Join us in the heart of Waterloo Region, a thriving hub for innovation, for a conference that blends cutting-edge ideas with a focus on empathy and care. Hosted by Grand River Hospital, a proud partner of Ontario Network of Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry Services (ONCAIPS), this event highlights the power of thoughtful innovation in improving mental health outcomes.
Discover how ONCAIPS network is shaping the future of child and adolescent mental health care across Ontario. Through inspiring talks, collaborative sessions, and a community of changemakers, we’ll explore how innovative solutions can create a brighter future for young people.
Be part of the movement—where innovation meets care, and together, we drive meaningful change for Ontario’s children, teens, and families.
DAY 1 | Thursday, March 20, 2025
12:00 PM: Arrival and Registration
12:20 PM: Opening Remarks and Welcome Day 1 Participants
12:30 PM: Session 1: Leading Cultural Transformation: Fostering Change and Innovation: Dr. Kernaghan, MD
1:30 PM: Session 2: Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention in Schools: Heather Carter and Hoshana Calliste, School Mental Health Ontario
2:30 PM Afternoon Break
2:45 PM: Session 3: Adolescents’ Media Use and Mental health: Jasmine Zhang, Ph.D. Candidate Clinical Psychology
3:45 PM: Session 4: Children’s Mental Health Treatment Simulation: Laura Charteris MSW, RSW
4:30 PM: Day 1 Wrap Up and Invite to networking dinner at Proof Kitchen + Lounge (separate ticket must be reserved for dinner).
DAY 2 | Friday, March 21, 2025
9:00 AM: Arrival and Registration
9:20 AM: Opening Remarks and Welcome Day 2 Participants
9:30 AM: Session 5: Awareness and Healing Properties of Ketamine: Dr. Jay Kothari, MD
10:45 AM: Morning Break
11:00 AM: Session 6: Supporting Youth with Concurrent Disorders: Kate Scott MSW, RSW, Ph.D. Candidate Social Work
12:00 PM: Lunch Break
1:00 PM Session 7: Dyadic Emotion-Focused Therapy for Youth: Sarena Daljeet, Ph.D. Candidate Clinical Psychology
2:00 PM Session 8: Community and Youth Engagement: Constable Jason Gamble, Waterloo Regional Police Services
3:00 PM Afternoon Break
3:15 PM: Session 9: Panel Discussion: Innovation & Inspiration in Waterloo Wellington: Alyssa Iannetti, CYW
4:30 PM: Day 2 Wrap Up and Thank You!
Looking for accommodations? Delta Hotels Waterloo offers a special rate for attendees of the 2025 ONCAIPS Conference, hosted by Grand River Hospital.
Join us for a vibrant networking dinner at Proof Kitchen + Lounge, where you can connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed and dynamic atmosphere. Enjoy a delicious selection of dishes while engaging in meaningful conversations that foster collaboration and new opportunities. Please note that a separate ticket must be reserved for this exclusive dinner event.
The speakers at the 2025 ONCAIPS Conference are sure to impress! With a lineup of industry leaders, experts, and innovators, each session promises to deliver valuable insights, inspiring ideas, and cutting-edge knowledge. Prepare to be captivated and motivated by their expertise, as they share their passion and vision for the future. This is an exceptional opportunity to learn from the best in the field!
Devon Spence is a dedicated Child and Youth Worker, currently serving as the Team Lead in the Child and Adolescent Inpatient Program at Grand River Hospital. He has extensive experience working with pediatric patients, including those in the Pediatric Eating Disorders Programs at North York General Hospital and Southlake Regional Hospital. In addition to his clinical roles, Devon is a Research Therapist at SickKids Hospital, where he contributes to advancing pediatric healthcare through research. His expertise and commitment to improving therapeutic practices make him a valuable asset in the field of pediatric mental health.
Dr. Gillian Kernaghan is an experienced executive healthcare Leader, serving as the President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Joseph's Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) from 2010 to 2021. St. Joseph’s is a multi-sited, academic health care organization serving London and Southwestern Ontario region. Her passion for integrated patient care, leadership and performance excellence inspired the organization to focus on the vision to “earn complete confidence in the care we provide.”
Jasmine is a third-year Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Waterloo. Her research examines the impacts of digital media use on the well-being of children, youth, and caregivers through a family-wide lens. In 2024, Jasmine joined the inaugural cohort of Impact Fellows at the Children and Screens Institute of Digital Media and Child Development. She completed clinical training in providing psychoeducational assessment and intervention services in school, community, and health settings. Before her doctoral studies, she received her Bachelor of Science (Honours Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour) from McMaster University in 2020 and her Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) from the University of Waterloo in 2022.
Born and raised in Kitchener, Laura completed her education locally at Wilfrid Laurier University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Youth and Children's Studies before pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW). Before her MSW, Laura gained valuable experience working with children and youth in a school board setting. Since May 2023, she was employed as a registered social worker at Grand River Hospital for Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry (CAIP). She is passionate about collaborating with local community partners to provide wraparound support for youth, ensuring they have access to the resources and care needed to thrive.
Dr. Kothari, born in Mumbai, India, earned his medical degree in Russia and completed a Psychiatry residency at Yale University, specializing in Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and ketamine therapies. He pursued a fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona and applies integrative medicine in his practice. At Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), he established the first ketamine clinic for treatment-resistant suicidality, depression, and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). While working at Grand River Hospital, he also teaches child psychopharmacology to OHSU fellows.
Kate Scott, a social worker and Concurrent Disorders Specialist with Grand River Hospital's Assertive Community Treatment Team, is a first-year PhD student at the University of Windsor. Her research focuses on concurrent disorders, acute mental health admissions, and involuntary addiction treatment's ethical and practical implications. With experience in substance use support and community interventions, Kate aims to improve care for those affected by addiction amid the toxic drug crisis. Her work is guided by her lived experience and professional background in addiction and mental health programs.
Sarena Daljeet, a 4th-year Clinical Psychology Ph.D. candidate at the University of Waterloo, provides therapy and assessment services for children and adolescents, emphasizing caregiver collaboration. Passionate about clinical teaching and supervision, her research explores how psychotherapy fosters change, focusing on the client-therapist relationship and emotional processing. She is currently conducting a trial on emotion-focused therapy for youth and caregivers and analyzing adult psychotherapy videos to study elements of change.
Alyssa Iannetti, a Child and Youth Care professional with over 13 years of experience, holds an Advanced Diploma from Mohawk College (2012). She has worked in group homes, youth justice, special needs programs, and foster care, focusing on vulnerable populations. Certified in Trauma-Informed Care, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Care, ASIST, and more, she continually updates her mental health expertise. For the past six years, Alyssa has been with Grand River Hospital's Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry unit, supporting youth in crisis and leading therapeutic groups.
Jason’s journey into service began with a passion for social work, initially impacting lives by running summer programs for youth through the Association for Community Living and later helping individuals reintegrate into the community with the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Centre of Friends in North Bay. Volunteering in various capacities deepened his desire to uplift others, which ultimately led him to his true calling in policing in 2006, when he joined the Waterloo Regional Police Service. Over his career, Jason has twice received the Citation of Commendation: once for preventing a young person from jumping off a highway overpass and another for intervening in a critical incident involving a mentally ill individual. In 2017, after years of trauma exposure, he was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), an experience that inspired him to advocate for mental health awareness by speaking at public forums like the University of Waterloo and promoting honest discussions about the intersection of policing and mental health. Beyond his duties as a police officer, Jason’s commitment to community shines through his work with the Community and Youth Engagement Unit and the Waterloo Region Connectivity Table, where he focuses on supporting at-risk youth. By openly sharing his journey of resilience, compassion, and vulnerability, Jason inspires others to embrace understanding and strength in the face of challenges.

Thank you to our sponsors! Your support makes everything we do possible.
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for their generous support. Your contributions help us make a difference by supporting Innovation in Youth Mental Health Care. Together, we are creating a brighter future.