 FAQs
Q. What is East Metro Youth Services?
A. East Metro Youth Services is a fully accredited multi-service mental health centre for youth 12-24 years of age and their families in East Toronto.
Q. What programs and services do you offer?
A. Our programs and services are organized into 5 areas: Counselling, Education Programs, Residential Services, Community Development, and Developmental Services. Please read those sections of this website to learn more.
Q. How do I access your services?
A. Call our Access Worker at 416-438-3697. Please refer to the Getting Help section of our website.
Q. How do you help?
A. A staff member is assigned to work with you. They will meet with your child and family to get to know you and your concerns. He or she will listen, share ideas with you, and together you will decide what treatment goals you want to work towards. You might have counselling sessions with our professional staff. Treatment may also include using some of our services or consulting with other staff. You and your counsellor will regularly review the treatment plan to make sure that it is meeting your needs, and service ends when you and the staff agree it is time to end treatment - usually when the goals you set are achieved.
Q. What ages do you serve?
A. We generally serve youth aged 12-24
Q. Do I have to pay for your services?
A. Most of our services are free of charge. However, some of our Developmental Services do charge a fee. Please consult that section to learn more.
Q. How are you funded?
A. East Metro Youth Services receives funding from a number of sources including the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Ontario Ministry of Education, other levels of government, foundations, corporations and businesses, employee groups and individual donors.
Q. Where are you located?
A. East Metro Youth Services has several service locations in East Toronto. Our head office is on the northwest corner of Markham and Ellesmere. We also have 3 residential programs in Scarborough, as well as several school-based programs at different schools which we offer in partnership with the Toronto District School Board.
Q. How do I know that my child is receiving services from qualified staff?
A. The services at EMYS meet all relevant provincial and municipal licensing, regulatory and legislative requirements of our funders. We are fully accredited by Children’s Mental Health Ontario, which ensures that our government-funded treatment services have passed rigorous province-wide standards. In addition, all of our services are operated in accordance with our quality assurance practices.
We are very proud of our excellent team of caring and committed professionals. All our professional staff have experience working with youth and families. Our staff come from a variety of professional backgrounds and educational disciplines, including Child and Youth Workers, Social Workers and Psychologists, as well as other specialists.
Like our clients, our staff come from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. All are dedicated to helping youth build a better future.
Q. Are your services offered in any languages other than English?
A. We have a counsellor who speaks Cantonese/Mandarin and who serves the Scarborough area. In addition, at least one member of our staff speaks the following languages, and you may be able to receive some services in these languages. It may also be possible to use an interpreter:
Arabic • Bengali • Cantonese • Czech • French • Greek • German • Gujrati Hebrew • Hindi • Kanda • Mandarin • Macedonian • Malayalam • Punjabi • Slovak • Spanish • Punjabi • Urdu • Zulu • Tamil
Q. How is information about my child and family kept?
A. All information that you share with us is confidential. A clinical file will be maintained containing written reports by our workers and other professionals, which is kept for a minimum of seven years according to legal requirements. Our files are open to clients and you can receive copies of our reports. Legally, information and reports in your file cannot be shared with any outside person or organization without your written permission. The only people with access to your files are the workers involved with you and their Director. However, we have a legal responsibility to report suspected cases or risk of child abuse to the appropriate children's aid society. We must also report our concerns that a child may pose a threat to him/herself or to others.
Q. How are parents involved in the treatment process?
A. We are committed to creating a strong partnership between parents/caregivers and EMYS staff in order to make a positive difference in your child and family's situation. The experience and knowledge of our professional staff will complement your own knowledge about your child. In most programs you will be actively involved from the start in planning and reviewing services and setting goals for your child and family. You will always receive information about the program your child is involved in, and your wishes and concerns will be listened to carefully.
Q. What rights do I have in using your services?
A. You will receive our services only if you agree to participate. Information about you or your child can be given to people outside EMYS only with your written permission (except when we are required to release information by Federal or Provincial Law). Youth 12 years of age and older can receive confidential counselling without parental consent, although we encourage youth to inform and involve their parent or guardian wherever possible.
Q. When are appointments scheduled?
A. We understand the demands of a busy family life. In many of our programs, we are able to offer services at times that do not conflict with school or employment. In some programs, we are able to meet with you in your home.
Q. How long will I have to wait for services to start?
A. The length of the wait list changes all the time. Also, there are different wait times for different programs. While you are waiting, we will try and assist you to find other supports. Please contact the Access Worker to discuss this further.
Q. What if I have a complaint about any of the services I received?
A. East Metro Youth Services takes all concerns and issues you raise seriously and will endeavour to address these as quickly as possible. Our Client Complaint Policy is available to you from the Access Worker and all program staff. You and your child are encouraged to express concerns or issues about services directly with your worker. We usually find this helps resolve differences. Your next step would be to talk with your worker's Director. Then, if still unresolved, the Executive Director will become involved in the process.
Q. I'd like to do some volunteer work. Do you need volunteers?
A. We always welcome volunteers. Please contact Joanne Muscarella at jmuscarella@emys.on.ca to find out more.
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