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Ontario Investing in Autism Services to Better Serve Children and Families in Richmond Hill

July 17, 2025

NEWS                                                                                                              July 17, 2025

RICHMOND HILL —The Ontario government is investing more than $37 million over the next two years in 100 public and private autism service providers across the province to help more children and families access clinical services in the Ontario Autism Program. This investment includes funding for Catholic Community Services of York Region in Richmond Hill.

“Children with autism and their families deserve real support, so I’m proud to say that our government is listening and taking action,” said Daisy Wai, MPP for Richmond Hill. “Our investments here in Richmond Hill and throughout Ontario will help autism service providers build and retain a stable, skilled teams that will allow more families to access the services they need close to home.”

Service providers are receiving funding through the Ontario Autism Program’s workforce capacity fund. This fund provides two-year grants ranging from $50,000 to $400,000 in value to help providers to hire new staff, increase staff hours, train employees, invest in technology, and reach rural and remote communities.

“This funding is more than an investment in services – it’s an investment in potential. Every child with autism has unique strengths, and every family deserves support that meets them with compassion and understanding,” said Leonilda Bastone-Patey, Executive Director of Catholic Community Services of York Region. “Through Ontario Autism Program, we can continue to grow a workforce rooted in cultural sensitivity, community connections, and hope. We are honoured to be part of building a future where all children can thrive. We sincerely thank the Ontario government for trusting us.”

“Protecting Ontario starts by safeguarding the province’s most vulnerable and ensuring that all children are provided with opportunities to achieve lifelong success,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Autism service providers do an incredible job of helping children and youth reach their full potential. Our government is proud to work with them to make it easier for more families to access timely, local supports tailored to their needs.”

Funding for local service providers through the workforce capacity fund is part of the province’s total investment in the Ontario Autism Program. Since 2019, Ontario has more than doubled the program’s annual budget, bringing it to a total of $779 million with the addition of a $175 million investment through

Budget 2025. This new investment will continue to support the enrolment of children and youth in core clinical services.

The workforce capacity fund is one initiative under the OAP capacity action plan. The province prioritizes applications that support families and service providers in northern, rural and remote communities, as well as francophone and Indigenous families recognizing the unique challenges these groups face.

QUICK FACTS

  • Workforce capacity fund grants awarded in 2022 and 2023 supported providers to: serve an additional 6,000 children and youth on the autism spectrum, boost training for more than 2,000 staff and fund more than 500 clinician positions.
  • The Ontario Autism Program has served tens of thousands of children and youth with autism aged 0-17 through multiple streams in the program, including caregiver-mediated early years programs, the entry to school program, foundational family services, core clinical services and urgent response services.
  • Since the workforce capacity fund was created in 2021, Ontario has awarded more than 350 grants in total to autism service providers across the province.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES

“This investment is a meaningful step in ensuring families have better access to autism services when and where they need them. I’m proud to support initiatives that build stronger, more inclusive communities.” – Michael Tibollo, MPP for Vaughan-Woodbridge. “Families deserve access to the care and support their children need, close to home. This funding will help Catholic Community Services of York Region continue their important work and reach more families in our community. I’m proud to support investments that make a real difference in the lives of children and youth with autism.” – Paul Calandra, MPP for Markham–Stouffville.