Infant psychiatry program
The Infant Psychiatry Program provides consultations, assessments and short-term treatments for children from birth to 5 years of age. A physician’s referral is required in all cases and required whenever there is any concern about the child’s physical health.
Common referrals include infants and young children with feeding difficulties, attachment problems, problems in the parent-child relationship, behavioural problems and difficult temperament. Some parents who seek assistance from the program are troubled by their own feelings about their babies; some are concerned about their parenting skills and abilities.
We also see infants and families struggling with serious illnesses, developmental delays and the consequences of traumatic experiences.
As well as seeing families at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the program conducts research and training which extends our work into the community and internationally.
This section includes information on:
- How to make a referral
- Contact us
- Program staff
- Professional education
- Infant Mental Health Program (IMP)
How to make a referral
Please click here for general information on referring patients to SickKids.
Who can refer to our clinic:
- Referrals must be from a family doctor or paediatrician.
Waiting times for an appointment with the infant psychiatry team can be long, often a matter of months. In the event of an urgent situation, referring physicians should discuss this with our intake worker who will consult with the program director.
How to send your referral:
- Send your completed referral via ARMs, our on-line Ambulatory Referral Management system or
- Fax your completed referral form (available here in PDF format) to us at 416-813-7361.
Program staff
Dr. Jean-Victor Wittenberg is a child psychiatrist and Head of the Infant Psychiatry Program. He is Co-Chair of Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMP) which provides teaching for front-line professionals and develops advocacy initiatives on behalf of infant mental health. At present he is working with other members of IMP to develop a model of therapeutic jurisprudence to be implemented and tested in the Peel Region. He is also Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. His primary interest is in the influence of relationships on psychological development and mental health in infants, children and youth. He has worked in Canada and internationally to develop, evaluate and teach treatment interventions that promote children’s mental health. As founder and President of the Canadian Alliance for Children’s Healthcare, he works for social changes that support collaborative approaches in healthcare delivery for children and families. He led an advocacy initiative that culminated in the federal government’s creation of the Compassionate Family Care Benefit to support families in which a child, spouse or parent is gravely ill.
Dr. Faye Mishna, PhD, RSW, is an Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Toronto and has a cross appointment to the Department of Psychiatry. Her research focuses on bullying from the perspectives of victims and the significant adults in their lives, and group work with children and adolescents who have learning disabilities. In addition, with Dr. Jean Wittenberg and Dr. Joanne Cummings she is working on a group intervention to foster adaptive attachment in parent-infant relationships. She was a practicing social worker in children's mental health for over 20 years and for several years was clinical director of a children's mental health centre in Toronto. Dr Mishna is a graduate and faculty member of the Toronto Child Psychoanalytic Program. She maintains a private practice in psychotherapy with children and adults.
Rita Hornock is Senior Secretary for the Infant Psychiatry Team.
Professional education
A range of opportunities for training in infant psychiatry is available for students and post-graduate professionals in medicine, psychology, social work and community mental health.
We also train public health nurses to deliver our Supporting Security initiative in their community work. Through this early intervention program, developed at SickKids, public health nurses help parents improve their attachments for infants at risk.
In addition, the Infant Mental Health Promotion Project (IMP) offers workshops for service providers from various disciplines and a university-based certificate program in infant mental health, in collaboration with York University.
For further information on these opportunities, contact Dr. Jean-Victor Wittenberg, Head of the Infant Psychiatry Program, jean.wittenberg@sickkids.ca. Please also see the Education section of the Department of Psychiatry Web pages.
In addition, the Infant Mental Health Promotion Project (IMP) offers workshops for service providers from various disciplines and a university-based certificate program in infant mental health, in collaboration with York University.
For more information, visit the IMP website or contact Chaya Kulkarni, Director, Infant Mental Health Program (IMP).
Contact us
Veronica Romano
Intake Coordinator - Anxiety Disorders Program
Psychiatry
The Hospital for Sick Children
Phone: 416-813-6582
Fax: 416-813-7361
email: veronica.romano@sickkids.ca