NETWORK E-BULLETIN - JUNE 2007 EDITION

Kids, Parents & Professionals explore new York Resource Centre

Working Together For Kids & Teens with Disabilities … Children’s Treatment Network is a new service delivery model for kids with multiple disabilities in Simcoe and York.  It links over 30 healthcare, education, recreation, social and community services organizations so they can take a team approach to each child’s care. For the first time, parents have one point of contact for a single plan of care for kids from birth to age 19. The Network coordinates services needed and monitors each child’s progress through all the phases of their development.  The Network is also expanding and adding services that are critically needed in the community to bring more services closer to home and help reduce waitlists. Parents and professionals can contact the Network by calling 1-866-377-0286 or online at www.ctn-simcoeyork.ca

NEWS AT A GLANCE:

• Kids, Parents & Professionals explore new York Resource Centre
• Network expands Paediatric Diagnostic Assessment services
• Network partners recruit families for research study
• "SPOTLIGHT ON Your Service Navigation Team"

Kids, Parents & Professionals explore new York Resource Centre
At the June 22 Open House kids, parents and professionals celebrated the opening of the York Resource Centre in Richmond Hill by touring the new facilities and “working out” on the specialized therapy equipment available at the Centre.  As you can see from the smiling faces, the facilities were a big hit with professionals and families who will be able to access a wide range of therapies and specialty services closer to home.

(Left) Nathan Leung and mom Celine are greeted by Network CEO Bob Morton, who fits Nathan out with a Network t-shirt in preparation for touring the new Centre. (Right) 4-year old Will Peirce flies high on the trampoline in the new Therapy Gym.

(Top) Ethan Bosco (4 yrs.) works on a Communication Book with Laurissa Abric, York Region Pre-school Speech and Language communications disorders assistant. In addition to 8 designated speech and language treatment rooms, access to augmentative communication assessments and equipment is available through the Centre.   (Bottom) Ashley Tobias and Nathan Leung try out the Activity Room, one of five multi-purpose treatment rooms for occupational and speech therapy, feeding and swallowing, sensory needs development and therapeutic playgroups.

(Top Left) 3-year old Claire Conte Casola puts the “pedal to the metal” on her racer in the Therapy Gym. (Top Right)  Susan Chen’s 9-month old son Cameron was fascinated in the Snoezelen Room, a specially equipped room designed to stimulate the primary senses. (Bottom) Families and professionals tour the Early Intervention Services Playroom.

On June 26th, York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch and Mayor David Barrow of the Town of Richmond Hill joined Network partners to celebrate the official opening of the new multi-service building with a ribbon cutting ceremony.  The York Resource Centre is also home to York Region Early Intervention Services and Markham Stouffville Hospital’s Pre-School Speech & Language Program.  In addition, the Network funds the hospital’s Paediatric Developmental Assessment Clinic, which has relocated to the Centre.  The York Resource Centre is located at 13175 Yonge St (just north of King Road at Ashfield).    To book appointments to use the space and equipment contact Brenda McLean at 1-877-719-4795 ext. 2300 or email bmclean@msh.on.ca <mailto:bmclean@msh.on.ca> .  For further information on the Resource Centre or the Richmond Hill Local Team call Jane McLellan, Richmond Hill Local Team Facilitator at 1-877-719-4795 ext. 2327 or email  JMcLella@msh.on.ca <mailto:JMcLella@msh.on.ca> 

Network expands Paediatric Diagnostic Assessment services

Paediatric Diagnostic Assessments are integral for providing more clarity on treatment paths and giving families a clearer long-term vision of their child’s needs.  In some cases, they are essential for access to funding and grants for special services, equipment and respite care.  There is great demand for these services and many parents have had to travel to Toronto, where the wait can be as long as two years.  To help address this need, the Network is increasing opportunities to access diagnostic assessments closer to home:

• There are  now three dedicated developmental paediatricians, as well as a growing number  of local paediatricians interested in supporting kids needing developmental  diagnosis and services in York and Simcoe
• Developmental paediatrician Dr. Anita Jethwa has  joined the Network.  She will be working out of the York Resource Centre  in Richmond Hill to provide diagnostic and consultation services to  paediatricians in York Region who support children with complex needs
• The Network also funds the Paediatric Developmental  Assessment Clinic (PDAC), which has relocated from Markham Stouffville  Hospital to the York Resource Centre.  The Clinic will now support  children from birth to age 19.  Developmental paediatrician Dr. Donal  O'Leary has worked with the PDAC for the last 10 years and is delighted to  work alongside Dr. Jethwa to help meet the needs of kids of York
• Dr. Nicky Jones-Stokreef, medical director of the  Child Development Program at Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital continues to  provide developmental paediatric services for Simcoe kids
• The Network has also increased diagnostic and  assessment capacity for autism in pre-school children by training teams of  speech language pathologists from the Pre-School Speech and Language Programs  in York and Simcoe.  In York, these professionals are now working alongside paediatricians Dr. Bert Cellupica and Dr. Gerald Friedman to  diagnose kids with autism.  Discussions are underway with paediatricians in Simcoe
• We're also in discussions with psychologists in York  and Simcoe to further expand developmental diagnostic services.  Two  additional psychologists are being recruited through York Simcoe Behaviour Management Services
• In addition, we are exploring opportunities with  Children's Mental Health in York Region on ways to work in concert with its  special assessment and consultation service to support children with both  mental health and developmental issues

Network partners recruit families to participate in research study

The first phase of the McMaster University research study has begun.  Network partners have identified between 500 to 600 families of kids with special needs in York and Simcoe as candidates to participate.

Each candidate family will receive an information package from their current service provider. Approximately 130 families have already received information packages and the remaining packages will be sent out in stages between now and early fall.  

Families that fill out a consent form will be contacted by the McMaster research team for a telephone interview.  The family is then randomly assigned into the Single Plan of Care group or the Control group.

Every family participating in the study will continue to receive rehabilitation services and supports as they usually would.  However, children assigned to the Single Plan of Care group will work with a service coordinator who will assist with the coordination of assessments and services.

They will also be assigned a Child & Family Team and will have a single plan of care developed, which includes the use of a shared electronic client record. (Children already on a single plan of care will not be involved in the research study.)  Children and families assigned to the Control group will continue to receive usual care.   

Remember, this research will provide important evidence on the value of integrated, coordinated care in helping families and children achieve their goals. It will also help the system understand which families benefit most from this enhanced level of support, given many children are well served by individual service providers.  

We want to encourage families to participate in this important research.  It will help us evaluate integrated care and confirm which families require more intensive coordination to achieve their goals.  For information, feel free to contact Sandy Thurston at 1-877-719-4795 ext. 2328 or email sandy.thurston@ctn-simcoeyork.ca <mailto:sandy.thurston@ctn-simcoeyork.ca>   with any questions you have.  (You may also refer families to speak directly to Sandy.)

SPOTLIGHT ON your Service Navigation Team

When a call comes into 1-866-377-0286, the Network’s toll free number or the Network receives a faxed referral, Service Navigators are the first point of contact for families and professionals. These front line professionals conduct an initial interview over the phone to gather a comprehensive overview of the child and family’s situation, strengths and needs, and to determine what services are required.

The child and family interview process is the starting point for developing a single plan of care and the initial creation of the child’s electronic record. The goal is to gather the relevant information needed by all the professionals working with the child to help minimize the need for families to retell their stories. Service Navigators then work with service coordinators from various member organizations to ensure families are linked with the appropriate services.

(Front) Jenny Cooke, RN, BScN, has 12 years of experience, most recently in the spina bifida clinic at Bloorview Kids. (Centre) Anita Ablett, B.Sc.O.T., is an Occupational Therapist with 26 years experience working with children in hospital and community based rehabilitation settings. (Back) Heather Blackwell is the Team Assistant and has been working with the CCAC for the past 9 years.

Service Navigators play a critical role in the Network’s team approach to integrated care. The Central CCAC is the host agency for Network Service Navigation and we are delighted to announce they have recruited a team of three professionals with impressive experience and credentials who work out of the Central CCAC Newmarket location. Anyone wishing to consult with Network Service Navigators can call 1-866-377-0286.

To learn more about Children’s Treatment Network visit www.ctn-simcoeyork.ca

To submit news or information for inclusion in Network eBulletins please email info@ctn-simcoeyork.ca