Our History

The Jean Tweed Centre was established in 1984 on behalf of Jean Shannon Tweed - a woman who saw the need for a safe and supportive women-only environment where women could do the work they needed to do to help address their substance use issues. As a pioneer in advancing the cause of women-specific programming, Jean recognized the importance of providing childcare to reduce a significant barrier for women entering the program. It was to acknowledge and validate her beliefs that the Centre was named in her honour.

Since its founding, the Centre has evolved and grown to become the largest non-medical, community-based substance abuse and problem-gambling treatment facility for women in Ontario, and one of the largest in Canada.

The Centre is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Health, and although 80 percent of our clients come from Greater Toronto, two-thirds of our residential program participants are women living outside Toronto.

We were the first substance use program in Canada to successfully offer onsite childcare and child-development services for clients using our non-residential and day-programs in the 21-day program. This service has been available since 1997 and currently accommodates 30 children per month. As well, we're able to conduct parenting and attachment workshops, developmental assessments and home visits.

Most recently, we have begun a 7-week-long day program that is specifically aimed at pregnant and parenting women with substance-use issues. Called 'MK2,' this program addresses the unique challenges of juggling the demands of raising young children while seeking help to make positive lifestyle changes.