For immediate release

April 22, 2026

Local partners launch new Infant and Early Mental Health Care Pathway to support children and families across KFL&A

Kingston — A new Infant and Early Mental Health Care Pathway is being introduced across Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington to help connect children from birth to age six and their families to developmental and mental health supports earlier.

Southeast Public Health (SEPH), a founding member of the Local Pathway Implementation Team, will mark the launch alongside community partners on Friday, May 1, 2026. The event will feature a keynote speaker address from Dr. Chaya Kulkarni, Director of Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion (IEMHP) at The Hospital for Sick Children.

The pathway was developed through collaboration among local organizations committed to strengthening coordinated care across the region. It supports earlier identification of developmental concerns and promotes a more consistent approach to connecting families with appropriate services, including those in rural communities.

“Families know their children best, and when concerns arise, timely support matters,” said Anja Cahill, a public health nurse at SEPH. “This new pathway will help strengthen how organizations across the region work together so children and families can be connected to the services they need as early as possible.”

A key component of the pathway is the shared use of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ), a set of validated developmental and social-emotional screening tools for children from birth to age six. Used by trained practitioners, the tools help identify developmental concerns and guide families toward next steps for support.

The pathway connects families to a range of local organizations where ASQ screenings can be completed, including SEPH, the Maltby Centre, Lennox & Addington Resources for Children, Rural Frontenac Community Services, and others across the region. Indigenous families can also access screenings through the Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team and the Ontario Native Women’s Association.

The launch reinforces that support is available for families who have concerns about a child’s social, emotional, or physical development. More information about the Infant and Early Mental Health Care Pathway, including a full list of ASQ screening locations, is available on the Maltby Centre website.