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HomeClinics, Services & ProgramsA-Z DirectoryAccess Team

Access Team — delivering SmartStart Hub services

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About us   Make a referral  Other CHEO services  FAQs

Are you concerned about a child or youth's development? CHEO's Access Team, now delivering SmartStart Hub services, is available to direct families and physicians to the correct care and treatment for children and youth.

Who we serve

The Access Team is here to help make referrals to services for:

  • children who have missed important developmental milestones, like sitting or talking
  • children and youth who have complex physical and cognitive health issues
  • children and youth with simple rehabilitation needs, like temporary treatment after a sports injury

Services may vary by region. CHEO Access Team will support families to connect with agencies within their region.

Some of the services included:

  • Clinic for Augmentative Communication (CAC)
  • Coordinated Service Planning
  • Diagnostic Services (assessment for autism, developmental and or physical delays)
  • FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder) Assessment Clinic
  • First Words Preschool Speech and Language Program
  • Infant Child Development Program (ICDP)
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Recreation therapy
  • Respite
  • Seating and mobility
  • Social work
  • Speech therapy

Make a referral and/or contact us

You will need to complete this form to request services from the Access Team, including SmartStart Hub services:

Make a referral to CHEO's Access Team

If required, you can still complete a paper referral form and fax it to 613-738-4841 or send by mail to:

Access Team
CHEO
395 Smyth Road
Ottawa ON K1H 8L1

Contact us

Phone: 613-737-2757
Toll free: 1-800-565-4839
Fax: 613-738-4841

Make a referral to Coordinated Service Planning

If you are looking to make a referral to CHEO's Coordinated Service Planning team, please complete the CSP referral form.

Make a referral to CHEO Autism Services

To make a referral to CHEO's Autism Services, visit our Autism Services webpage.

Make a referral to the Ontario Autism Program

To make a referral to the Ontario Autism Program, please contact the Ontario Autism Program, Access OAP

If you have questions about other programs or services that your child may be eligible for or benefit from at CHEO you can contact the CHEO Autism Services team.

Make a referral for mental health, addictions or substance abuse services

1Call1Click.ca is here to help children, youth and families connect with the right mental health, substance use health and addiction services and care when they need it.

Make a referral to First Words

First Words is Ottawa's Preschool Speech and Language Program for children from birth to eligibility for senior kindergarten. This program, led by the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre (PQCHC), helps typically developing preschool children reach their full communication potential. First Words focuses on the prevention, early identification and treatment of speech and language problems.

If you are concerned about your child's communication, please complete the First Words Communication Checkup. Referrals to First Words may also be made directly to the CHEO Access Team by phone at 613-737-2757 or by fax at 613-738-4841. 

Make a referral to School-based Rehabilitation Services

CHEO’s School-Based Rehabilitation Services (SBRS) program supports students with rehabilitation needs in the school setting to help them fully participate in the school curriculum.

Visit CHEO's School-based Rehabilitation Services webpage to learn more and make a referral.

Frequently asked questions about Access Team, now delivering SmartStart Hub services

CHEO now offers SmartStart Hub services
CHEO and 20+ other Children's Treatment Centres across Ontario are proud to offer SmartStart Hub services for children, youth and families. SmartStart Hubs act as a clear point of entry and help connect families with child development services in their communities.

Meet our SmartStart Hub partner agencies
  • Brockville General Hospital —Infant Child Development Program
  • Children's Mental Health of Leeds & Grenville
  • ConnectWell Community Health — Infant Child Development Program
  • Cornwall Community Hospital
  • Eastern Ontario Health Unit
  • Family & Children's Services Renfrew
  • Hawkesbury Hospital
  • INSPIRE Community Support Services — Infant and Child Development Program
  • KidsInclusive — Hotel Dieu Hospital Site — Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Blind-Low Vision Early Intervention Program
  • Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit — Language Express
  • Ottawa Public Health
  • Phoenix Centre
  • Pinecrest-Queensway CHC
  • Renfrew Public Health Unit
  • Valoris for Children and Adults of Prescott-Russell — mental health and development and challenges.
  • Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa

Learn more about CHEO's Access Team, now delivering SmartStart Hub services.

How can I sign up for MyChart?

To learn more about and sign up for MyChart, visit our MyChart webpage and fill out the MyChart Access Request Form.

What is the Access Team?

The Access Team directs families and physicians to the correct care and treatment for children and youth. Some of the services included: social work, autism diagnosis, respite, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, behaviour services and the First Words Preschool Speech and Language Program.

What are SmartStart Hubs?

Ontario’s Children’s Treatment Centres and Surrey Place in Toronto are providing a new service called SmartStart Hubs. As SmartStart Hubs, these agencies will be a clear point of entry to services for children and families. Each Hub will bring together local child development professionals, providing seamless connections to assessments and services for families who have a concern about their child’s development.

What does the Access Team do?

Each child or youth that is referred to the Access Team is individually triaged and connected to the development and rehabilitation services that are best for them. The individual services will then contact the family to arrange service.

Who should be referred to the Access Team, including for SmartStart Hub services?

The Access Team, now delivering SmartStart Hub services, is for those with complex needs. It is for children who have missed important developmental milestones like sitting or talking, or children and youth who have complex physical and cognitive health issues.

The Access Team is also for children and youth with simple rehabilitation needs, like temporary treatment after a sports injury. And, it is even for families who may need a break from caring for their child or youth with complex needs.

How do I refer directly to an included service if I know what I need?

You may request specific services when you use the Access Team referral form.

How do I refer to the Ontario Autism Program?

To make a referral to the Ontario Autism Program, please contact the Ontario Autism Program Central Intake and Registration team. If you have questions about other programs or services that your child may be eligible for or benefit from at CHEO you can contact the CHEO Autism Services team.

When should someone call the Access Team?

When there is any reason to believe that a child or youth may need development and rehabilitation service. For instance, a youth has been in a car accident and may need physical therapy or a child is not sitting alone by 9 months.

If your main concern is about your child's speech and language skills you should use the First Words Communication Checkup.

How long will the wait for service be?

The Access Team includes many services, each with their own wait list. The Access Team identifies the best services for each child and youth but the specific wait time will depend on each service. You will be added to the wait list and the specific service will contact you to let you know your status.

Can families call the Access Team directly?

Yes.

Who does the Access Team include?

The Access Team includes intake staff who are experts in assessing the specific development and rehabilitation needs of each child and youth.

What services does the Access Team include?

It includes most Development and Rehabilitation services, like social work, diagnostic assessment, respite, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, behaviour services and the First Words Preschool Speech and Language Program.

What location does the Access Team cover?

The area covered by specific services varies slightly from one to another. Generally, the Access Team covers Ottawa, Lanark Leeds Grenville, Stormont Dundas Glengarry, Prescott-Russell, Renfrew County and western Quebec.

Can community groups like school boards contact the Access Team if they identify a child or youth with possible needs?

Yes. Organizations who share responsibility for the health and wellbeing of children and youth can contact the Access Team. It does not have to be a pediatrician or family physician. Note that families must consent to any organization referring to the Access Team.

Is the Children's Treatment Centre included in the Access Team?

Yes. CHEO's Children's Treatment Centre supplies a variety of services. They are all part of Development and Rehabilitation and are available through the Access Team.

Favourite Words (F-Words) for Child Development

Favourite Words (F-Words) focus on six areas of your child’s development and include: Functioning, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friends and Future. CHEO Development and Rehabilitation is using Favourite Words when working with you and your child, in order to identify goals and areas of focus.

Visit our Child Development resource and support page for more information.

If a child or youth is already receiving development and rehabilitation services, is there anything to do?

No. The Access Team is for children and youth who are new to CHEO services.

If a child is already on a waiting list for services, is there anything to do?

If you are currently on a waitlist for CHEO services, you do not need to do anything. You should not reapply. Your current waitlist position remains the same.

What happens after a child or youth is referred to the Access Team?

If we require additional information you will be contacted by a member of the Access Team. If we are able to refer you to service based on your intake information you will be contacted by that service. If you are not eligible for service you will receive a letter identifying other services you might be eligible for.

Are there any forms to be filled out?

There is one form to be filled out with all the information which may be relevant to assessing the needs of your child or youth.

Can I email the Access Team?

No. Email does not protect personal health information. Contact should be by phone or in person.

 

Need more information?

Visit our Child Development resources and support page to learn more and find CHEO recommended websites, apps, videos and more!

Child development resources

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