Pilot family connections centres in four communities

Families in the four pilot areas will be able to access a broad range of supports through the family connections centre (FCC), some of which they may not currently have access to at all. The pilots will provide an integrated approach to services, delivered by multidisciplinary teams, and will assist in coordinating services with other service providers such as schools and MCFD. Family connections centres have been designed to be responsive to the changing needs of children/youth and families. This community-based model allows families to access information, resources, supports and services without needing to connect with MCFD at all. 

These services are available to families through MCFD’s Disability Services stream. If you would like to see if your child/youth is eligible, you can connect with a pilot family connections centre to begin the assessment process, and we encourage all families to check what is available through the pilot family connections centre (FCC) before making that decision. Pilot FCCs offer a variety of services that will support the quality of life for children, youth and families by assisting them to work towards personally meaningful outcomes, experience meaningful social inclusion and participation and feel empowered by fostering and supporting families with skills, knowledge, and tools.

MCFD funded occupational and physical therapy previously provided through SAT will now be available through pilot family connections centres. Therapists at the pilot family connections centre (FCC) will work collaboratively with families and schools to develop a support plan that complements learning supports at school. Depending on local arrangements, therapists may work with children and youth in school, in the community, at home, or at the local FCC. In many cases, the therapy team (either the team you have in place through SAET or the pilot FCC team) will work with the school-based team to ensure that services are aligned and complementary. 

The pilot family connections centres will use a variety of strategies to ensure that children, youth, and their families are able to access responsive services. This includes offering service in locations other than the pilot family connections centre (FCC) (home, community, etc.) and offering group and virtual service to complement in-person and one-on-one options. Pilot family connections centres will have an established process to ensure that children/youth most urgently in need of support are prioritized for access. Staff from the pilot FCCs will work with each family to provide them with the resources they need.

Pilot family connections centres (FCCs) will recruit qualified professionals from a variety of disciplines. The people you have been working with may choose to work with the pilot FCC. If not, you will have access to the team of professionals that has been put in place within your community. They will ensure that your introduction to new therapists is a positive experience and that team members support the unique needs of your child and family. 

Families in pilot areas who currently receive School Aged Extended Therapies (SAET) and/or Individualized Autism Funding (IAF) have choices about how they want to access services. 

If you choose to access support and therapy services through the family connections centre (FCC), you will be asked to submit a form to our Provincial Services team. 

These forms are available at the At Home Program and Autism Information Services websites.

You will be able to access non-therapy services, like inclusive child care, developmental services and family support services that are not available using your SAET funding through your local pilot family connections centre . You may decide when you would like to begin accessing therapies and use the remainder of your allocated funding while you begin working with the pilot FCC. 

If you decide that accessing therapy services through the pilot family connections centre is not the right fit for your child/youth and family, you can resume your Individualized SAET Funding at any time. Individualized funding can be paused only once.    

For more information about switching between SAET funding and services delivered through the FCC please visit: Service Delivery Choice for Families - SAET 

Those accessing SAET funding to purchase chiropractic and massage therapy services can continue to access this funding whether or not they access services through the family connections centre.

You will be able to access services and supports like inclusive child care, developmental services and family support services through the pilot family connections centre  that are not available using your Individualized Autism Funding. You can decide when you would like to begin accessing therapies and use the remainder of your allocated funding while you begin working with the family connections centre. 

If you decide that accessing autism services through the family connections centre is not the right fit for your child/youth and family, you can resume your Individualized Autism Funding at any time. Individualized funding can be paused only once. 

For more information about switching between Individualized Autism Funding and services delivered through the FCC, please visit: Service Delivery Choice for Families - IAF

Individualized Autism Funding is available to families of children and youth with a new autism diagnosis in pilot areas. New requests for autism funding can be forwarded to the local CYSN office in the pilot areas.  

Children or youth with complex medical needs who have not previously been assessed for the At Home Program are also able access services through the family connections centre or can request SAET funding. If you choose to access Individualized Autism or SAET funding you can make the switch to accessing service anytime during the pilot period.