Financial assistance eligibility for patients named in a sexual abuse complaint or report

A patient can apply for funding from CNO to help pay for therapy immediately after CNO has been made aware of a complaint or report of sexual abuse.

The funding is paid directly to the therapist and is meant for treatment required as a result of the sexual abuse.

Funding is available for a five-year period that starts on the date the person first received therapy related to the sexual abuse for which the person is requesting funding. Therapy can take place at any time after the abuse occurred.

The patient can choose the therapist. There are only two considerations about who can be a patient’s therapist:

  • they must not be a member of the patient’s family
  • they must not have been found to have committed professional misconduct of a sexual nature or be found to be civilly or criminally liable for a similar act.

The amount of funding available is based on the amount the Ontario Health Insurance Plan would pay for 200 half-hour sessions of individual out-patient psychotherapy with a psychiatrist minus any other funding you are receiving for the therapy or counselling (for example, if you are receiving finding through private insurance).Once a patient’s eligibility is determined and the application is processed, CNO will notify the applicant of the amount of funding they will receive.

If you want to make an application for therapy funding, you can send a message directly to us at investigations-intake@cnomail.org or PublicComplaints@cnomail.org

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