As parents have become more and more involved in all aspects of mental health services, the Association has supported the development of formal parent organizations. In 1994, the Ontario Association of Parents for Children's Mental Health elected its first board of directors. Parent advisory groups now exist in many children's mental health centres. The Association's client information system, designed specifically for Ontario's children's mental health centres, is a means of assessing the emotional and behavioural problems of children as they enter and leave treatment. Professionals across the province use it in creating treatment plans and monitoring results.
Agencies also use the system as a planning tool.
The standards, developed through extensive consultation with experts in the field of children's mental health, reflect community needs and current practices as well as emerging trends.