Children's Treatment Network of Simcoe York Backgrounder

Children’s Treatment Network of Simcoe York is a new not-for-profit service delivery model for children with multiple disabilities in Simcoe County and York Region. This unique integrated network model builds on the strengths of existing service providers, including healthcare, recreation, education, social and community resources, to create a revolutionary system that provides a single point of contact and a single plan of care for children and youth from birth to 19 who have special physical, developmental, and communication needs.

The Network model is an entirely new approach that is based on service providers from different agencies and organizations collaborating and taking a team approach to each child's rehabilitation and habilitation needs.  The ultimate goal of Children’s Treatment Network is to expand services available in the community and link all regional resources to create a comprehensive rehabilitation system that is easily accessed. The Network will coordinate services from many agencies throughout all stages of a child’s development. 

Network services are available to children and youth with a wide range of multiple disabilities and complex conditions that require intensive therapy, specialized equipment or travel to treatment centres outside of the community including: cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, brain injury, developmental and learning difficulties, spina bifida, autism or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and other long-term medical conditions.
Services provided through Network members to these children and youth include: Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Recreation Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, Orthotics, Audiology, Seating and Mobility, Feeding and Swallowing, Augmentative Communication, as well as additional medical and child development services.

As part of the publicly funded system under the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Children's Treatment Network services are free.

1-866-377-0286 to access Coordinated Services and Local Teams  - Parents of children with multiple disabilities can access the Network through a toll free number.  The Network comprises over 25 agencies and organizations working together.  Services will be provided through Local Teams that are made up of a range of professionals from member agencies. These Local Teams will ensure families have smooth, easy access to coordinated care plans and seamless provision of services. The Network will also work closely with organizations such as Sick Kids and Bloorview Kids Rehab to coordinate specialized services and care, where needed.

Reducing Waitlists and Meeting Service Gaps - Over the next two years, Children's Treatment Network will continue to enhance and expand critically needed services available in the community. Initiatives include local access to specialty clinics, equipment and therapies as well as provision of training programs to broaden the range of services available in Simcoe and York.  By the end of 2007, at total of 10 Local Teams will be on the ground.  Two Resource Centres will further enhance support for children, families and service providers.

Resource Centres provide more access to a full range of integrated services closer to home - The first Resource Centre located in The Common Roof in Barrie opened in September 2006 and will bring expanded rehabilitation services and four critically needed specialty services to the area.  The specialty services include Augmentative Communication, Feeding and Swallowing, Seating and Mobility and Orthotics. For the first time, over 1700 kids with multiple disabilities in Simcoe County will have another point of access to a full range of enhanced and integrated rehabilitation and child development services, equipment and professionals in one location.  The Centre is also home to the first dedicated Paediatric Therapy Gym in Simcoe. 

A second Resource Centre located in York Region will begin operations early in 2007 to serve over 2800 York Region kids with special needs.

About the Children’s Treatment Network of Simcoe York
The Children’s Treatment Network is a new not-for-profit service delivery model for children with multiple disabilities and their families in Simcoe County and York Region. This unique integrated network model will build on the strengths of existing service providers, including healthcare, recreational, educational, social and community resources, to create a revolutionary new system that provides a single point of contact and single plan of care for children and youth from birth to 19 who have special physical, developmental, and communication needs. The Children’s Treatment Network is funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. For further information, please visit www.ctn-simcoeyork.ca

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Extraordinary Conversations
Anita Boudreau, 416-588-0552, anitaboudreau@sympatico.ca
Ellie Trainer, 905-830-4475, elinor@extraordinary.on.ca