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Small Shoulders, Big Hearts: YCA Partnership Shines a Light on Young Caregivers in Niagara

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The NOHT-ÉSON is pleased to welcome the Young Caregivers Association as a new partner organization, following endorsement by the network’s Planning Table on May 7.

For Cayleigh Sexton, Executive Director of the Young Caregivers Association, the partnership represents an important opportunity to strengthen awareness, collaboration and support for young caregivers across Niagara.

“Young Caregivers Association supports young caregivers between the ages of five to 25,” Sexton said. “A young caregiver is anyone who supports someone who might be a parent, grandparent or sibling who has a chronic illness, physical disability, intellectual disability, mental health concern or addiction.”

Through its programs and services, YCA helps young caregivers connect with others who understand their experiences, take a break from caregiving responsibilities, and access clinical supports when needed. Programs include social and recreational opportunities, one-on-one counselling, clinical groups, life-skills programming and school-based supports that help young caregivers build coping strategies, emotional regulation skills and confidence.

“All of our services and programs are free,” Sexton said.

Although the Young Caregivers Association has a growing provincial and national presence, Niagara remains central to its work. Sexton noted that more than half of the organization’s new intakes in the last fiscal year came from Niagara. YCA’s main office is located on Ontario Street in St. Catharines, and the organization works closely with local partners, school boards and community organizations to identify young caregivers and connect them to support.

One of YCA’s key Niagara-based initiatives is its in-school program, offered in partnership with the Catholic and public school boards. The six-week program helps students build coping skills while recognizing that they are not alone.

“Principals, child and youth workers and social workers help identify young caregivers, and we run that six-week group where they’re able to build different coping skills,” Sexton said. “They also understand there are other students in their school that have caregiving responsibilities.”

Outside of schools, YCA offers weekly in-person social recreation programs for different age groups, including children and youth ages five to 12 and older youth up to age 25. These programs can focus on practical life skills, such as cooking on a budget, grocery shopping or building a résumé, but they also create space for young caregivers to simply be kids, connect with peers and step away from caregiving responsibilities.

In one example, YCA brought young caregivers to Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls through a summer program, recognizing that many families may face financial or accessibility barriers that make those experiences difficult to access on their own.

YCA also works with partners to develop programs that respond to specific caregiving experiences. Sexton pointed to collaborations focused on mental health, addictions and sibling resilience as examples of how the organization draws on the expertise of others while bringing its own young caregiver support model to the table.

While Niagara is home base, YCA also provides services across Hamilton, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk, and offers virtual supports to young caregivers across the Ontario Health West region. Through national grant opportunities, the organization has also piloted programming in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia.

“We try to find champions in this space and help train them and build the infrastructure to support young caregivers in their capacity,” Sexton said. “We have the model that we’ve proved works across the country.”

YCA’s interest in joining the NOHT-ÉSON network is rooted in the reality that young caregivers often do not self-identify. Many children, youth and young adults see caregiving simply as part of family life, even when those responsibilities affect their mental health, education, social connections and development.

“It’s really hard for them to self-identify,” Sexton said. “We really need others in the space who might have that client in front of them to ask, ‘Do you have a child or youth in the home? Do they help support you?’”

By joining the NOHT-ÉSON network, YCA hopes to increase awareness of young caregivers across Niagara and build stronger pathways between health and social service partners.

“I think mainly it’s to build collaboration and capacity for young caregivers across Niagara,” Sexton said. “An increase in awareness for young caregivers across Niagara would be a key outcome.”

The partnership also aligns with YCA’s renewed strategic focus on quality partnerships and system integration. For Sexton, joining the NOHT-ÉSON is an opportunity to work alongside other organizations to better understand where each partner can contribute and how the system can better support children, youth and families.

“Niagara is our home office,” Sexton said. “It’s where we live and breathe a lot of the time. It’s nice to be welcomed into the table and to use others’ knowledge to build more capacity in Niagara.”

She added that stronger collaboration benefits not only young caregivers, but the broader network of organizations working to support people across the region.

“There are a lot of key players,” Sexton said. “The more we work together and figure out the areas where we can support, the better we can all support everyone across Niagara.”

For more information about the Young Caregivers Association, visit the organization’s website. Partners interested in collaboration opportunities can connect with Chrissy Sadowski, Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement Manager, at chrissys@youngcaregivers.ca.

Recognizing the Impact of Positive Living Niagara’s Consumption and Treatment Services

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St. Catharines, ON – On International Harm Reduction Day, the Niagara Ontario Health Team – Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara (NOHT-ÉSON) wishes to acknowledge the significant contributions Positive Living Niagara has made through its Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site in St. Catharines, and to recognize the vital role evidence-based harm reduction services play in saving lives, reducing stigma, and connecting people to care.

Between 2019 and 2025, Positive Living Niagara recorded more than 88,000 visits and over 1,500 overdose reversals, underscoring the critical role it has played in saving lives, building trust, and creating community safety. This work has also created opportunities for engagement, support, and referrals that may not otherwise have occurred.

As this service is scheduled to end in mid-June, the NOHT-ÉSON recognizes that its loss will create gaps and risks for the population Positive Living Niagara and other partners of the NOHT-ÉSON have served. For many individuals, the site has offered not only supervised consumption, but also access to early intervention, prevention of HIV and Hepatitis C, direct access to health and social services, and a relationship-based entry point into broader systems of care. Its absence will have impacts both for individuals who rely on the service, the neighbourhood, and the broader health care system. As we have seen in other communities, the discontinuation of funding for sites has resulted in increased demand for emergency medical responses, increased hospital pressures, and additional strain on the health and social services sectors.

While the NOHT-ÉSON welcomes the investment to offer HART Hub services locally, they simply do not replace life-saving supervised consumption services. HART Hubs and consumption sites are complementary services within a comprehensive continuum of care. As this transition continues, it is important to acknowledge that these models serve different functions and populations, and that changes in service delivery may affect how people access care and support.

The NOHT-ÉSON urges the Province to continue supporting evidence-based harm reduction services in the community. Our network remains committed to supporting people who use substances in Niagara to ensure they have access to care in ways that are responsive, compassionate, and effective. We will continue to work collaboratively with partners across the region to protect health, preserve dignity, and improve outcomes for vulnerable residents.

NOHT-ÉSON Reaffirms Commitment to Indigenous Health as Heather Winterstein Inquest Begins

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St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara Ontario Health Team – Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara (NOHT-ÉSON) acknowledges that the coroner’s inquest into the death of Heather Winterstein is now underway. The inquest is expected to provide an important opportunity to examine the circumstances surrounding Heather’s death, identify systemic issues that may have contributed to it, and inform recommendations that can help improve care, support Indigenous health, and address anti-Indigenous racism across the health care system.

Heather, a 24-year-old First Nations woman from the Cayuga Nation with ties to Six Nations of the Grand River, went to hospital in St. Catharines on December 9, 2021, with severe back pain. She returned on December 10, 2021, and later died in hospital.

The NOHT-ÉSON recognizes the profound impact of this loss on Heather’s family, Indigenous communities, and all those committed to advancing safer, more equitable care. The network remains committed to listening and learning from the inquest proceedings and from any recommendations that may emerge.

As a partnership focused on improving integrated care across Niagara, the NOHT-ÉSON will consider the findings carefully for their relevance to care coordination, system navigation, Indigenous health, and efforts to address anti-Indigenous racism in health and social care.

The NOHT-ÉSON has previously affirmed its commitment to Indigenous health, equity, reconciliation, and culturally safer care. That commitment remains unchanged.

The network will continue to work in allyship with Indigenous partners and communities, and with health and social care organizations across Niagara, to support meaningful system improvement and help ensure Indigenous voices remain a priority in care planning and delivery.

The NOHT-ÉSON acknowledges the sensitivity of the inquest process and extends its respect to Heather Winterstein’s family, loved ones, and all those participating in the proceedings.

Building better pathways for children: Niagara Children’s Centre welcomed as NOHT-ÉSON partner

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At the NOHT-ÉSON’s January Planning Table meeting, partners endorsed the Niagara Children’s Centre (NCC) as a new NOHT-ÉSON partner—an important step toward stronger, more connected supports for children, youth, and families across Niagara.

Niagara Children’s Centre provides services for children living with physical, developmental, neurological, and communicative disorders or delays, using a family-centred lens that spans core clinical rehabilitation and infant/child development supports. As NCC CEO Noella Klawitter puts it, the organization’s focus is simple: “Niagara children and youth at their best… at home, school and in their community.”

The Centre’s reach is significant—and growing. NCC serves around 6,000 children each year and delivers more than 53,000 visits annually through a mix of in-person, virtual, school-based, and community-based supports. Over the past 15 years, the number of children served has increased by 120%, alongside major staffing growth and program expansion. Recent additions include the Infant and Child Development Program—a home-based visiting program supporting families, sometimes beginning right from the neonatal intensive care unit—and an Inclusion Quality Support Program, delivered in partnership with Bethesda (also a recent partner of the NOHT-ÉSON), to strengthen early years and daycare capacity to better support children with complex needs.

For Klawitter, joining the NOHT-ÉSON is about reducing fragmentation and strengthening coordination across the broader health and community system. “One of my biggest advocacy efforts is that children’s services shouldn’t be fragmented,” she said, noting the importance of being connected to the wider health sector to support “good, holistic, wraparound services for children.” She sees the partnership as an opportunity for increased collaboration and “seamless… service pathways for children,” along with clearer system navigation for parents and caregivers who can find the children’s service landscape complicated and overwhelming.

Looking ahead, the partnership is expected to move quickly from endorsement to action. The next step will be connecting NCC into the NOHT-ÉSON’s Planning Table and working groups so that partners can align priorities, share information, and identify practical ways to improve coordination across the system. This will include early service pathway and “system mapping” conversations aimed at making it easier for families to navigate between organizations and sectors, and reducing the silos that can create delays, duplication, or confusion. The shared goal is to strengthen wraparound supports not only for children and youth, but for the parents and caregivers who work hard every day to help them thrive.

Klawitter also brings a deeply personal perspective to her leadership. A former Paralympian who is legally blind, she describes her approach as “seeing potential, as opposed to disability,” shaped by resilience, tenacity, and the examples of people who overcame significant adversity.

Click here to learn more about the Niagara Children’s Centre.

Partnering for Care: Building Stronger Systems for Caregivers

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NIAGARA FALLS, ON — The NOHT-ÉSON and Heart Niagara will host Partnering for Care: Building Stronger Systems for Caregivers on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, bringing together caregivers and the organizations that support them for a welcoming, in-person day of learning, connection, and collaborative action.

The summit will help build a shared understanding of caregiving in Niagara today—what supports exist, where barriers remain, and what’s needed to strengthen caregiver wellbeing and access to respite. Participants will have opportunities to learn from lived experience, identify gaps in current pathways, and explore practical opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.

Event details

Partnering for Care: Building Stronger Systems for Caregivers
Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Time: 8:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (summit program begins at 9:20 a.m.)
Location: Firemen’s Park, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Cost: Free (registration required)
Registration: https://tinyurl.com/35kf6phf

“Caregivers are the backbone of our communities, yet too often they’re navigating stress, exhaustion, and fragmented supports on their own. This summit is about recognizing their reality, listening deeply, and bringing partners together to strengthen access to meaningful caregiver respite and support—especially for people facing the greatest barriers,” said Karen Stearne, Executive Director of Heart Niagara.

The event will feature a keynote address from Lauren Bates, Chair of the Ontario Caregiver Coalition, who will share insights on caregiving realities and the importance of strengthening support systems. The day will be facilitated by Chrissy Sadowski, Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement Manager with the Young Caregivers Association, and will include facilitated discussions and information sharing designed to elevate caregiver voices and support coordinated next steps across Niagara.

“Caregiving looks different for every person, but the need for understanding, connection, and practical supports is universal. Our goal is to create a safe, welcoming space where caregivers and organizations can share what’s working, name the gaps, and identify actionable next steps we can move forward on,” said Chrissy Sadowski, Summit Facilitator and Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement Manager for the Young Caregivers Association.

In addition to the NOHT-ÉSON and Heart Niagara, the event is supported by a collaborative community effort, with participation from local and regional partners committed to strengthening caregiver supports.

Helping more Niagara residents transition safely from hospital to home

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Niagara Falls, ON – The Let’s Go Home (LEGHO) program in Niagara has received an additional $125,000 in one-time funding from the Ministry of Health to support clients through March 31, 2026. This investment builds on the program’s $500,000 base funding, helping expand capacity at a time when demand continues to grow.

LEGHO supports eligible older adults (65+) in hospital with a stable, non-emergency health condition and older adults (65+) living with dementia to return home safely after a hospital stay—and, where appropriate, to prevent avoidable hospital admissions—through a six-week bundle of coordinated community supports.

To date this fiscal year, 315 clients qualified for the program. The incremental funding is expected to support at least 50 additional clients.

“An emergency department visit can start at about $3,000 a day,” said Nadia White, Program Manager with Happy in My Home, Community Support Services of Niagara, lead organization for the NOHT-ÉSON initiative. “By comparison, a six-week bundle of services can be a more cost-effective way to help someone recover, regain confidence, and live independently at home.”

LEGHO is delivered through a coordinated network of partners. Niagara Health plays a key role by identifying eligible patients and initiating referrals through hospital discharge planning, while working collaboratively with community partners on process improvements and efficient transitions.

“Our Home First approach guides how we plan care once a patient no longer needs hospital-level services,” said Lisa Hildebrand, Niagara Health’s Director of Access and Flow and Regional Stroke Program.

“Hospitals are not the right place for recovery when care can be safely and appropriately provided at home, where patients are often more comfortable and supported. This investment is timely and important. It helps ensure people receive care in the right setting, at the right time, based on their clinical needs, while allowing hospitals to focus on delivering safe, high-quality care for patients who truly need to be here.”

For individuals living with cognitive impairment, the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region provides specialized dementia-focused navigation services and caregiver respite for the program’s dementia stream, reflecting its expertise in dementia care.

“People living with dementia do best in familiar surroundings, not in busy hospital settings where symptoms can worsen,” said Teena Kindt, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region.

“Supporting individuals to return home quickly and safely helps preserve their independence and reduces unnecessary stress. Through LEGHO, families are connected to our dementia specialized services much earlier, and care partners receive in‑home respite to ensure no one is navigating this journey alone.”

In addition, the program’s community delivery model leverages partnerships with Meals on Wheels agencies across Niagara to support food security for clients, and brokered supports through home maintenance/repair services that can assist in complex situations such as hoarding-related safety concerns.

Program staff report that funding comes at an optimal time, as referrals are increasing due to cold and flu season.

“We’re seeing referrals come in quickly,” said Cherie Della-Gatta, LEGHO Supervisor. “This funding bump will be beneficial to many people, and our team has put strategies in place to ensure we can respond and support as many individuals as possible.”

As the program has matured, partners have refined service design to better match local needs—through the introduction of Safety at Home assessments to reduce fall risk and promote safe living environments.

LEGHO is designed to be flexible and client-led. The six-week bundle includes a minimum of three services, and clients may choose which supports best meet their needs (for example, Meals on Wheels, homemaking, transportation, respite and/or safety recommendations).

The program also supports caregivers by helping families understand available community services and navigate options beyond the initial six-week period.

“Even though it’s a six-week bundle, we often see people stay connected to supports long-term because families learn what’s available and how to access it,” said Della-Gatta.

Caregiver Experience Survey

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The NOHT-ÉSON’s Palliative Care Working Group invites you to take part in a short survey to share your experience as a caregiver, whether you are currently supporting someone with a life-limiting illness at any stage of their journey, from diagnosis through end of life, or have done so in the past. Your insights will help us better understand the realities of caregiving and improve support for others on similar journeys.

Your input will help organizations that provide palliative and end-of-life care in Niagara understand what is working well and where improvements are needed. The survey does not collect any identifying information, and all responses will be combined and reviewed together.

Results will be shared with the NOHT-ÉSON’s Palliative Care Working Group, which includes representation from home care, hospitals, and hospice organizations, all working together to improve access to services and quality of care.

Click here to access the survey. Download the flyer here.

The survey will remain open until January 24, 2026.

Thank you for helping us build a more compassionate and supportive system of care.

Honouring Heather Winterstein and Standing Against Anti-Indigenous Racism

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St. Catharines, ON – This week marks four years since the tragic death of Heather Winterstein, a 24-year-old Anishnawbe Kwe community member. Her passing is a painful reminder to the Niagara Ontario Health Team – Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara (NOHT-ÉSON) and its partners of the urgent need to confront anti-Indigenous racism and long-standing inequities in health and social care.

On December 9, 2021, Heather went to Niagara Health’s St. Catharines site with severe back pain after a fall. She was discharged home with Tylenol. She returned to the hospital on December 10, 2021, and later collapsed and died while in the emergency department.

Following her death, an independent Emergency Department Assessment Panel reviewed Niagara Health’s emergency services and made 10 recommendations to improve care and experiences for Indigenous Peoples. In response, an Indigenous Health Services Plan was developed by Niagara Health to improve access, strengthen cultural safety, and support traditional healing practices within the hospital, including the creation of an Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation Team.

The NOHT-ÉSON remains committed to ensuring that health and social care planning in Niagara supports Indigenous communities and reflects reconciliation efforts, while continuing to work in allyship with Indigenous-led organizations to improve care in the region. Indigenous health is one of the six pillars in the NOHT-ÉSON 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, and learning opportunities, such as Indigenous cultural safety training, are offered to NOHT-ÉSON staff, volunteers, and partners.

We all have a role to play in making sure Indigenous people receive high-quality, safe, timely, and culturally-based services that reflect Indigenous traditions.

An inquest into Heather’s death was announced on June 5, 2024. A date and location have not yet been set. The NOHT-ÉSON is committed to listening and learning from the jury’s recommendations and working with Indigenous partners to help ensure that what happened to Heather does not happen again, and that Indigenous voices are prioritized in all aspects of care.

Land Acknowledgment

We would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabeg. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties, is within the lands protected by the “Dish with One Spoon” wampum agreement and is directly adjacent to the Haldimand Treaty territory.

Today, this land continues to be the home of many Indigenous Peoples. Acknowledging ensures we reflect on our past and what changes can be made going forward to further the reconciliation process, and it reminds us that the great standard of living that we enjoy in Niagara is directly related to the resources and friendships of the Indigenous Peoples who make up this community.

Wampum Belt

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