The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

4- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday July 12, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com CABINET REFACING Ailing youth can wait a year AFTER for mental health treatment By Stephanie Hounsell SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER BEFORE We can transform your existing cabinets with new doors andlaminate in your choice of style & colour. Select complimentary hardware & have the kitchen of your dreams. No Payments, No Interest for 6 Months O.A.C. Visit our showroom or call for your FREE In Home Consultation One in five children in Ontario struggles with a diagnosable disorder -- emotional, mental or behavioural. And in Halton, getting help isn't easy due to a long wait list -- in some cases up to a year -- for services. Many local kids and teens remain undiagnosed and untreated. This dire situation regarding children's mental health was presented to Halton Region's health and social services committee Tuesday by Ron Rodgers, executive director of the Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK). "The need for child psy- chiatry in Halton outweighs the capacity to meet it," Rodgers said, explaining fewer than 25 per cent of kids with mental health disorders are treated. ROCK is a non-profit children's mental health centre in Halton for kids and teens up to 18 years old. It deals with emotional, behavioural, developmental, learning and social difficulties at locations in Oakville, Burlington and Milton. But it's flooded by the demand for services and doesn't have nearly the funding it needs, Rodgers said. ROCK -- which receives funding from the Ontario Ministry of Child and Youth Services, the United Way and Halton Region -- needs "The need for child psychiatry in Halton outweighs the capacity to meet it." Ron Rodgers, executive director of the Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK) BEST PRICES EVER 1313 Speers Road, Oakville · 905-847-8964 Mon. - Fri. 9am-5pm, Sat. 10am-4pm www.granitetransformations.ca 600 OFF 14 SEER HI-EFFICIENCY $ CENTRAL AIR 1.5 TON 2 TON 2.5 TON 3 TON WAS 3100 $ 3200 $ 3400 $ 3600 $ NOW 2500 $ 2600 $ 2800 $ 3000 $ 10 Years Parts & Labour Warranty New Gas- R410A Eligible for Government Rebate 8 Locations To Serve You Better! 905-849-4998 *Call Dealer for Details www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665 YOU ARE INVITED To an exclusive viewing of our showcase Conservatory in Oakville As a one-time opportunity, a well established Canadian manufacturer of sunrooms is offering a limited number of Conservatory packages at a substantial saving. To pre-qualify you should be considering a project at this time. In order to book an exclusive showcase tour, and take advantage of this fabulous opportunity, please call toll free 1-866-242-7522 The first goal is having fun® $1 million to upgrade salaries and an annual cost of living increase, Rodgers said. Wait times range from three months for ROCK's community outreach program to a year for its psychology services, occupational therapy and behaviour management program. The long waits before ROCK can provide diagnoses means a longer wait for ensuing specialized services, since a diagnosis is required first, Rodgers said. The situation in Milton seems to be particularly urgent. "Milton is the pressure point -- there's been an amazing rise in the demand for services," he told councillors. In addition to the issue of wait lists, some parents of children with mental health problems and struggling teens don't reach out because of the stigma that's still associated with mental illness, Rodgers said. "They're the quiet majority who don't come to our door," he said. Milton Councillor Colin Best said he agreed with the substantial need that exists. "These waiting lists are ridiculous," he said. Rodgers said he supports bringing an additional child psychiatrist to north Halton. This option had been presented in a staff report to committee. The committee later endorsed a motion for the Region to provide interim funding for the last quarter of 2008 to bring the services of a child and adolescent psychiatrist -- providing the doctor is still available -- to north Halton two days per week, starting later this year. In response to Rodgers' presentation, Oakville Councillor Fred Oliver made a motion to have staff report back on the creation of a task force to deal with youth mental health issues. "We need to have enough guts to get up and do something," Oliver said. The motion was endorsed. The item will go before regional council Wednesday. Fun brings everyone together. Having fun, making new friends and learning new skills in a positive environment. Three reasons why Tim Hortons is so proud to support the 1,600 boys and girls who play Timbits Soccer in the Oakville area. With a positive start, there's no telling how far kids will go. © Tim Hortons, 2008 www.britanniaconservatories.com email: britannia@rogers.com Reduce Reuse Recycle