Learn about your rights as a child, youth or young person.  Click here for more information.

• Rights Resource Poster (English)
• Rights Resource Poster (French)
• Information for youth 16 and 17 about protection services that are available (English)
• Information for youth 16 and 17 about protection services that are available (French)
• Quality Standards for Children/Youth Living Away from Parents (English)
• Quality Standards for Children/Youth Living Away from Parents (French)

Below, you will find a range of resources and information in the community and online that you may find helpful. 

Contact Hamilton provides intake and referral services on behalf of some specialized government funded services.  Referrals to these government funded services may only be completed through Contact Hamilton*.

Our Partners

• Alternatives for Youth
• Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara
• Child and Adolescent Services
• Community Living Hamilton
• Good Shepherd Youth Services
• Hamilton and District Extend-A-Family
• Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
• Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board
• Lynwood Charlton Centre
• McMaster Children’s Hospital
• Family Resource Centre
• Rygiel Supports for Community Living
• Thrive Child and Youth Trauma Services
• Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services

Quick tips when seeking help:

• If you are having an emergency, call 911.
• For crisis mental health support, call COAST: 905-972-8338
• Have you called your family doctor? They may have mental health counsellors available.
• Have you called the school? They may have social workers and school-based mental health supports available?
• Have your checked you benefits? You may have coverage for private services.
• Have your searched 211 for the variety of services offered in Hamilton? https://211ontario.ca/

• Autism Ontario
• Ontario Autism Program
• AccessOAP

• Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton
• Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies
• Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton

• Affiliated Services for Children and Youth (ASCY)
• Best Start Resource Centre
• Check It Out Drop in sessions
• EarlyON Child and Family Centres
• Early Words
• Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development

• Growing Together Guide-McMaster Children’s Hospital
• Parents for Children’s Mental Health
• Mindyourmind
• YourSpace Hamilton
• Caregiver Group: Emotion Focused Strategies for Supporting your Child or Youth - This group is open to patients of the Hamilton Family Health Team or have children in their care who attend HWDSB or HWCDSB.   You can refer yourself to this group. For more information, or to sign up, call the Groups Line at 905-667-4852 or visit the website here. 

• Autism Ontario
• Developmental Services Ontario Hamilton-Niagara Region
• Partners for Planning
• Respiteservices.com

• CanFASD
• Hamilton FASD Collaborative
• Hamilton FASD Parents and Caregivers Support Group - fasd@gmail.com
• FASD ONE

Federal

• Child Disability Benefit
• Child and Family Benefits

Provincial

• Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD)
• Financial support for Child Care
• Ontario Child Benefit
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works (OW)
• Special Services At Home (SSAH)

Financial Support

• Dental Care
• Easter Seals Incontinence Grant
• Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity

• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
• Dental Care
• The Hamilton Academy of Medicine
• Home and Community Care Support Services
• Hamilton Public Health
• Health Care Connect: Find a Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner 

• De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre
• Hamilton Regional Indian Centre (HRIC)

• AFFIRM
• CTYS 2SLGBTQ Resources and Services
• 2SLGBTQ Youth Line 
  Text 647-694-4275
  Call 1-800-268-9688
  Email askus@youthline.ca

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
• Children’s Mental Health Ontario
• eMentalHealth.ca
• Parents for Children’s Mental Health
• Offord Centre for Child Studies
• MacAnxiety Research Centre
• Mental Health First Aid Canada
• Ministry of Health
• Mindyourmind
• Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton
• Tourette Canada
• YourSpace Hamilton

• Caring for Kids New to Canada
• Refugee Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health
• Wesley Newcomer Services

• Conseil Scolaire Mon Avenir/French Catholic School Board
• Conseil Scolaire Viamode
• Hamilton-Wenworth District School Board
• HWDSB: Explore supportive resources, links, groups and workshops for students and Families.
• Hamilton-Wenworth Catholic District School Board
• Ministry of Education
• School Advocacy
• During the transition back to school, McMaster Children’s Hospital staff and doctors have shared some practical information to support families. These experts have created some informal videos for you to use as a resource.  Topics include vaccinations, managing return to school anxiety, how to make friends, healthy eating habits, bullying, screen time and more.  View the videos.
• Triple P Positive Parenting Discussions – no cost, for families of HWCDSB students. 
• Back to School Mental Health Kit developed by the HWCDSB:  the kit contains tools for students to use to support heir mental health and wellness, including distraction and thought changing strategies, breathing exercises and muscle relaxation exercises.  also included  information about understanding anxiety during uncertain times and gratitude exercise.  

• The Best Journey to Adult Life
• Partners for Planning

• Alternatives for Youth-Substance use and mental health services
• Assaulted Women's Helpline   Text #SAFE (#7233) or Call 1-866-863-0511
• Bounce Back
• Black Youth Helpline
• Black Table Talk
• Good2Talk  Call 1-866-925-5454  or text CONNECT to 686868
• Indigenous Youth Helpline
• Kids Help Phone   Text 686868  or Call 1-800-668-6868 
• Muslim youth Helpline
• No Problem Too big or Too Small
• Reaching Out
• Self-Care 101 for Students
• Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000
• Wellness Together Canada
• Youth Wellness Centre