After years of recognition that forensic mental health services have been underfunded, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care have commenced funding increases to forensic programs across the province, but particularly in the GTA to improve access and address wait times within the forensic system, as well as developing alternate pathways of care. All of the clinical programs in this Division have benefitted from the funding increases.
The Division is also addressing joint approaches to care and service policy development, including joint benchmarking (key performance indicator programs) and the development of evidence based practice standards.
Waypoint completed the redevelopment of its forensic program with a facility opening on February 21 2014. The centre provides a visionary setting for secure forensic care with effective use of interior and exterior space and a wide range of therapeutic and recovery based programs within a secure envelope. It provides 120 secure forensic and civil beds for Ontario.
A further domain of involvement is the enhanced model of early interventions for remand inmates at the Toronto South Detention Centre, where CAMH services and U of T Faculty provide clinical assessment and treatment services for inmates with mental illness.
