continue to offer counselling services and walk-in clinics over the phone and online. As well, for children and youth experiencing a mental health crisis and their families, our crisis line will remain open to ensure that they do not need to go to an emergency room for help.”
Several of Hands’ program areas were already providing client services remotely. Over the last 10 days, as social distancing became paramount, the agency has been preparing to move most of its other programming to a remote delivery model (phone or online).
Now that services have been transitioned, Hands has closed all offices to the public but is continuing to accept new clients within the current delivery model.
Hands provides professional services in the areas of adult developmental services, autism, child development, child and youth mental health, justice services and navigation supports. They provide services to more than 11,000 individuals in North Bay, Nipissing, Muskoka, Parry Sound, and Northern Ontario each year.
For children and youth in crisis, Hands’ Crisis Services are available 24/7 by calling the Mental Health Crisis Line at 1-844-287-9072 to receive support.
