In the NEWS: Pathstone Exploring Potential Opportunity at Chippawa-Willoughby Community Centre

Pathstone Foundation recently had the opportunity to present to Niagara Falls City Council about a potential opportunity to expand access to children’s mental health services in the community.

The conversation focused on the future Chippawa-Willoughby Community Centre and whether there could be an opportunity for Pathstone Mental Health to become part of this broader community space.

Following the presentation, City Council supported a motion allowing City staff and Pathstone Foundation to begin exploring the feasibility of what that opportunity could look like.

It is important to emphasize that this is very much an exploration at this stage. Nothing has been approved, there is no finalized plan and significant work remains before we know whether a Pathstone presence at the site is possible.  However, it is an important conversation.

As Niagara continues to grow, so does the need for children’s mental health services. Pathstone is continually looking at how we can better connect with the communities we serve and create more opportunities for children, youth and families to access care closer to home.

In Niagara Falls, that need has grown significantly. Approximately 15 years ago, Pathstone served about 300 children and youth each year in the community. Today, that number has grown to approximately 850, with projections indicating it could exceed 1,300 by 2035.  Families can also face additional barriers to accessing care, including longer travel times and higher rates of cancelled or missed appointments.

These realities make it important to continue asking questions about how and where mental health services are delivered.  What could be possible if services were brought closer to where families already live, gather and spend time together?

That is the question Pathstone is beginning to explore.

Over the coming months, Pathstone Foundation and City staff will have conversations and undertake research and due diligence to better understand what a potential Pathstone presence at the Chippawa-Willoughby site could look like.  This will include exploring what services might be needed and whether the opportunity would be feasible from both an operational and financial perspective.  There are many questions still to be answered, and we are at the very beginning of the process.

For now, this is not an announcement of a new project or fundraising campaign. It is an opportunity to explore what the future of children’s mental health care could look like in Niagara Falls.

Pathstone is grateful to our donors, supporters and community partners who have helped us grow and expand our impact across Niagara. Their continued support allows us to look for new and innovative ways to meet the changing needs of children, youth and families.  As the conversations continue and we learn more, Pathstone will share updates with our community.

Together, we can continue exploring new ways to ensure that every child and young person has somewhere to turn when they need mental health support.