Two New Members Join Empowered Kids Ontario
February 11, 2026
Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO) is proud to welcome two new members to the association: Bethesda and Contact Niagara for Children’s and Developmental Services.
“We’re delighted to welcome these two organizations to EKO,” says Jennifer Churchill, President & CEO. “With each new member, we see a continuing trend toward expanding the developmental health sector’s collaboration that is strengthening our association and each members’ networks.”
EKO is on a mission to transform children’s health in Ontario by expanding access to the developmental healthcare that can benefit as many as one in six kids and is foundational to lifelong health. “We share a vision with all of our members: kids with disabilities and developmental needs and their families living their best lives,” adds Churchill. “As an association, EKO promotes policies, investment, and innovations based on the best research and thought leadership available, and provides community, engagement, learning, and services that help our members realize their respective goals.”
Bethesda is a not-for-profit organization that has supported individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1937 and continues to meet the changing needs of the community. The centre’s services for kids up to age 18 are guided by a simple but powerful belief: when support is provided to the whole family, children and youth thrive. Through Foundational Family Services offered under the Ontario Autism Program, Bethesda provides a wide range of opportunities to help families grow stronger together.
Contact Niagara is the central access point for children and youth with developmental, behavioural, autism, and complex needs in Niagara. The centre provides intake, navigation, coordinated service planning, FASD, and transition supports. Contact Niagara also co-leads the Youth Wellness Hub Niagara, offering youth ages 12–25 integrated mental health, substance use, wellness, primary care, peer support, and social services. As a Coordinated Service Planning agency, Contact Niagara provides bilingual information, access, intake, referral and service coordination more than 10 agencies assisting kids who are experiencing emotional, developmental and/or behavioural concerns in the Niagara region and surrounding area.