Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario

What Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario does

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) is a non-profit integrated youth services (IYS) network operating 32 hub networks across Ontario, Canada, serving youth aged 12-25 with mental health and substance use support, primary health care, peer support, and community/social services. Established in 2017 with Ontario government and philanthropic funding, YWHO was originally launched as a 10-hub demonstration of the IYS model and has since expanded province-wide. Services are delivered free of charge through both physical hub locations (co-designed with youth and families) and the YWHO Virtual Hub web platform, with co-located multidisciplinary teams intended to reduce fragmentation in the youth mental health system. Cumulative reach is approximately 72,000 youth served across 380,000+ visits.

YWHO's underlying technology centers on a Learning Health System (LHS) approach anchored by My Wellness Passport (MWP), an integrated data collection platform hosting clinical tools and standardized assessments for Measurement-Based Care. The platform enables cross-site outcome tracking, continuous practice improvement, and interoperability with the Virtual Hub. Specialized programs include PreVenture (school-based substance use prevention), the Lift Program (evidence-based employment and education support via the Individual Placement and Support model), Indigenous Youth Programming (with Shkaabe Makwa and Indspire), and capacity-building training series. The YouthCan IMPACT randomized clinical trial, published in JAMA Network Open in September 2025, provides the first rigorous comparative evidence for the IYS model.

YWHO operates as a publicly-funded, philanthropic-supported non-profit (firmographic data shows "for_profit" but other sources describe it as a non-profit initiative under CAMH). Revenue mechanics are dominated by annualized Ontario government operational funding (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ontario Health's Centre of Excellence) supplemented by philanthropic giving through the CAMH Foundation, including founding partner Graham Boeckh Foundation, RBC Foundation, Slaight Family Foundation, McConnell Foundation, and others. The Provincial Office is hosted at CAMH in Toronto, and YWHO is governed through partnerships with local service providers in each hub community, four provincial advisory councils (Youth, Family, Indigenous Youth and Family, Digital Action), and pan-Canadian partners including Foundry BC and ACCESS Open Minds. Go-to-market is community-led: the CO&E team engages prospective communities, while services are free to end users with no pricing or billing structure.

Name

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario

Legal name

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario

Website

https://youthhubs.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario operates a network of 32 integrated youth service hubs across Ontario, delivering free mental health, substance use, primary care, and social support services to youth aged 12-25 through physical locations and a virtual platform, funded by Ontario government and philanthropic partners and administered through CAMH.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mental Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Telehealth & Digital Wellness Services (EDALAFAM), Virtual Behavioral Health Integration Platforms (HLALABAE), Health & Support Communities (BPAMABAL)

Keywords

• Integrated youth services
• Youth mental health
• Substance use support
• Primary health care
• Community health networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockland

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: YWHO was established in 2017 with funding from the Ontario government and has received annualized funding from the Ontario government for operational expansion. The government has facilitated expansion to 32 fully funded YWHO networks.
2. Philanthropic Donations: YWHO receives philanthropic support from various donors including foundations and individual donors, supported by the CAMH Foundation. Philanthropic donors have supported YWHO to innovate and mobilize knowledge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario operates a network of 32 Youth Wellness Hub Networks across Ontario that deliver Integrated Youth Services (IYS) free of charge to youth aged 12-25. Services are co-located and combined under one roof, including mental health and substance use counselling, primary health care, sexual health services, peer support, case management, education and employment support (Lift Program), and skills and well-being activities. The offering is delivered through physical hubs, the YWHO Virtual Hub web platform, and the My Wellness Passport data system that supports a Learning Health System approach.

Product overview

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) is a service delivery platform providing integrated youth services (IYS) for youth aged 12-25 across Ontario through a network of 32 hub networks. The offering consists of the YWHO Hub Network as the core service delivery infrastructure, supplemented by the YWHO Virtual Hub digital platform for virtual access to services, My Wellness Passport as the integrated data collection platform for measurement-based care, and specialized programs including PreVenture (substance use prevention), Lift Program (employment/education support), and Indigenous Youth Programming. Core services span clinical services, community/social supports, and skills/wellbeing activities, all delivered through a youth and family engagement framework with provincial advisory councils.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YWHO Virtual Hub: Web-based service platform providing virtual access to integrated mental health and well-being services for youth aged 12-25
• My Wellness Passport (MWP)
• PreVenture Program
• Lift Program
• My Wellness Passport Scale-Up Initiative

Products and services

• YWHO Hub Network Network of 32 Youth Wellness Hub Networks across Ontario providing integrated youth services (IYS) for youth aged 12-25, including mental health and substance use supports, primary health care, community and social supports, peer support, and case management. Delivered through local service provider partnerships.
• YWHO Virtual Hub Web-based virtual service platform providing youth aged 12-25 access to integrated mental health and substance use services, primary care, and community support services. Features youth-facing web platform, service navigation questionnaire with chatbot, youth account portal, and service provider portal.
• My Wellness Passport (MWP)

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth begin services within 9 days on average vs. 27 days for hospital outpatient programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Verto HealthcoreTechnology or Integration · 15 March 2023YWHO and Verto Health partnered to co-design and launch a unified digital YWHO front door and client portal. The partnership provides a range of developmentally and culturally appropriate Integrated Youth Services for youth and their families through a web-based platform.
• East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYWHO and ETHP (Ontario Health Team serving East Toronto) launched the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub. ETHP member organizations provide virtual and in-person services at the hub including Flemingdon Health Centre, Garry Hurvitz Centre for Community Mental Health at SickKids, Health Access Thorncliffe Park, LOFT Community Services, Michael Garron Hospital, Strides Toronto, and TNO – The Neighbourhood Organization.
• Foundry (British Columbia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundry is a pan-Canadian partner in the Lift Program, YWHO's evidence-based employment and education support initiative. Four sites from Foundry were selected alongside YWHO and ACCESS Open Minds sites for the first-of-its-kind pan-Canadian integration of employment and education support into youth mental health services.
• ACCESS Open Minds (pan-Canadian)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACCESS Open Minds is a pan-Canadian partner in the Lift Program, YWHO's evidence-based employment and education support initiative. Four sites from ACCESS Open Minds were selected alongside YWHO and Foundry sites for the first-of-its-kind pan-Canadian integration of employment and education support into youth mental health services.
• School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SMH-ON to implement PreVenture program in schools across Ontario using a phased approach. The YWHO Provincial Office supports implementation, with first seven selected school boards delivering PreVenture during 2022/2023 school year focusing on grade 8 students.
• CAMH PSSP (Provincial System Support Program)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYWHO and CAMH's PSSP co-developed the Youth Substance Use Training eLearning course, comprising a webinar and two self-paced online learning courses addressing youth substance use. Developed through Health Canada/Substance Use and Addictions Program grant in collaboration with Foundry BC.
• Shkaabe Makwa at CAMHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYWHO and Shkaabe Makwa at CAMH partnered with Indspire to develop resources on well-being, mental health and substance use for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth and their communities. All resources created by team including young people and Knowledge Keeper.
• Ontario Ministry of EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting YWHO's launch and continued growth, particularly for school-based programming including PreVenture implementation.
• Ontario Health's Centre of Excellence in Mental Health and AddictionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting YWHO's launch and continued growth through the Centre of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions.
• Knowledge Institute of Child & Youth Mental Health (CHEO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner that played a key role in launching and supporting YWHO growth. Established Provincial Family Advisory Council (PFAC) and Provincial Youth Advisory Council (PYAC) for YWHO at inception.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAMH hosts YWHO's Provincial Office and is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital. CAMH co-led the YouthCan IMPACT clinical trial that provided first rigorous evidence supporting IYS effectiveness. CAMH's Dr. Jo Henderson served as founding Executive Director and is now Chief Scientific Officer of YWHO.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Kids Help Phone: Kids Help Phone is Canada's national 24/7 e-mental health service for youth, offering counselling via phone, text, and live chat. Like YWHO, it provides free, low-barrier youth mental health support across Canada, though its delivery model is virtual-first rather than hub-based.
• Foundry: Foundry is British Columbia's integrated youth services network serving youth aged 12-24 with mental health, substance use, and wellness services, and is YWHO's pan-Canadian partner in the Lift Program (Individual Placement and Support). Operates the same IYS model under a different provincial funder, making it the most directly comparable peer organization in Canada.
• headspace (Australia): headspace is Australia's national youth mental health foundation operating integrated service centres for youth aged 12-25, combining mental health, physical health, alcohol/drug support, and vocational services. It is the most internationally comparable peer to YWHO in both age range and integrated hub-based delivery model, though operating under national Australian government funding.
• Jack.org: Jack.org is a Canadian charity training young leaders in mental health advocacy and delivering mental health education programs in schools and communities. It is comparable as a Canadian youth mental health nonprofit working alongside YWHO on stigma reduction and youth engagement, though focused on education/advocacy rather than direct service delivery.
• Stella's Place: Stella's Place is a Toronto-based youth mental health service hub serving ages 16-29 with integrated counselling, peer support, employment programs, and wellness services. Closely comparable to a single YWHO hub in target demographic, integrated service model, and urban Canadian context, though Toronto-only in scope.
• ACCESS Open Minds: ACCESS Open Minds is a pan-Canadian network of integrated youth services sites focused on transforming mental health services for youth aged 11-25. Like YWHO, it implements the IYS model across multiple provinces and is a co-partner with YWHO and Foundry on the Lift Program, making it a direct peer in both model and mission.

Broad incumbents

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): CAMH is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, hosts YWHO's Provincial Office in Toronto, and co-led the YouthCan IMPACT clinical trial. While YWHO operates the integrated community-based IYS model, CAMH is the broader incumbent providing hospital-based specialty mental health care and the scientific backbone YWHO draws upon.

Emerging players

• NewLeaf Total Mental Wellness (Nova Scotia): NewLeaf Total Mental Wellness is an integrated youth services hub in Nova Scotia serving youth aged 12-25 with mental health and addiction services. It is comparable as a newer IYS implementation site in another Canadian province, though significantly smaller and earlier-stage than YWHO's network.

Others

• School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON): SMH-ON is a provincial implementation support team helping Ontario school boards promote student mental health, and is YWHO's Core Strategic Partner for school-based programming including PreVenture. It is an enabler/ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor, since it supports the school-based delivery channel YWHO relies on.

Regional players

• Lumenus: Lumenus is a Toronto-area integrated youth and family services provider offering mental health, developmental, and autism services across multiple locations. Comparable to YWHO as a Greater Toronto Area youth services organization, though narrower in scope (Toronto-region rather than provincial) and more clinically oriented than the full IYS model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ywhontario
• Facebookfacebook.com/ywhontario
• Instagraminstagram.com/ywhontario
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-wellness-hubs-ontario-ywho

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario