Innovative community-based program expands to meet the growing need for in-home supports for children and youth with complex needs
Surrey Place partners with Toronto’s four child welfare agencies to scale the Mobile Family Support and Behaviour Stabilization Program
Toronto, ON January 20, 2026 – Surrey Place, in partnership with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST), is expanding the Mobile Family Support and Behaviour Stabilization Program to include Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, Jewish Child and Family Service of Toronto, and Native Child and Family Services of Toronto. With all four Toronto child welfare agencies now participating, the program will reach more families across the city with timely, in-home behavioural and family support for children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and other complex needs.
Delivered through Surrey Place’s Mobile Behaviour Treatment Team (MBTT), the program provides coordinated, flexible and accessible supports to families involved with Toronto’s child welfare sector. By offering early intervention and integrated care, the MBTT model aims to improve family stability, reduce caregiver stress, enhance behavioural outcomes and minimize a family’s involvement with child welfare.
The initial one-year pilot, funded by the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, exceeded its goals, with many families able to reduce or end their involvement with the child welfare system and enhance their community supports. The pilot’s success has led to annualized funding from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and expansion across all four Toronto child welfare agencies. This growth will help address critical service gaps and help families to stabilize and improve overall well-being.
“This program reflects what is possible when systems come together with a shared purpose. Families are facing increasingly complex challenges, and too often they encounter fragmented services or long waitlists,” said Surrey Place CEO, Terri Hewitt. “By expanding this program to all four child welfare agencies, we’re breaking down barriers and meeting families where they are, with timely, compassionate, evidence-based support. I’m deeply grateful to our partners for their commitment to creating a more connected, equitable system of care for children and youth.”
The MBTT model provides specialized behavioural support, service coordination, and capacity-building for families and staff. The expanded team includes a Registered Behaviour Analyst, three ABA Therapists and a Service Coordinator.
“Our partnership with Surrey Place through the Mobile Family Support and Behaviour Stabilization Program represents a significant step forward in creating seamless, in-home resources and support for children, youth and their families. This couldn’t be done without the support of the MCCSS through annualized funding. By working together across sectors, we’re ensuring that young people receive timely and coordinated services that strengthen families and eliminate their child welfare involvement. It’s about collaboration that truly makes a difference in our community.” Lisa Tomlinson, CEO, Children’s Aid Society of Toronto.
The program expansion reflects the Ontario government’s ongoing commitment to improving access to integrated, community-based supports for children and youth with complex needs.
