Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, marks Recovery Month with visit to The Jean Tweed Centre
Toronto, Ontario. September 28, 2023 – The Jean Tweed Centre and Addictions & Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) were pleased to host Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones at The Jean Tweed Centre for Women & Their Families in Etobicoke.
Minister Jones joined AMHO CEO Alisha Tharani and The Jean Tweed Centre Executive Director Belinda Marchese for a tour of the centre, and an important discussion about the collaboration and work that is required to continue to strengthen and enhance community-based mental health and addiction services across the province in recognition of Recovery Month.
In 2021, the Government of Ontario officially declared September as Recovery Month. This formal recognition was a critical step towards recognizing and celebrating the different paths to recovery and destigmatizing substance use across Ontario.
“Minister Jones understands the inherent importance of community-based mental health and addictions care,” said Tharani. “Programs like the Addictions Recovery Fund are ensuring AMHO members like The Jean Tweed Centre are equipped with the resources necessary to provide safe and accessible care for women in their community. These are the initiatives we should be encouraging throughout Recovery Month and beyond.”
As the demand for mental health and substance use care continues to increase, exponentially, AMHO and our members look forward to continuing to work together to reduce waitlists and provide equitable access to high-quality care for all Ontarians.
“Today, we thank Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, for visiting our Evans site in Etobicoke,” said Marchese. “We are proud of the work we do across our seven locations, including our newest pilot project at Broadview Ave, which is the first in the province to offer women a seamless three-level integrated program at one location that includes Withdrawal Management Support Services, Live-in Treatment programs, and Transitional Housing. The Jean Tweed Centre is the only recovery treatment program in Ontario that offers an integrated Child Development Centre, along with robust Continuing Care programs to ensure women and families receive ongoing support as they journey through their recovery. We are very grateful for the Ontario government’s recent 5% increase to minimize our core funding shortfall and much-needed resources for Health Human Resources.”
Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) represents nearly 200 addiction and mental health organizations across Ontario. Their members span the full continuum of addiction and mental health organizations and services, ranging from community-based service providers to peer support and consumer survivor groups, to Community Health Centres, harm reduction, and hospital-based services.
Over the past 40 years, The Jean Tweed Centre has served over 30,000 women and impacted the lives of over 150,000 individuals. The centre is committed to finding ways to build capacity in the healthcare and community support system, and to serve women who are coping with substance use, mental health and housing concerns. The Jean Tweed Centre offers support in the community as well as virtual access to programs for women across the province of Ontario.
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