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County antes up $675,000 for new 'health hub' at Waypoint

'Our investment ... will increase access to vital mental health supports and assist our partners at Waypoint in bringing more services to residents in need'
Simcoe County Community Health Hub Announcement Jan 2020
The county presented a cheque for $673,000 to Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care Thursday. From left: Stewart Strathearn (County of Simcoe), Duncan Matheson (CHIGAMIK), David Jeffery (CHIGAMIK), George Cornell (County of Simcoe), Carol Lambie (Waypoint), John Barrett-Hamilton (Waypoint), Anita Dubeau (County of Simcoe), Sylvia Bray (County of Simcoe) add Ted Walker (County of Simcoe). Photo supplied

NEWS RELEASE
WAYPOINT CENTRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE
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County of Simcoe Warden George Cornell presented Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care (Waypoint) with a $673,252 donation Thursday in support of the new Community Health Hub in Midland.

This is the second donation for a total of $1.28 million provided to the hospital for this new community resource in partnership with Centre de santé communautaire CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre slated to open in the spring of this year.

The funding is part of a $45 million commitment in support of capital and redevelopment projects that will be allocated over 15 years to area hospitals that serve Simcoe County residents. From 2017 to 2031, $3 million is being distributed each year through collaboration with the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance which includes hospitals in Alliston, Barrie, Collingwood, Midland, Newmarket, Orillia as well as Waypoint.

Dating back to 1994, the County has committed $107 million to support area hospitals.

“Waypoint is very appreciative of the County’s support. The exterior construction is complete and now the interior work is underway to finish the building for our spring 2020 move in date,” said Carol Lambie, Waypoint President and CEO.

“This investment has a major impact as the building co-located Waypoint’s outpatient and community services with CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre, the Patient/Client and Family Council and the North Simcoe Youth Wellness Hub," she said. "There are also more than 20 other health care and community partners supporting our joint programs and services making this a vibrant hub of activity for this area of the county.”

With this new funding, the hospital will be able to increase access to care by co-locating mental health and addiction services with primary care. The building will be a welcoming place for clients, staff and the community with designated space for youth programming, traditional Indigenous healing and spiritual care, with the common spaces accommodating the particular needs of children, patients and people with physical challenges.

“The County of Simcoe continues to invest in area hospitals to ensure that our residents have access to world-class health care services close to home,” said Warden George Cornell. “Our investment in the development of the new CHIGAMIK Waypoint Community Health Hub will increase access to vital mental health supports and assist our partners at Waypoint in bringing more services to residents in need.”

Waypoint is also very grateful for the County’s support for the Have Hope youth mental health advocacy campaign that funded additional trainers in the County for Mental Health First Aid for Adults Who Interact with Youth. To learn more about fundraising priorities at Waypoint, please call 705 549.3181, ext. 2864 or visit www.waypointcentre.ca.

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