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Treatment centre receives $300K from ministry

As it pushes ahead with plans for a new facility, the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent announced it has received $300,000 in provincial funding.

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As it pushes ahead with plans for a new facility, the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent announced it has received $300,000 in provincial funding.

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The money, which comes from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, will go towards finalizing the size of the new build, confirming the layout and determining the flow of clients and families throughout the space.

Mike Genge, president of the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent, said the latest announcement is the next step to making the new facility a reality.

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“It’s that natural process,” he said on Thursday. “We haven’t had a formal commitment from the feds and the province, as far as our (building) funding goes. But seeing this, and coming from our ministry, is a good sign that they’re going to move forward with funding our project.”

A request for proposals was issued, with the contract being awarded to ROA Studio Inc. ROA is a local business working in partnership with the Resource Planning Group.

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According to the treatment centre, the current facility is inadequate and hasn’t been able to house all of the services required by local children and families.

Genge said the plan is expected to be completed by March.

“It’s telling us what we need inside the building, based on the volume of children that we have and what services they need,” he said.

“Once that plan is together, then when they say, ‘yes, you can do your build,’ we’ll be able to go and right away tender for an architect. That architect will be able to say, ‘OK, we know how big the place is going to be, we know how many rooms are in it, now let’s design a building to accommodate all that.”

The overall budget for the project would be approximately $25 million, including furniture and equipment, plus an additional $3 million for contingencies and long-term planning.

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The impact of COVID-19 on facilities in general, such as the extra space and barriers required, is another aspect that will have to be considered, Genge added.

“Our protocols that we put in place since the first of June are just as stringent as the hospital,” he said of the measures taken when the facility reopened this year.

“Space is going to be more of an issue as we move forward, especially if you’re in a health-care environment and you’re dealing with people that have suppressed immune systems.”

Ashley Gialelem, client ambassador, said the pandemic has resulted in new space challenges and restricted accessibility at the centre.

“Social isolation is a real concern for individuals with disabilities,” she said in a release. “A new centre with space for groups, therapy and recreation programs will meet a critical need.

“Input gained from our clients and families is guiding the planning process and we are all looking forward to our new build with full accessibility and space for all our needs.”

Donna Litwin-Makey, executive director of the centre, said the funding is welcome news and will provide momentum to the goal of a new centre on McNaughton Avenue West.

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