IWK Health is EKO’s newest member

September 11, 2024

Empowered Kids Ontario-Enfants Avenir Ontario (EKO) is pleased to welcome the association’s newest associate member, IWK Health.

“We are thrilled to welcome IWK Health to Empowered Kids Ontario,” says EKO CEO Jennifer Churchill. “IWK Health is an internationally recognized academic health sciences centre, the largest facility in Atlantic Canada caring for children, youth, and adolescents, and the major pediatric hospital in Halifax with more than 20 remote location sites throughout Nova Scotia.”

IWK’s Children’s Rehabilitation Service focuses on providing collaborative, family-centered care for children and youth with a variety of diagnoses experiencing physical, developmental, or cognitive challenges. Both children’s rehabilitation and the Provincial Preschool Autism Service bring together health care providers from all disciplines. The hospital’s interprofessional teams focus on the strengths, interests, and aspirations of children and their families.

“There is strong alignment between EKO’s and the IWK’s mission and vision, and we’re excited to become an associate member of EKO,” notes Victoria Cernjak, Children’s Rehabilitation Program clinical manager. “We appreciate the framework that supports EKO member organizations in delivering high quality, consistent, evidence-based intervention and we also value the emphasis that EKO puts on innovation, high quality networking opportunities, and educational programs.”

“EKO members are leaders in developmental health,” adds Churchill. “Through the association, members connect, learn and drive change so kids with disabilities and developmental needs live their best lives—here in Ontario and across Canada.”