Niagara Children's Centre - Service Request

Getting Started

Si vous désirez un service en français, veuillez communiquer avec les coordinateurs d’acceuil centrale à Niagara Children's Centre afin de compléter l’outil de vérification et de faire une demande de service par téléphone (905-688-1890 ext. 168).

On this form parents and professionals can refer to the SmartStart Hub as well as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy and the Infant and Child Development Program. Professionals in the community such as educators, primary care providers, and other community partners can also request service for other programs. Click "More information for professional referral sources" below.

Please call the Niagara Children’s Centre Intake Coordinators at 905-688-1890 ext.110 if you:

  • Are unable to complete the form in English (Where possible, complete as much as you are able in English. All responses will be verified with an Intake Coordinator and an Interpreter during the Intake Call, if an interpreter is requested).
  • Require other assistance to complete this form.
  • Have speech/language development concerns under the age of 6 months.

SmartStart Hub services are available to children aged birth to 18 who live in the Niagara Region. Children aged 19-21 who attend publicly funded schools are also eligible for SmartStart Hub services. The SmartStart Hub is for families/professionals with concerns about a child or youth’s development who:

  • Are not sure what the child or youth’s development needs are
  • Are not sure what services to seek/what services they may be eligible for or how to access them
  • Feel that they would benefit from a discussion about the child or youth’s development/strengths/needs, referral(s) to appropriate services, and access to family education and family supports
  • Have concerns about the child or youth’s development that are not addressed within the Referral Checklists.

When a SmartStart Hub Intake Call is completed, our Intake Coordinators will be able to connect the child/youth to appropriate Centre resources or other community resources that may be relevant.

The purpose of these Referral Checklists is to help determine whether a child will benefit from an assessment within the areas of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and/or Speech-Language Pathology at the Niagara Children's Centre. This Referral Checklist is limited in scope:

  • It is NOT a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment
  • It is NOT a diagnostic test - specific results cannot confirm the presence or absence of delays or disorders.
  • It is NOT a “milestone” checklist that lists average ages skills are developed. Children with mild-moderate delays or other concerns not addressed by this checklist should be directed to the appropriate community resource.

This form was developed for use by legal guardians. It may also be used by medical professionals and community partners supporting a child’s development. Designated referral sources include:

  • Physicians or Medical Professionals (Niagara Health/hospital staff, primary care physician/nurse practitioner, medical specialist, pediatrician)
  • Family and Children’s Services (FACS) or any Children’s Aid Society (CAS) in Ontario
  • Niagara Region and Public Health: Healthy Babies Health Children, Public Health Nurses, Niagara Parents, Children's Services
  • Preschool Resource Consultants
  • Pathstone Mental Health
  • Bethesda
  • Service Transfers from other CTCs or PSL programs in Ontario
  • Infant Hearing Program (IHP) professionals requesting IHP Language services in Niagara
  • Contact Niagara
  • Childcare/Preschool Educators following Quality Child Care Niagara (QCCN) protocols

Completing the referral without parental consent is a breach of the family’s privacy. Professionals may support legal guardians in completing the referral if requested.

In addition to the services and programs listed above, physicians and other primary care providers as well as community partners listed above may be able to refer to additional services. Proceeding in this form will provide you with the options available to you based on your profession/organization.

All referrals for any of the birth to school start core services (SLP, OT, PT) must be received before August 31st of the year that the child turns 4 (i.e. the year they are eligible to begin kindergarten).

  • Children eligible for core service(s) who are referred in the calendar year they turn 4 (January to August) may receive limited services. This is due to wait times for assessment and therapy. Children with eligible concerns may be transferred directly to other applicable/eligible school-aged Niagara Children's Centre services.
  • If this deadline has passed, and the child is attending a publicly funded school in Niagara, the parent/guardian is encouraged to speak to the school team regarding their concerns. The school may consider referral to Niagara Children's Centre's School-Based Rehabilitation programs. The parent/guardian may also choose to request a SmartStart Hub appointment to help them navigate available supports and resources.
  • If a child is age-eligible for kindergarten but not attending (nor are they officially homeschooled), they may still be eligible for some Centre services. Please proceed with filling out this Service Request to determine what the child is eligible for.
  • If a child is age-eligible for school and is officially homeschooled OR attending a private school registered with the Ministry of Education, the parent/guardian or private school can inquire about eligibility for OT, PT and/or SLP services with Ontario Health at Home (https://ontariohealthathome.ca/community-care/school-supports/school-support-services/)

Note for Eligibility for School-Age Active Rehabilitation: School aged children, including those attending public and non-publicly funded schools with complex physical needs may be eligible for episodic active rehabilitation at the Centre for time limited, goal-specific concerns if there has been a significant recent change or loss in function such as deterioration of a pre-existing condition or a complex newly acquired condition. In addition, school-age children with complex physical challenges may be eligible for an assessment, consultation or an active block of therapy if adaptive strategies or equipment is required to maximize participation and independence to accommodate for a physical difference and the challenges are not solely related to cognitive delay. Please select a SmartStart Hub Referral for school-age children who fit this profile to be considered for the School-Age Active Rehabilitation service.

  • The information shared when completing the Referral Checklist is used only in summary form for statistical reporting purposes. You will not be contacted by anybody about the information you share in this tool, unless you specifically consent otherwise, after completing the Referral Checklist.
  • You or the parent/legal guardian/substitute decision maker will not be contacted by anybody about the information you share in this tool, unless a referral is initiated after completing the checklist.
  • If you make a referral, the personal health information shared will become part of the child’s health record that will be maintained by Niagara Children’s Centre. More information regarding consent will be provided if you choose to proceed with a referral.

Preschool Resource Consultant
The Resource Consultant services through Niagara Children’s Centre are geared towards supporting families who meet the service criteria for specialized supports, within EarlyON sites and within designated Child Care Centres across Niagara for French Services (outside of Welland/Pelham). In partnership with educators and support personnel, our Resource Consultants will provide formal/informal assessments and work in conjunction with a child’s team of specialists at Niagara Children’s Centre (as appropriate) to create goals and offer strategies to optimize each child’s development all within an inclusive, play-based group program at the EarlyON sites and designated Child Care Centres. If your child is actively involved in Centre services, please speak to your child's therapist. Referrals can be made by EarlyON staff: EarlyON staff Referral Portal

Preschool Resource Consultant - French
Referrals can be made by Designated Child Care Centres, across Niagara for French Services (outside of Welland/Pelham): Designated Child Care Centres - French Services

Aquatics
Niagara Children’s Centre aquatic services provide opportunities to enhance physiotherapy, occupational therapy and recreation activities, and enable children to further develop their functional skills. In addition to program- and service-based activities, the Centre also offers open swim programs for children and their families who may not be able to participate in community-based pool programs due to their condition. https://www.niagarachildrenscentre.com/aquatics

ASD Services
Niagara Children’s Centre supports children and youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, as well as their families, with a variety of programs and services. These include services under the OAP provided in partnership with the Centre and other community partners. https://www.niagarachildrenscentre.com/autism

Behaviour Consultation
The behaviour consultant at Niagara Children’s Centre works to enhance child and family participation and quality of life by providing support to clinicians and families for managing behaviour concerns of children with identified needs. Methods of support include assessment, consultation and education. https://www.niagarachildrenscentre.com/behaviour

Coordinated Service Planning
Coordinated Service Planning (CSP) was created to support families and improve service experiences and outcomes for children and youth with multiple and/or complex special needs. Through the support of a Service Planning Coordinator, families will experience an integrated, collaborative, and family-centered coordinated service planning process that will result in a single coordinated plan. https://www.niagarachildrenscentre.com/coordinated-service-planning

Family Supports
We offer a variety of Family Education and Support opportunities that are open to families of children and youth under 18 with diagnosed or identified physical, developmental, or communicative delays or disabilities. The child does not need to be receiving active Centre services. https://www.niagarachildrenscentre.com/family-supports

Infant Hearing Language services
The Niagara Children’s Centre is pleased to be partners with Affiliated Services for Children and Youth (ASCY)’s Central South Infant Hearing Program. At Niagara Children’s Centre, we provide language services to eligible children identified by the Infant Hearing Program, in collaboration with designated Infant Hearing Program audiologists, family support workers, and families. Speech-language pathologists are specially trained to support the development of spoken language through listening and development of communication skills in children with permanent hearing loss. https://www.niagarachildrenscentre.com/infant-hearing-program

School-Based Rehabilitation Services (OT, PT, SLP)
School-Based Rehabilitation Services (SBRS) are available to children attending publicly funded schools until the age of 21. The mandate of SBRS is to provide Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech-Language Pathology services for students in order for the student to attend school, participate in school routines, and receive instruction. https://www.niagarachildrenscentre.com/school-based-rehabilitation-services

Social Work
Social Workers are a regulated body of professionals who seek to empower and support children/youth and their families. Areas of support for families and youth include: brief solution-focused counselling related to disability, assisting with disability-based funding, connecting families with resources within their community, and assisting/supporting transition processes (school, high school, adulthood, major home modification planning, etc.)
https://www.niagarachildrenscentre.com/social-work

Special Services at Home (SSAH)
Niagara Children’s Centre provides support to parents in applying for Special Services at Home (SSAH) funding as well as in administering SSAH funding on behalf of families. The SSAH program helps families who are caring for a child/youth with a developmental and/or physical disability.
https://www.niagarachildrenscentre.com/SSAH

What to Expect:

  • Complete this service request in just a few moments.
  • Your answers on the Eligibility Checklist(s) may or may not result in a recommendation for referral based on the responses. If referral(s) are recommended, you will have the option to make referral(s) for assessment(s) with Niagara Children’s Centre. Our Intake Coordinators will determine which assessments are provided based on the completed checklists and the Centre’s eligibility requirements and service delivery models. Please note that final decisions about eligibility are made by Niagara Children’s Centre.
  • If a referral is submitted, the parent/legal guardian may receive a confirmation email that the referral has been received by the Niagara Children’s Centre and this email may contain information about next steps.
  • If a parent/guardian is submitting the referral, they will be given the option to book an Intake Phone Appointment before closing this form.
  • You can download a copy of the referral(s) for your records at the end of this process.