Biography:
Humphrey Mitchell is Chief Executive Officer of Peel Children’s Centre, Ontario’s second-largest child and youth mental health (CYMH) agency and the lead CYMH agency for the Peel service area. He is also Chief Executive Officer of Nexus Youth Services.
Humphrey has worked in professional and volunteer capacities in children’s services since 1975. In addition to his tenure in the children’s mental health field, he has worked in child welfare and juvenile probation.
As founding Executive Director and current CEO of Peel Children’s Centre, Humphrey has led the growth and development of an organization that is widely regarded as one of the foremost CYMH agencies in Canada. From its origin as the amalgamation of five agencies in 1985, Peel Children’s Centre has grown to serve more than 4,100 children, youth and families annually who are experiencing social, emotional or behavioural challenges. With more than 300 staff and a total budget approaching $21 million, the agency provides a continuum of high-quality mental health services including brief services, counselling and therapy, family/caregiver skills-building and support, intensive treatment services, and specialized consultations and assessments. Peel Children’s Centre is accredited with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation, having met 100% of its Mandatory and Leading Practice standards for child and youth mental health.
Prior to assuming the Executive Director’s position at Peel Children’s Centre, Humphrey was Executive Director of REACH, a children’s mental health centre in Haldimand Norfolk, from 1981 to 1985. He has also led Nexus Youth Services, an accredited mental health agency serving Peel youth ages 14-24, since 1998 when Nexus formed a strategic alliance with Peel Children’s Centre. Nexus is a nationally recognized leader in youth engagement practices.
Humphrey Mitchell’s educational background includes bachelor-level studies in business and psychology, a Master of Social Work degree, and post-graduate studies in executive business programs. He is a Registered Social Worker.
In 2008, Humphrey received the prestigious Elizabeth Manson Award for community service in mental health from the Department of Psychiatry at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).
Humphrey’s commitment to the well-being of children, youth and families reaches far beyond his employment. He has extensive Board and task force involvement, currently serving on the Peel Children and Youth Initiative (Co-Chair), Fair Share for Peel Task Force (founding and current member), Coalition for Child and Youth Mental Health in Ontario (Co-Chair), Service Framework Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Larger CYMH Centres’ Executive Director/CEO Group, Child Welfare League of Canada (Chair of the Mental Health Task Force), and International Child Welfare Forum (Executive Council).
Humphrey Mitchell and his wife, Jo-Anne Guindon, have three adult children.