On November 28, the Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Honourable Carolyn Bennett, announced up to $15 million in funding for projects related to the development of a pan-Canadian network of networks in support of Integrated Youth Services, known as IYS-Net. See the press release here.
 
IYS-Net is jointly funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and philanthropy, including GBF, the Bell-GBF Partnership and the RBC Foundation through RBC Future Launch. This investment will support capacity for provincial and territorial IYS initiatives to undertake research, innovation, and knowledge mobilization, underpinned by investment in data infrastructure and pan-Canadian collaboration. See GBF’s April 2022 newsletter for more information on IYS-Net.
 
IYS-Net will enable provincial and territorial IYS initiatives to become learning health systems (LHSs) and carry out continuous measurement, evaluation, and knowledge mobilization to improve patient outcomes, system performance, and service equity. See this short video that explains what an LHS is.
 
GBF has been working closely with CIHR over the past two years to lay the groundwork for the successful launch of IYS-Net. We are delighted to be working with CIHR and our philanthropic partners to help ensure improved mental health outcomes for youth and their families/caregivers across Canada. Stay tuned for future information on further phases of this important initiative.

The John Howard Society of Saskatchewan has been awarded $3.4 million by the Government of Saskatchewan to lead the development and implementation of an IYS model in the province. Services and supports, including for mental health and substance use, will be offered in at least three physical hubs, while virtual care will be made available before sites are fully operational. Click here to see the full announcement.
 
GBF has been working closely with the Saskatchewan government for a number of years to develop this initiative. We congratulate the government on reaching this important milestone which will ensure that young people get easy and rapid access to much-needed care. We look forward to continuing to work with the Saskatchewan government and other stakeholders, including philanthropic partners, to ensure the success of the initiative.
 
Click here to learn more about the IYS project in Saskatchewan.

Thanks to additional support from the Manitoba government, Huddle Manitoba will expand the provincial IYS network by adding two new locations, one in the Northern Heath Region, and one in Southern Health/Santé Sud. A Call for Proposals has been issued to communities with the new sites expected to be announced by the end of this year.
 
GBF is excited that more youth in Manitoba will be able to access youth-friendly and culturally appropriate services. There are currently six Huddle sites across the province serving youth aged 12-29. For more information about Huddle, click here.