ONTATIO AUTISM PROGRAM

Urgent Response Services

OAP URGENT RESPONSE SERVICES

Urgent Response Services may include

• Short-term interdisciplinary consultation to a child/youth’s family and/or intervention team and/or other professionals who may be working with the child and family including educator(s);
• Respite services;
• Direct support to the family and/or professionals involved to implement behavioral and therapy strategies with the child/youth using a mediator model approach.
• Each family will have a URS Coordinator to support them to develop and oversee the service plan and to provide service navigation to other services within or outside of the OAP.

Who is eligible for Urgent Response Services? 

Urgent Response Services is available to children/youth if:

• The child/youth is between the ages of 0 to 18.
• The child/youth has a diagnosis of ASD.
• The child/youth is registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP).

The child/youth is showing one of the following high-risk behaviours that have started or escalated in intensity over the preceding 14-day period: Suicidal Ideation or Behaviour

Violent Thinking

Fire Starting

Harm to Animals

Risk of Exploitation

Self-Injurious Behaviour

Aggression

Inappropriate

Sexual Behaviour

Flight Risk

Property Destruction 

How to Access URS

Families can self-refer by contacting Creative Therapy Associates or Firefly directly.

Clinicians, OAP Care Coordinators, Service Coordinators, or other relevant professionals can refer by completing a General Referral Form and OAP URS Supplemental Referral Form found on the FIREFLY Website under “Get Services Now”.

Upon referral, the family will be screened to determine if they are eligible for the Urgent Response Services. If they are eligible, a URS Coordinator will work with the family to develop the intervention plan. Urgent Response Services are free for the family. If they are not eligible, the URS Coordinator will help the family connect with other services within or outside the OAP that may be appropriate for them.

By calling 1-833-696-5437 or by email at intake@fireflynw.ca

What do URS Services look like?

For Family:

The first step is to design a service plan for the child and family in collaboration with the family and arrange for delivery of the components of the plan. The URS Coordinator may make referrals at this point to other services outside Urgent Response Services that might be helpful to the family.

Service elements offered through the URS will be customized to the child’s and family’s specific needs. The services provided will focus on preventing further escalation of risk of harm to self, others, and/or property.

The behaviour intervention is based on a mediator model approach. This means a clinician works with the caregivers to support them in finding solutions for addressing the child’s behavior. The clinician does not provide behavioural intervention directly to the child alone. Therefore, the family needs to be prepared to work actively with the clinician(s) over the 12-week period to de-escalate the target behaviour.

Respite services that are part of the Urgent Response Services Plan will be time-limited and will require the respite provider to participate in the delivery of the intervention plan for the child. Once the plan is implemented, the URS Coordinator will monitor the delivery of services. The Urgent Response Coordinator will meet with the family for a review of the service plan at 6-weeks.

What is a Mediator Model Approach?

A mediator model approach involves caregivers acting as key facilitators in their child's development or behavior management. In this approach, caregivers are trained to apply specific strategies at home to support their child’s needs, focusing on enhancing caregiver-child interactions. Caregivers are empowered to guide their child’s progress, often with professional support, in areas identified on the support plan.

The benefits of this approach include fostering stronger caregiver-child bonds, providing more consistent and individualized support, and increasing the child's progress through daily, natural interactions. It also helps caregivers feel more confident and capable in managing challenges, while promoting long-term positive outcomes for the child’s development.

Steps to Getting Started

1.Get referred or contact Firefly
Contact the Firefly at intake@fireflynw.ca for urgent response services in your area to start the intake process or be referred by an OAP care coordinator, clinician, or other relevant professionals.

2. Complete the intake process
Firefly will contact you within 2 business days to discuss next steps and assess eligibility by asking some questions about your situation.

3.Create an urgent response services plan
If eligible, an urgent response services coordinator will work with you to develop a plan, possibly involving family, support systems, and relevant professionals. The plan may include short-term consultation, respite support, service navigation, and behavior intervention.

4. Implement your urgent response services plan
The coordinator will assist in implementing the plan, helping you access the services and supports outlined at no charge. You can access these services alongside other OAP supports.

https://www.fireflynw.ca/get-services/