Mandate

• To bring together mental health and developmental agencies in order to provide case resolution and referral to services for children and youth most in need in the mental health, education and developmental service sector.
• To operate a Francophone and Anglophone mechanism for case resolution and single point of access to day treatment programs.
  

Referral Process

Professionals from the mental health sector, youth justice services, school boards, child protection services, developmental service sector bring forward applications.

Two essential criteria need to be met before a referral can be made to Coordinated Access:

• Support and service options, in the community have been exhausted. As a result the service system is unable to respond to the needs of the child/youth;
• The child/youth has multiple complex mental health and developmental needs.  Many will have more than one challenge such as mental health problems, psychiatric disorders, behavioral issues, dual diagnosis, family conflict, concurrent disorders. 
  

Role of Presenting Worker

The presenting worker submitting the application maintains the following responsibilities:

• Contact Coordinated Access Team to discuss suitability of referral;
• Support the family through the process;
• Gather all the documentation needed;
• Help the family fill out the Coordinated Access application form;
• Obtain informed consent from the family/client i.e. client understands the limits of confidentiality and how their personal information will be used, shared and stored;
• Maintain case management functions throughout the process;
• Present information to the committee;
• Identify appropriate participants to assist with the case presentation.
  

Participants

The Ottawa Children's Coordinated Access and Referral Committees are made up of designated representatives from the following service agencies:

• Association pour l'intégration sociale d'Ottawa;
• Centre psychosocial pour enfants et familles d'Ottawa;
• Children's Aid Society of Ottawa;
• Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario;
• Conseil des écoles catholiques de langue française;
• Conseil des écoles publiques de l'est ontarien;
• Crossroads Children's Centre;
• Le transit;
• M.F. McHugh Education Centre;
• Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities;
• Ottawa Catholic School Board;
• Ottawa Carleton District School Board;
• Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre;
• Ottawa Rotary Home;
• Roberts/Smart Centre;
• Royal Ottawa Health Care Group;
• Service Coordination des services;
• Special Services at Home (MCYS);
• Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa.

In addition to regular Committee members, each individual case planning meeting includes the family as well as other professionals involved with the child and family. Occasionally, other resources felt to be of added value are invited to participate in the case planning exercise i.e.: teachers, probation officer, representatives of cultural groups, transfer payment agencies, outside paid resources.

Toolbox

The toolbox for case resolution includes:

Single access point for:

• Wraparound services;
• Multi Systemic Therapy;
• Intensive services;
• Residential treatment beds;
• Day Treatment classrooms;
• Pool of flexible funds for unusually difficult-to-serve situations and respite services.

All organizations who participate in Coordinated Access can offer priority access to their respective services. Examples of some of these prioritized services include:

• Outpatient services and inpatient assessments;
• Individual and family counseling;
• Respite services;
• Specialized supports;
• Consultants - psychiatrist, psychologist, and family therapist.

Committee

The Coordinated Access and Referral Committee is committed to:

• Develop a service plan that is child centered and family focused;
• Recommend the least intrusive measure possible;
• Forward referrals to the appropriate agency;
• Act as a consultant for the family and primary worker.

Appeal Process

If the family/guardian(s) are unsatisfied or do not agree with the recommendations made by the committee, they have the right to appeal and/or refuse the services recommended.