Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is a bilingual, accredited Ontario non-profit providing autism, mental health, developmental disability, and justice services to children, youth, adults, and families across 800,000+ sq km of Northern Ontario, operating as Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health and single point of access for Developmental Services Ontario North East.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersThunder Bay, Canada
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca does
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is a bilingual, accredited, not-for-profit social services organization headquartered in North Bay, Ontario, providing autism, mental health, child development, justice, and developmental disability services across Northern Ontario. The organization was formed from the 2000 merger of Parry Sound District Children's Mental Health Services (founded 1979) and Concordia Centre (founded 1983), operating under the Hands brand since a 2008 rebranding from Algonquin Child and Family Services. Hands serves as the provincially designated Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health in its catchment and as the single point of access for Developmental Services Ontario (North East Region), a designation that makes it the statutory front door for ministry-funded adult developmental services across Nipissing, Cochrane, Timiskaming, Parry Sound, Muskoka, and James Bay Coast.
The service portfolio spans 15+ program lines organized into Child and Youth Services (Autism and Behavioural Services, Child and Youth Mental Health, Child Development, Justice Services, Navigation Supports) and Adult Services (DSO North East, Adult Clinical Services, Adult Justice Services, Service Coordination, Passport Program), plus the Lotus Youth Centre for intensive stabilization and DBT-based residential treatment. Service delivery is in-person across 10 office locations and remote via a Tele-Mental Health network connecting to pediatric specialists at CHEO, SickKids, and Vanier Children's Mental Wellness, with provincial reach extended through One Stop Talk / Parlons maintenant virtual counselling. Multidisciplinary clinical staffing of 230+ regulated professionals delivers more than 11,000 services annually in English and French, with interpretation in 200+ languages.
Revenue is dominated by government funding from the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and related ministries for the Ontario Autism Program, Child and Youth Mental Health, Developmental Services Ontario, and the Passport Program, supplemented by charitable donations (Charitable Business #: 870538501 RR 0001) and grants such as CAD $150,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (2022), CAD $100,000 from MHRC and the Knowledge Institute (2023), CAD $20,000 from the Rotary Club of North Bay (2025), and CAD $348,600 from the Province of Ontario (2026). All service tiers are free to eligible clients; access occurs via a toll-free line (1-800-668-8555), online referral forms, or community partner referrals including courts, police, schools, and the Children's Aid Society.
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
- Legal name
- Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
- Website
- https://thefamilyhelpnetwork.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is a bilingual, accredited Ontario non-profit providing autism, mental health, developmental disability, and justice services to children, youth, adults, and families across 800,000+ sq km of Northern Ontario, operating as Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health and single point of access for Developmental Services Ontario North East.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Mental Health and Social Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Assistive Technology & AAC for Young Children (EDACAFAL), Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO)
Keywords
Where Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Thunder Bay
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding and Grants: Funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and other Ontario government ministries for services including the Ontario Autism Program, Child and Youth Mental Health, Developmental Services Ontario, and the Passport Program. Provincial investment of $348,600 announced in 2026 for Lotus Youth Centre youth wellness services.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts donations from individuals and corporate sponsors. Charitable Business #: 870538501 RR 0001. Canadian tax receipts issued for all online donations. Examples include $20,000 from Rotary Club of North Bay for Autism Youth Lounge.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free services for Ontario Autism Program-registered families |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free virtual counselling for Ontario children and youth |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-funded services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is a bilingual, not-for-profit charitable organization delivering a comprehensive suite of autism, child and youth mental health, child development, developmental disability, justice, and navigation services across Northern Ontario. Operating as the Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health and the single point of access for Developmental Services Ontario (North East Region), it provides evidence-based clinical care (ABA, DBT, CBT, Trauma-Focused CBT) and intensive residential supports through the Lotus Youth Centre. Services are delivered in person across 10 offices and virtually via tele-mental health and One Stop Talk, reaching over 800,000 square kilometres.
Product overview
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is a bilingual, not-for-profit social services organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected services for children, youth, adults with developmental disabilities, and their families across Northern Ontario. The organization operates as a unified service platform organized into several core service areas: Child and Youth Services (including Autism and Behavioural Services, Child and Youth Mental Health, Child Development, Justice Services, and Navigation Supports) and Adult Services (including Developmental Services Ontario, Adult Clinical Services, Justice Services, Service Coordination, and the Passport Program). Additional offerings include Caregiver Supports, the 24/7 Crisis Line, One Stop Talk virtual counselling, Tele-Mental Health Services, and Foundational Family Services for Ontario Autism Program families. The organization serves as Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health in the region and has been providing services for over 20 years, delivering more than 10,000 services annually through offices across Northeastern Ontario.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Autism and Behavioural Services Comprehensive autism support services providing Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Speech-Language Therapy, caregiver-mediated early years programs (Project ImPACT), school transition support (Entry to School), and Foundational Family Services for families registered with the Ontario Autism Program.
- Child and Youth Mental Health Services Mental health services for children and youth under 18 including Counselling Clinics, longer-term Counselling Services, and intensive supports through the Lotus Youth Centre offering Short Stay Stabilization and Live-In Intensive Treatment based on Dialectical Behavioural Treatment (DBT).
- Child Development Services Services supporting infant, child, and maternal health through programs like Great Beginnings (supporting families with children 0-3 years), Developmental Services for Children, and Infant and Child Development coaching services. Available to families in Muskoka and Parry Sound Districts.
- Justice Services Programs for youth in conflict with the law including Youth Justice Committee Program, Intensive Support and Supervision Program (ISSP), Youth Mental Health Court Worker Program, and Supervised Access Program. Specialized services available for youth with mental health issues or developmental disabilities.
- Navigation Supports Services helping families find and connect with appropriate services, including Coordinated Service Planning for children with complex needs, Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) of Nipissing, and Tele-Mental Health Services connecting children with specialists via video-conference.
- Developmental Services Ontario – North East Region Single point of access for all Ministry-funded adult developmental services in Ontario's North East Region (Nipissing, Cochrane, Timiskaming, Parry Sound, Muskoka, James Bay Coast). Helps adults with developmental disabilities connect to services and supports.
- Adult Clinical Services Specialized professional services for adults with developmental disabilities including assessment, intervention, and education. Services offered across Muskoka, Nipissing, and Parry Sound through a multidisciplinary team of Social Workers, Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, and Developmental Service Practitioners.
- Adult Justice Services Support for adults charged with criminal offenses, including the Direct Accountability Program (alternative to traditional court system) and navigation services for adults with developmental disabilities and dual diagnosis through the North Community Network of Specialized Care.
- Passport Program Funding program helping adults with developmental disabilities be involved in their communities. Provides annual funding for community participation services, activities of daily living, person-directed planning, and caregiver respite opportunities.
- 24/7 Child/Youth Crisis Line Round-the-clock crisis support line (1-844-287-9072) for children and youth in Muskoka, Nipissing, or Parry Sound Districts experiencing mental health crises.
- One Stop Talk / Parlons maintenant (OST/PM) Free virtual counselling service providing immediate access to registered therapists for children and youth ages 0-17 in Ontario. Available Monday to Friday 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST and Saturday 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST with interpretation services in over 200 languages.
- Lotus Youth Centre Intensive mental health support facility in North Bay providing Short Stay Stabilization (48 hours to 4 weeks) and Live-In Intensive Treatment (up to 6 months using DBT model) for families in Nipissing, Parry Sound, and Muskoka.
- Tele-Mental Health Services Video-conference-based mental health consultations connecting children and youth in rural, remote, and underserved communities with specialists from Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Vanier Children's Mental Wellness, and SickKids hospitals.
- Foundational Family Services Free services available to all families registered with the Ontario Autism Program, including consultations, seminars, clinics, support groups, and How-to Learning Series providing evidence-based strategies for families supporting children with autism.
- Service Coordination Coordination services through the North Community Network of Specialized Care that bring multiple agencies together to help adults with developmental disabilities who have complex care needs, healthcare needs, or dual diagnosis requiring justice system navigation.
Quantifiable outcome
- 11,000+ services delivered annually in both English and French
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Planet Youth NipissingcoreHands is both a funded recipient and active community partner within Planet Youth Nipissing, a collective impact initiative focused on improving outcomes for young people across North Bay, West Nipissing, and Nipissing First Nation. Led by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and supported by 27 local organizations. Takes an evidence-informed, prevention-focused approach to youth well-being.
- OUTLoud North BaycoreHands and OUTLoud are working together to remove barriers to mental health care by bringing support directly to youth. A qualified Crisis Worker from Hands Child and Youth Mental Health team is present on site at OUTLoud every Wednesday evening to work with OUTLoud's youth members.
- Chat4ChadminorHands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca and OUTLoud North Bay in collaboration with Chat4Chad announced a new Youth Ambassador Program offering free Peer Support Training for local youth aged 12-18. Training is led by Support House's Centre for Innovation in Peer Support.
- Nipissing UniversitycoreHands and Nipissing University were awarded a $100,000 Ontario Youth Mental Health, Substance Use and Addictions Grant from Mental Health Research Canada and the Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions. The grant builds community capacity for trauma-informed and addiction approaches for youth in Northern Ontario. Lead Investigators include Dr. Tina Bervenkits from Nipissing University.
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) North BayminorHands and CMHA North Bay both earned 2022 Bell Let's Talk Community Fund grants. Joint participation at North Bay Battalion hockey game to raise awareness and community engagement around mental health.
- Support House's Centre for Innovation in Peer SupportminorLeading the free Peer Support Training component of the Youth Ambassador Program for youth aged 12-18, in partnership with Hands and OUTLoud North Bay. An Ontario-based organization specializing in peer support innovation.
- Community Living North BayminorPartnership with Community Living North Bay and One Kids Place to host a Halloween Drive-in Movie event for families.
- One Kids PlaceminorPartnership with One Kids Place and Community Living North Bay to host a Halloween Drive-in Movie event for families.
- Parent's for Children's Mental HealthminorHands partners with Parent's for Children's Mental Health to deliver free educational webinars for caregivers on topics including school refusal, ADHD, addiction, and internet usage.
- North Bay Parry Sound District Health UnitcoreLead agency for Planet Youth Nipissing initiative, of which Hands is an active community partner. The initiative involves 27 local organizations taking an evidence-informed approach to youth well-being.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Grandview Children's Centre: Durham Region children's treatment centre providing autism, developmental, and rehabilitation services to children and youth under Ontario ministry funding. Directly comparable in service portfolio and treatment-centre operating model.
- Lumenus Community Services: Greater Toronto Area non-profit delivering autism services, child and youth mental health, and developmental supports under Ontario-funded programs. Comparable clinical service mix and reliance on MCCSS-style provincial contracts.
- One Kids Place Children's Treatment Centre: Northern Ontario children's treatment centre serving children with developmental, communication, and physical needs across a comparable geography. Already a Hands community partner; overlapping autism, speech-language, and developmental services portfolio.
- Surrey Place Centre: Toronto-based charitable organization providing autism, developmental services, and clinical supports across the lifespan. Comparable in clinical depth (psychology, SLP, OT, ABA) and non-profit/government-funded service model.
- New Path Youth and Family Services: Simcoe County-based non-profit offering child and youth mental health, developmental services, and early intervention under similar Ontario ministry contracts. Closely comparable in service lines, funding model, and family-centered mission.
- Kinark Child and Family Services: Ontario-wide non-profit providing child and youth mental health, autism, and youth justice services through multiple lead-agency contracts. Highly comparable to Hands in service portfolio, government-contract revenue model, and clinical modality mix.
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) North Bay: Local branch of CMHA delivering mental health programming in Hands' service region and a current joint partner (e.g., 2022 Bell Let's Talk grant). Directly comparable in mental health service delivery and community-based non-profit model.
- Child Development Institute (Toronto): Toronto-based non-profit offering child and youth mental health, developmental, and family support services. Comparable in integrated clinical/family service model and Ontario government funding reliance.
Broad incumbents
- Community Living Ontario: Provincial umbrella for organizations supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Ontario, including DSO-adjacent advocacy. Comparable in adult developmental services mission and Ontario non-profit funding model.
- Kids Help Phone: National e-mental health service for youth providing 24/7 text/chat counselling across Canada. Comparable in virtual youth mental health delivery (analogous to Hands' One Stop Talk participation and Tele-Mental Health) but at national scale and broader scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca social profiles
Digital presenceHands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
What does Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca do?
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is a bilingual, not-for-profit charitable organization delivering a comprehensive suite of autism, child and youth mental health, child development, developmental disability, justice, and navigation services across Northern Ontario. Operating as the Lead Agency for Child and Youth Mental Health and the single point of access for Developmental Services Ontario (North East Region), it provides evidence-based clinical care (ABA, DBT, CBT, Trauma-Focused CBT) and intensive residential supports through the Lotus Youth Centre. Services are delivered in person across 10 offices and virtually via tele-mental health and One Stop Talk, reaching over 800,000 square kilometres.
Is Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca a public or private company?
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca founded?
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca was founded in 1979. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca based?
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca is headquartered in Thunder Bay, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Funding and Grants are the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Grandview Children's Centre, Lumenus Community Services, One Kids Place Children's Treatment Centre, Surrey Place Centre, New Path Youth and Family Services, Kinark Child and Family Services, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) North Bay and Child Development Institute (Toronto). Broad incumbents are Community Living Ontario and Kids Help Phone.
Does Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca.
What industry is Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca in?
Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca's product category is Community Mental Health and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services, with a secondary code of EDAKANAM, Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers). Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.