Navigating the System

W H O , W H A T , A N D H O W

Prepared and Presented By: Julia Valley, MSW Youth Community Developer Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

Session Overview

   Youth Services in Ottawa           Mental Health Addictions Counselling Housing Sexual Health GLBTTQ Immigrant Miscellaneous Community Health and Resource Centres Adolescent Health Clinic Strategies to Help Navigate   For Support Staff For Parents Discussion

Youth Services

M E N T A L H E A L T H

Youth Services Bureau

 Youth Services Bureau (YSB)  www.ysb.on.ca

; 613-729-1000  Provides services for youth, ages 12-20  Programs include mental health, community, housing (emergency and long-term), employment, and justice services

Youth Services Bureau

(continued) 

Mental Health Services include:

 Multi-Systemic Therapy - 613-562-3004  Intensive, home-based family preservation program for youth (ages 12 to 18) who are at risk of out-of-home placement due to significant antisocial behaviour  WrapAround Ottawa – Referrals via the Coordinated Access Committee  Helps families and individuals (up to the age of 20) create a team of friends, community members and professionals to support them in dealing with complex problems

Youth Services Bureau

(continued)     Child, Youth, and Family Crisis Line – 613-260-2360  24/7 crisis line for children, youth, and parents (up to age 18)  Has mobile capabilities so that in-home supports may be possible Crisis Unit  Short-term crisis stabilization unit, ages 12-15   Can stay up to 5 days, although stays are usually 3 days Parental involvement essential Mental Health Walk-In Clinic   Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00-20:00 (last appointment at 18:00) Short-term counselling may be arranged following walk-in visit Youth and Family Counselling - 613-562-3004  Ongoing counselling for youth/ their families on various issues

Accessing Services

Downtown Drop-In Child, Youth, and Family Crisis Line Mental Health Walk-In Clinic Youth & Family Counselling Services Intake Crisis Unit Young Men and Young Women’s Shelter

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

 Provides physical and mental health treatment for children and youth, ages 0-17  Intake can come via the Emergency Department, Urgent Care, and/or a physician's referral Emergency *Back on Track (adolescents) * Centre Ado du Millennium (adolescents) Urgent Care Inpatient Day Treatment Outpatient *Abuse & Trauma *ADHD/Disruptive Disorders *Consultation *Eating Disorders *Mood & Anxiety

The Royal

 Provides mental health treatment for youth and adults, ages 16 and older  Intake for the Youth Psychiatry Programs are done via CHEO’s Centralized Intake, with a physician’s referral  Intake for the Adult Psychiatry Programs are done via a physician’s referral or through another hospital

YOUTH (ages 16-18)

Inpatient Partial Hospitalization Day Treatment Outpatient

ADULTS

Anxiety Mental Health & the Law Recovery Sleep Depressive Disorders Occupational Stress & PTSD Schizophrenia Substance Use & Concurrent Disorders

The Ottawa Hospital

       Emergency Psychiatric Services – Civic and General Campuses Mobile Crisis Team  Physician or community agency referral required Inpatient Services – Civic and General Campuses Day Hospital – Civic and General Campuses  Physician referral required Outpatient Services – Civic and General Campuses  Physician referral required On Track: The Champlain First Episode Psychosis Program  No physician referral required The Regional Centre for the Treatment of Eating Disorders   Age 18 and over Physician referral required

Other Hospitals

   Queensway-Carleton Hospital – Ages 16 and over    Emergency Psychiatric Services Inpatient Services Outpatient Services Hôpital Montfort – Ages 16 and over     Emergency Psychiatric Services Inpatient Services Day Hospital Outpatient Services Outlying Hospitals   Youth over the age of 16 will likely be able to access treatment at their community hospital or in the community hospital’s Emergency Department Youth under the age of 16 will likely be re-directed into Ottawa or to a community-based agency within their town to receive services

Crisis Supports

 Child, Youth, and Family Crisis Line  613-260-2360 or 1-877-377-7775  For children and youth up to age 18, and their parents  Kids Help Phone  1-800-668-6868  For children and youth, ages 5-20  Distress Centre of Ottawa  613-238-3311  Mental Health Crisis Line  613-722-6914 or 1-866-996-0991  For ages 16 and older

Youth Services

A D D I C T I O N S

Addictions Services

 Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre  www.davesmithcentre.org

; 613-594-8333  Residential Treatment  Family Services  Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services  www.rideauwood.org

; 613-724-4881  School-Based Program  Youth Continuing Care Program (ages 15-17)  Youth and Young Adult Substance Abuse Program (ages 18-24)  Family Spiral and Parent Program (runs on a monthly basis)  Individual Counselling (usually less than a 2 month wait)

Addictions Services

   Sandy Hill Community Health Centre (*Services Available City-Wide)  613-789-8941   Individual Counselling for Youth, Parents, and Adults Wait is based on need (i.e. “triage”) Serenity Renewal for Families  www.serenityrenewal.ca

; 613-523-5143  Has sliding fee scale but identifies that no one will be turned away  Programs for January-June 2013 • Photovoice, ages 12-16 • • • • Teen Group, ages 13-16 Girls Group, ages 12-14 Partying 101, ages 16-25 Healthy Communications (for Parents and Youth, ages 9-16) Withdrawal Management Centre    www.cgso.ca

; 613-241-1525 Non-medical centre to assist with managing the effects of withdrawal Ages 16 and over

Youth Services

C O U N S E L L I N G

Counselling Services

   Catholic Family Services  www.cfsottawa.ca

; 613-233-8478  Individual Counselling  Sliding Fee Scale Family Services Ottawa  www.familyservicesottawa.org

; 613-725-3601   Individual Counselling  Sliding Fee Scale ($5.00-$100.00)  2-3 month wait Parenting Groups Jewish Family Services  www.jfsottawa.com

; 613-722-2225  Individual Counselling  Sliding Fee Scale

Counselling Services

   Christian Counselling Ottawa  www.christiancounsellingottawa.ca

; 613-729-8454  Individual Counselling  Sliding Fee (and fees can often be covered or reduced significantly by client’s church or by seeing a student counsellor)  No wait list St. Paul’s University Counselling Training Program  613-782-3022  Individual Counselling, ages 17 and over  Sliding fee scale ($5.00-$70.00)  Wait is no more than a month University of Ottawa Counselling Training Program  613-562-5289  Individual Counselling, for youth and adults  Sliding fee scale (maximum of $50.00)   Wait for youth counselling is 3-4 months Wait for adult counselling is 8 months

Counselling Services

  Employee Assistance Programs     Some employers provide access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) EAP programs offer short-term counselling (usually 6-10 sessions) EAP counsellors may be able to assist with resolving the issue, providing “bridging” until another service provider is in place, or providing referrals to other services EAP programs also frequently offer some type of 24/7 crisis service Private Practice Counsellors   Fees can vary but may be covered by extended health plans Counsellors/social workers/psychologists can be researched online via numerous sites  Examples include:  www.findasocialworker.ca

 www.cpo.on.ca

Youth Services

H O U S I N G , S E X U A L H E A L T H , G L B T T Q , I M M I G R A N T , A N D M I S C E L L A N E O U S

Housing Services

     City of Ottawa Emergency Shelter Placement Assistance   613-560-6000, business hours 3-1-1, after hours YSB Young Men’s Emergency Shelter  613-907-8975 YSB Young Women’s Emergency Shelter  613-789-8220 YSB Transitional and Long-Term Housing Programs  http://www.ysb.on.ca/index.php?page=housing-and-shelter&hl=eng Housing Help  www.housinghelp.on.ca

; 613-563-4532   Information, advocacy, and referral Assists with finding private market, supportive, and affordable housing

Sexual Health Services – Ottawa Public Health

  Sexual Health Centre  179 Clarence Street Satellite Sexual Health Clinics  4 all-ages clinics (Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans, Ottawa West)  6 youth clinics (South Carleton H.S., West Carleton Secondary School, Sir Robert Borden H.S., Osgoode Township Morrow House, Operation Come Home, YSB Downtown Drop-In)  http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/public-health/sexual health/sexual-health-centre

Sexual Health Services – Community Agencies

  Planned Parenthood Ottawa  www.ppottawa.ca

; 613-226-3234  Information and Referral  Options Support Program ( [email protected]

) St. Mary’s Home  www.stmaryshome.com

; 613-749-2491  Residence  Young Parent Outreach Centre (includes counselling, life skills and parenting programs, health care)

Sexual Health Services – Sexual Assault Supports

  Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre  www.orcc.net

; 613-562-2334 (office line)    Crisis Line (613-562-2333 ) Crisis Counselling  Available to individuals over 16 years old Long-Term Counselling  Available to individuals over 16 years old Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa  www.sascottawa.org

; 613-725-2160   Information and Referral Support Groups (may be available)

GLBTTQ Services

   Pink Triangle Services  www.ptsottawa.org

; 613-563-4818   Discussion and Support Group for Youth Parenting Group Gay Zone Gaie  www.aco-cso.ca/gayzonegaie ; 613-580-2610    Sexual Health Clinic Education/ Health Promotion Activities Social Events (book club, men’s yoga) GLBTTQ Youth Mental Health Counselling  613-233-4443  Provided by a counsellor out of the Centretown Community Health Centre  Services available city-wide

Immigrant Services

  Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization  www.ociso.org

; 613-725-0202     Individual Counselling  Sliding fee scale but waived for individuals on limited incomes Youth Counselling – Group Format Community Integration Programs  Settlement Work Multicultural Liaison Officer Program Catholic Immigration Centre of Ottawa  www.cic.ca

; 613-232-9634    Supportive Counselling Settlement Services Various Youth Programs

Miscellaneous Services

       Family Doctor Walk-In Clinics 2-1-1/ Community Information Centre of Ottawa  http://ottawa.cioc.ca

Youth Net/ Réseau Ado  613-738-3915 Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa  www.efryottawa.com/services.html#youthservices Parent’s Lifeline of Eastern Ontario  www.pleo.on.ca

Children’s Aid Society of Eastern Ontario  www.casott.on.ca

 Up to age 16

Community Health and Resource Centres

   14 Community Health and Resource Centres cover all areas of the City of Ottawa Services are provided to individuals based on geographic catchments Services vary between centres but may include:  Individual Counselling     Sexual Health Services Youth Drop-In Centres Youth Social and Recreational Programs Youth Community Development/ Health Promotion  Visit www.coalitionottawa.ca

closest to you to determine which CHRC is

CHEO’s Adolescent Health Clinic

613-737-3664

Strategies to Help Navigate

F O R S U P P O R T S T A F F A N D F O R P A R E N T S

Strategies to Help Navigate

   Try to identify what the issue actually is  If the person can receive service from a specialized agency (i.e. housing, sexual health), the wait may not be as extensive Connect with your local Community Health and Resource Centre   Can help with connecting with other agencies Can offer free, short-term individual counselling for the youth – but also for the parent(s) Think about CHEO’s Adolescent Health Clinic  Services for youth up to age 18  While the Adolescent Health Clinic will not see youth with severe psychiatric illnesses or eating disorders, they can potentially assist with many other challenges

Strategies to Help Navigate

   If counselling is needed, think about counselling options outside the “norm”   EAP or private therapists (if the person has extended health coverage) Family Service Centres or counselling training centres (like St. Paul’s University or University of Ottawa) Know that being on more than one waiting list is not a bad thing  Getting called to receive service when you don’t need it (because you’re already receiving support from somewhere else) is better than waiting for one agency to call you back Be careful not to provide too many options for referrals/ next-steps   Offering too many options can be overwhelming Often no more than three (3) steps/referrals are appropriate for individuals who are struggling

Strategies to Help Navigate

  Connect with a family physician (if not already done) – or a walk-in clinic, if necessary      Can provide a referral (if psychiatric support is required) Can provide medication and monitoring, if required Can serve as a central liaison for other service providers (depending on relationship with physician) May be an easier person to access with a shorter wait time May be able to provide therapeutic support Make use of YSB’s “as needed” services     Provides support while waiting for other services May provide other service providers with additional information about what is going on in youth’s situation May assist with the triage process May result in some short-term follow-up care

Strategies for Parents to Help with Navigation

   Be an advocate  Learn how to assertively ensure your youth’s situation is seen as unique – without being aggressive or rude Reach out to other parents (i.e. via PLEO, through Parent Support or Education Groups)   Parents who have experience navigating the system will likely offer suggestions to help as you try to navigate as well Can help to normalize experiences and emotions Educate yourself about what is going on in your youth’s life – as well as about the system   Learn – not only about the “disorder” or “diagnosis” – but also about the available services and about ways in which to strengthen your interactions with your child Ask questions – write them down – and write down the answers  This ensures that you get the answers you need and gives you the opportunity to have the time with the service provider that you need

Strategies for Parents to Help with Navigation

   Do not forget about your own mental health  Ask for help when you need it – rely on family and friends  Connect with a counsellor for support, if required Trust your instincts  If you feel as though something is going on with your youth (or that something has changed), do not minimize what your instincts are telling you  If you feel as though your youth is at immediate risk, bring him/her to an appropriate hospital Emergency Department Emergency services are available, if required   9-1-1 is available for life-threatening emergencies Ottawa Police Service is available if a person is at immediate risk of harming him/herself or others

Questions?

For more information… Julia Valley, MSW Youth Community Developer [email protected]

613-591-3686, ext. 251 Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre www.wocrc.ca