Children

Children and their families are supported through a variety of programs that include one or several of the following services including  24 hour support at a children’s home, children’s respite services, family support, and special services at home.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES?

To apply for Children’s Services, referrals for all programs must go through Contact Niagara.

Please visit their website at http://www.contactniagara.org or
call (905) 684-3407.

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Family Support Services

Family support coordinators assist the families who have a child who has a developmental disability living in their home. Assistance is tailored to each family’s needs but could include the following: case coordination, respite recruiting, planning short and long term, applications for funding, administration of funds, school supports and transitions toward work planning.

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Weekend Respite Services

Children's Services of Community Living-Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln, offers planned respite in a centre-based environment for children and youth.

The staff ensures that the personal care, interventions, and daily living needs unique to each individual are met based on the information and documentation provided by the family, medical or other professionals. The staff encourages participation within the routines of the home, recreational events within the community, recognize individual personal interests and abilities and encourage skill development.

These services are designed to provide the family/ caregiver the opportunity to have their family member caringly and professionally supported outside of their home in a safe and homelike environment, to experience ‘away from home’ living, enhance their social skills through socialization with others, widen their friendship base as well as enjoy inclusive community activities.

Respite also provides the family with a break or time to rest, time to enjoy a vacation, resolve an emergency or critical personal matter, as well as the opportunity to share concentrated, quality time with other family members.

For additional information on Children’s Respite Services, please contact the Respite Program of Community Living, Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln at (905) 563-4115 extension 116.

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Summer Camps

Day camps are offered dependent on grants from the federal government and/or local foundations each summer to children with special needs living in West Niagara.  As well a long-term relationship has been developed and nurtured with the municipalities of Grimsby and Lincoln to support integrated summer camp experience for children.

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After School Program

Families of teens are able to access an after-school program located at the Hopkin’s Centre that provides after school care for families and a life skills and leisure opportunity for teens with special needs.

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Transition for Youth (Life Skills Training)

Funded by the United Way of St. Catharines - After-School groups are offered for teens & young adults who live at home with their families.  Each week there is a plan for skill building and activities to maximize independance and enable community participation.