A Partnership Development and Evaluation Framework was developed as an operational priority in 2024-25, providing the opportunity to apply this new tool throughout 2025-26. The Framework helps Grandview Kids assess the performance, outcomes and impact of partnerships, as well as identify what works well, what needs improvement and what lessons can be learned from collaboration. In 2025-26, the Framework was used seven times, supporting Grandview Kids to make informed decisions about where to invest our energy, time, money and other resources when it comes to partnering with external agencies and individuals to “maximize impact in Durham Region.”

IDEA Study

The IDEA Study, completed in partnership with Ontario Tech University, with Dr. Meghann Lloyd as our Senior Research Associate, sought to better understand the barriers, biases and inequities faced by children and youth with developmental concerns when they are waiting for and accessing pediatric rehabilitation. The findings are intended to support Team Grandview in delivering culturally-safe care. 

Research shows that some groups experience more barriers when accessing care than other groups, and that when race and disability intersect, there are even more barriers. Our research aimed to explore, from the perspective of racialized caregivers of children and youth with disabilities, how race impacts access to services in community-based paediatric rehabilitation settings.

Through interviews with three racialized mothers who have children with disabilities, four major themes emerged around differences in experiences when receiving a diagnosis for their child, finding support within their families or community groups, waiting for community-based services and limited access to culture-based support groups and service providers.

This study is important to create more equitable, inclusive, diverse and accessible services and reduce barriers that racialized parents and caregivers experience. We look forward to mobilizing this knowledge to improve experiences, expectations and outcomes for racialized families in the Durham Region and beyond. 

Investigating wait time trends

Dr. Heather Shearer led a study that analyzed trends in wait times for Durham Region-based, government-funded rehabilitation services between 2012 and 2023. Co-authors included Dan Wang, Taryn Eickmeier, Simran Walia, Andrew Marsden and Pierre Côté.

The goals of this research study were to determine if Grandview Kids’ Electronic Health Record (EHR) could be used to identify rehabilitation wait times and to describe trends in wait times for specific rehabilitation services. This exploratory study used de-identified data extracted from Grandview Kids’ EHR from January 1, 2012 to October 31, 2023 for clients: 1) up to 19 years old; and 2) waiting to access or accessing speech-language pathology (SLP), occupational therapy (OT) and/or physiotherapy (PT) services.

The researchers determined it was feasible to access the data with adequate resources and assistance from qualified personnel at Grandview Kids. However, there were specific data limitations.

From 2014 to 2023, the dataset included 39,980 records from 15,042 unique clients. The median age was 2 years (range: 0-19 years), and 34% were female. Wait times varied by admission year and program, with the longest median wait time (173 days) occurring in 2021, and median wait time ranging from 33 to 96 days across rehabilitation services. Estimates for 2022 and 2023 are incomplete because follow-up time was limited, and some longer waits may not have been captured.

It was concluded that Grandview Kids’ EHR can be used to examine patterns in paediatric rehabilitation wait times; however, inconsistencies in documentation and the inability to reliably determine date of first clinical visit limit interpretation of the estimates. Standardized documentation of referral and clinical service initiation dates would strengthen future monitoring of access to rehabilitation services. As this was a feasibility study, the results provide an initial description of wait times but are not definitive and should not be used to inform program development, service planning, policy decisions or resource allocation without further research.

In April 2025, Grandview Kids and Lakeridge Health announced their groundbreaking partnership to deliver anesthesia-assisted care at The Jerry Coughlan Building through what was later called the Grandview Anesthesia Procedure (GAP) Clinic. Through the GAP Clinic, Grandview Kids’ Medical Services team and Lakeridge Health’s anesthesia and surgical teams deliver anesthesia-assisted care to Grandview Kids clients.

The partnership was formed to enable Grandview Kids and Lakeridge Health to provide anesthesia-assisted care outside of a hospital. For the first time in Canada, children and youth can access this care at a Children’s Treatment Centre, keeping Grandview Kids’ clients’ medical care in one place.

The first procedure identified for the GAP Clinic was anesthesia-assisted botulinum toxin (Botox) injections for Grandview Kids Hypertonia Clinic clients to treat spasticity or dystonia caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy. This procedure aims to have the biggest impact, as it is a routine procedure for many Grandview Kids clients with physical needs. It is also an uncomfortable procedure to experience without anesthesia, especially for the children and youth who need many injections in one session (for some, it is more than 15 per appointment).

Historically, Grandview Kids clients who required anesthesia were scheduled at Lakeridge Health’s Oshawa hospital to receive anesthesia-assisted Botox injections in an operating room. Many Grandview Kids clients experience anxiety and distress when visiting hospitals, compared to their positive experiences with Grandview Kids, which they tell us is a safe, supportive and familiar space for them. Accessing anesthesia-assisted care here makes the experience more comfortable for our clients and their families.

The first clients to access care through the GAP Clinic received it on May 6, 2026 and again in June 2026. The Clinic is gearing up to serve more clients in Fall 2026. Grandview Kids and Lakeridge Health look forward to expanding the GAP Clinic in the future to offer more anesthesia-assisted procedures for children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs.

Grandview Kids is more than a Children’s Treatment Centre. Grandview Kids is a place of possibility, where clients are celebrated, families are supported and communities come together to help every child and youth thrive. Each year, Grandview Kids supports over 11,000 clients, resulting in almost 100,000 visits at sites across Durham Region. The demand for essential programs and services continues to grow. For every child we serve, another one waits for care.

Fundraising plays a vital role in enabling Grandview Kids’ significant impact in our community. The support of generous donors helps bridge funding gaps and make essential programs more accessible to families. With the opening of the Jerry Coughlan Building, we are positioned to expand services, invest in research and innovation, create more meaningful connections and provide support for those who need extra help.

Grandview Kids is deeply grateful for the support of all levels of government, particularly their investments in the planning, development and opening of the Jerry Coughlan Building. These capital investments have transformed our ability to serve children, youth and families across Durham Region by providing a modern, purpose-built space designed to meet growing community needs.

As local demand for paediatric rehabilitation and developmental services continues to rise, additional investment in operating funding is needed to fully realize the potential of this new facility (and satellite locations) and expand our clinical capacity. With the infrastructure now in place, Grandview Kids is well positioned to enhance access to care, reduce wait times and serve more families closer to home.

Throughout the year, we continued to engage government partners, elected officials and system leaders, sharing a comprehensive business case that outlines a clear roadmap for addressing service pressures and improving outcomes for children and youth. This plan demonstrates how targeted investments in clinical staffing and program growth can significantly improve access to timely, high-quality care for families across Durham Region.

Advocating for the resources required to meet the needs of our growing community remains a strategic priority. We look forward to working collaboratively with our funding partners to ensure that every child, youth and family receives the care and support they need, when and where they need it.