For 50 years Craigwood Youth Services has grown from its original location on New Ontario Road near the village of Ailsa Craig to include two London locations. Over the years, we have built a solid reputation as a caregiver and service provider in the area of children’s services.
Craigwood Youth Services has a long history of offering a wide variety of services to troubled youth and their families. We are a registered, non-profit organization, incorporated as a Children's Mental Health Centre in 1983. We are primarily funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and a community Board of Directors provides leadership to the organization. There are no fees for services although parents and legal guardians are asked to cover the costs related to their children's clothing needs, dental coverage, prescription drugs and similar items while in our care.
Craigwood Youth Services provides a continuum of care and service to adolescents and their families in the communities of South Western Ontario through various day treatment and residential programs. Our clients are referrals from other social service organizations, self-referrals or court ordered to our care. In particular, our focus is on the complex needs and hard-to-serve youth. Our commitment is to service these clients in the best possible manner.
Through our resources, dedication, talents and example we strive to create an environment of counsel and support that will encourage our clients to create the changes necessary to remain in or return to their community at a more enhanced level of functioning.
Our residential programs serve the counties of Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford, Huron, Perth, Grey, and Bruce. Our young offender program serve the aforementioned areas as well as the counties of Lambton, Kent, and Essex and other areas of Ontario, and a community-based program serves London and surrounding area. In addition, there are also a variety of other programs oriented towards prevention and community needs.
Most of our clientele are complex needs youth who present with a complex array of emotional, behavioural, and psychological difficulties. Their families are stressed with a variety of issues, often resulting in the placement of a child outside of the home. A multi-disciplinary team approach where staff, parents, youth and community partners work together.
Aftercare is available and is negotiated with the youth and family. This may include formal individual and/or family counselling following discharge from a service.