Birth to Age 6 - Autism Services In Halton Ontario

What masterpiece are you creating now. Shot of an attractive young mother lying on the living room floor with her son and watching him draw.

ROCK is committed to offering flexible, family-oriented, and evidence-based Autism services in Halton, Ontario and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) services for Burlington, Oakville, Milton, and surrounding Halton areas.

We believe in building the capacity of both our clients and their families by teaching the skills needed to live productive, independent lives.

Look through our programs below to learn how we can support you and your young child.

Entry to School

ROCK is pleased to provide the Entry to School (ETS) Program, a FREE funded program through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS). The ETS program is delivered in partnership with ErinoakKids, Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services, Community Living North Halton, and Dufferin Child and Family Services.

The program is open to children aged 3 to 6 years of age, registered with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and entering school for the first time. This program supports successful transitions into schools and focuses on building skills in six key areas:

communication;
play;
social interaction;
functional routines (following routines and self-help skills, like dressing and toilet training);
behavioural self-management (learning to regulate emotions); and
pre-academics, learning, and attention.

Accessing the Entry to School Program

The MCCSS, through the OAP, is sending invitations to eligible families to access this exciting new program. To be eligible to enroll in the OAP Entry to School program, families must:

Be registered with the Ontario Autism Program.
Receive an MCCSS invitation letter.
Have a child who is between the ages of three and six years of age as of December 31, 2022.
Have a child who is starting Kindergarten or Grade One for the first time.

Children who are already enrolled in school, either part-time or full-time, are not eligible to participate in the OAP Entry to School program.

ErinoakKids is facilitating registration for the partnership. To register for ROCK’s Entry to School Program, please call ErinoakKids at 905-855-2690, (toll-free 1-877-374-6625) and press 1, or send an email to intake@erinoakkids.ca.

Project ImPACT

ROCK is pleased to partner with Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services to offer Project ImPACT, an early intervention caregiver program. Build your confidence and reduce parenting stress.

Work directly with behaviour therapists to set individualized goals for your child.
Learn new techniques one step at a time.
Get coaching on everyday activities, such as meals, playtime, or getting dressed to go to the park.
Feel empowered to proactively support your child to build new skills.

We’ll work together on these goals for your child:

social skills;
communication skills;
imitation skills; and
play skills.

Project ImPACT runs for 12 weeks, alternating each week between group sessions and individual coaching. Follow-up support is available after the 12 sessions to help ensure child and family success.

If you have received an invitation from the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) to participate in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Caregiver Mediated Early Years Program, contact us at 289-527-5306 or projectimpact@woodview.ca.

If you believe that you are eligible and have not yet received an invitation from the MCCSS, please check your email junk folder, check your Access OAP portal, or contact the MCCSS Central Intake & Registration Team if you have questions.

To learn more about Project ImPACT: project-impact.org

Urgent Response Services

ROCK is pleased to be offering Urgent Response Service (URS), FREE program through the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services (MCCS). URS is delivered in partnership with ErinoakKids, Sunbeam Community and Developmental Services, and Dufferin Child and Family Services.

The Urgent Response Service provides free time-limited (up to 12 weeks) services and supports intended to respond rapidly to a specific need for children and youth up to 18 years of age, and registered in the OAP to prevent further escalation of risk of harm to self, others, and/or property.

Eligibility

To be eligible for OAP urgent response services, you/your child must be:

registered in the OAP; and
experiencing one or more key high-risk factors that:

Have started or worsened in the last 14 days.
Can be supported by OAP urgent response services – you will find out through a standard intake process.

High-risk factors include:

aggression;
property destruction;
violent thinking;
fire setting;
harm to animals;
risk of exploitation;
self-injurious behaviour;
suicidal thoughts or behaviour;
inappropriate sexual behaviour; and
flight risk.

If you think you or your child may be eligible for OAP Urgent Response Services, contact Erinoak Kids or ROCK yourself to start the intake process and find out if you’re eligible.

Erinoak Kids erinoakkids.ca/URSReferral

Intake Services at 905-855-2690, ext. 6

ROCK’s Access and System Navigation

Call 289-266-0036, from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

You may also be referred to the OAP urgent response service by:

an OAP care coordinator;
a clinician delivering core clinical services; and
other relevant professionals supporting you or your child.

Social Play Group

1:1 Fee for Service

We believe that the family should be at the core of our services. We offer one-to-one services and support at any of our ROCK locations, in your home, or at a community location to fit your needs.

Our knowledgeable clinicians can assist you with making decisions around goals, determining if a digital platform is right for your child, and what service model is best suited for your family. To ensure peace of mind around decisions, a free virtual observation is also available.

Fee-for-service programming for children under 6 can consist of goals uniquely suited to fit your child and family’s needs. Some possible goals can include:

toileting;
communication;
morning/evening routines;
school readiness; and
addressing challenging behaviours.

Our 1:1 fee-for-service offerings are eligible for Core Clinical Funding.

To register for a free service planning appointment to see if ROCK’s one-to-one services are right for you, please call ROCK’s Access Line at 289-266-0036.

Workshops and Drop-ins

Our Foundational Family Services Workshops are designed with you in mind. There are a number of different offerings to suit your needs. Each workshop is open to anyone registered in the OAP. Please provide your OAP number when registering.

Some of the workshops topics include:

toileting;
communication;
understanding behaviour;
an introduction to ABA; and
discussion about next steps after registered for the OAP.

Drop-ins are times set aside where children and their families can come together to socialize and meet others.

For more information on each event, please click the event titles below. You can register online, or call our Access Line at 289-266-0036. This line is answered Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visual Supports Clinic

Visual supports can provide structure and routine, promote understanding or expectation, provide reminders, encourage independence, and prevent frustration and anxiety. Schedule an appointment at our visual supports clinic where a behaviour therapist will create customized visual supports to use as a proactive strategy for you to take home, and provide tips on how to use them effectively.

Some examples of visual supports include:

choice boards;
visual schedules;
first-then boards; and
picture cards.

To book your appointment, call the access line at 289-966-0036.

Referrals

Click here to access our referral page.