Our Story

CAFCO was founded in 2014 by Dr. Caroline Sullivan and Dr. Julie Desjardins with the goal of making quality mental health care more accessible for children, teens, and families in the Ottawa area.

The Child, Adolescent, and Family Centre of Ottawa (CAFCO) is a bilingual and multidisciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing a range of health care services for Ottawa families and beyond. Over time, we’ve grown to include adult services as well — because care shouldn’t stop when you reach a certain age.

Our mission remains the same: to provide compassionate, evidence-based support you can rely on.

Care You Can Count On

Finding help can be overwhelming, especially when services are limited or wait times are long. CAFCO was created to offer a stable, welcoming place where clients can access timely, effective care. Our multidisciplinary team works together under one roof, ensuring continuity and collaboration at every step.

Our Approach

Every person’s story is unique. That’s why we take the time to understand each client’s unique circumstances. Our clinicians work closely with families, schools, and communities as needed to provide comprehensive, individualized support. Our approach is grounded in developmental psychology, which recognizes that every person’s growth is shaped by the dynamic interaction of biological, genetic, social, cognitive, emotional, and cultural factors over time. Our care is also rooted in research and guided by empathy, with special attention to how attachment and development shape emotional well-being over time.

Bilingual Services

CAFCO proudly serves both English and French speakers. Many of our clinicians are fluently bilingual, and we’re committed to ensuring Ottawa’s Francophone and Anglophone communities have equal access to the same high-quality care and support.

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