NETWORK E-BULLETIN - JUNE 2006 EDITION

Toll Free Number Launched to the Public on June 1st

Simcoe and York Parents Now Have Access to Network Services by Dialing 1-866-377-0286

It’s official! The Children’s Treatment Network toll-free number is now available for the general public. By dialing 1-866-377-0286 parents of kids with multiple disabilities can now connect to the first service delivery model that links regional healthcare, recreation, education, social and community resources from over 25 partner agencies and organizations.

The Network and its partners provide a single point of contact for a single plan of care and coordinate services through all stages of a child’s development from birth through to age 19.  There are over 4,500 children with multiple disabilities in Simcoe and York whose families are currently challenged with navigating and coordinating services for their kids as they mature, battling waitlists and traveling long distances for services not available in the community. The Network will enhance and augment critically needed services and bring more services closer to home for these families.

Special thanks go to Network partners who have worked so hard over the past month to fine-tune Access processes in preparation for the public launch of the toll free number.

Access staff at the CCAC York Region office celebrate the public launch of the 1-800 number. On behalf of the Access team,  Michelle Biehler, Clinical Therapist, CCAC Simcoe and Bill Innes, Executive Director, CCAC York accept plaques from Children’s Treatment Network CEO, Bob Morton    

Over the next few months, the Network and its partners will continue moving forward on initiatives aimed at seamless coordination and provision of services.   Some of these activities include:

• Local Teams Growing  Strong  – We continue to work on forming the Local Teams in Simcoe and York and augmenting resources serving each community. Local Teams are made up of  professionals and specialists from partner organizations who are dedicated to  serving and monitoring each child’s care and development as they grow. We’ve  had great response to the recruitment drive for Paediatric Therapists, with  over 200 resumes received to date! We are well on track to meeting our goal of  10 Teams in York and Simcoe by 2007.
• Orientation and Training –  Over the summer, training will be focused on:
  • Intake &  Assessment:  The use of common intake and prioritization  tools.
  • Service  Coordination:  A common approach to service coordination.   

Clinical Directors are working towards the  development of Local Teams in the fall, when orientation sessions will take place. In the meantime, stay tuned for other training initiatives available  to Network members as they arise.

• Opening on Board of Directors  – We are in the process of identifying  an individual from York Region to fill a vacancy on our Board. This position  has been posted in the local newspapers and more information is available on  our website www.ctn-simcoeyork.ca   
• Website Receives Glowing Reviews – The new website is designed to provide in-depth  information on the Network for parents as well as professionals.  A  number of representatives from our partner organizations collaborated on the  design and content of the site. We thought we should share an early review and  thank everyone for their excellent work.  Here’s what a parent, Mary  Ayers, had to say: “Website is fabulous!  Very well organized and  presented - colorful; simple to navigate; lots of information....especially  liked the links to other supports.  Excellent beginning!  Thanks for  all your hard work.  If this is just the beginning, I can't wait to see  how it all unfolds with time.”