Photo: Pembroke Regional Hospital
Sylvia Jones has approved the amalgamation of The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families with Pembroke Regional Hospital, a move local officials say will strengthen mental health services for children, youth and families in eastern Ontario.
The approval allows the organizations to formally merge their services effective April 1.
Under the change, the Phoenix Centre will become part of the hospital’s Mental Health Services of Renfrew County and will operate under the name The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families of Pembroke Regional Hospital.
Officials say services will continue at their current locations, with no changes to phone numbers, intake processes or documentation systems in order to ensure a smooth transition for clients and staff. All existing Phoenix Centre programs are also expected to continue without interruption.
Susan Kennedy, executive director of the Phoenix Centre, said the move is intended to maintain the agency’s standards of care while strengthening support for staff and families.
“This amalgamation will allow us to maintain our high standards of care while ensuring our team is supported and valued,” Kennedy said in a statement. “It’s about delivering better care in a better way — especially for youth transitioning into adult services and for families navigating multiple systems of support.”
The Phoenix Centre has provided child and youth mental health services in Renfrew County for decades, supporting individuals aged 17 and under who are experiencing emotional and behavioural challenges.
Hospital officials say integrating the centre into the hospital’s broader mental health programming will help create a more unified system of care.
Sabine Mersmann, president and chief executive officer of Pembroke Regional Hospital, said bringing the two organizations together will help ensure families receive support throughout different stages of life.
“By bringing together the expertise and dedication of both organizations, we can ensure that families receive the support they need at every stage of life, while also better supporting our health-care workers with competitive compensation and benefits,” she said.
Mersmann also credited the Phoenix Centre’s board and administration for pursuing what she described as innovative options to secure the organization’s future.
In a letter approving the merger, Jones congratulated the organizations and thanked them for their leadership, saying the move supports Ontario’s goal of more integrated patient care.
Local Progressive Conservative MPP Billy Denault was also thanked by both organizations for his support during the process.
Officials say work to prepare for the transition has already involved the hospital’s human resources, finance and information technology teams, as well as the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Both boards will complete final steps in the coming weeks ahead of the April 1 transition.
The organizations say they also plan to hold a celebration in April to welcome Phoenix Centre staff to the hospital.
(Steve Berard)