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COVID-19 Related Updates
COVID-19 Related Updates & Resources
This page is designed to provide families who receive therapy, support and services through ErinoakKids with updates on our COVID-19 procedures. The page will be updated on an ongoing basis.
ErinoakKids Sites
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to help ensure the safety of clients, families and staff, we are providing on site services, by appointment only. Please do not come to any ErinoakKids location unless you have an appointment. Note that everyone entering our sites will be screened prior to admittance, and all adults must wear a mask while they are on site. Children ages 2 and older are required to wear masks, if possible. Please arrive on time for your appointment. Appointment end times are fixed, due to COVID-19 cleaning protocols, so late arrival may mean a shortened appointment, or, if there is not sufficient time remaining for therapy/treatment, the appointment will be rescheduled. Only one parent/caregiver may accompany a client to his/her appointment, and everyone will be required to follow posted safety procedures at all times.
We continue to offer a comprehensive range of virtual services for the children, youth and families in our care, as well as in person services.
Video For Children and Youth Returning to In Person Autism Services
Beginning Tuesday, August 4, 2020, limited on site Applied Behaviour Analysis services are being offered in a 1:1 format at our Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville locations. To help children and youth with autism prepare for the enhanced safety measures at our centres, we encourage parents to watch this video with their child or youth:
Infant Hearing Program
Infant Hearing Check
On Tuesday, August 18, 2020 the Ontario government announced funding to support a Hearing Check for babies who did not receive newborn hearing screening due to COVID-19. Understanding how important the Infant Hearing Program is to the development and wellness of infants, parents whose infants did not receive the newborn hearing screen can now have their baby’s hearing checked. The Hearing Check will be available for babies who:
- are more than 2 months of age
- have not received a hearing screening
The Hearing Check, which is designed for slightly older infants, is very similar to newborn hearing screening. It is designed to identify babies who need to be referred on to an audiologist for additional hearing testing. The Hearing Check will be available in audiology clinics in the following communities: Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, Oakville, Mississauga, Brampton and Orangeville. Parents will be contacted in the next few weeks and offered a Hearing Check appointment.
Read more about the Infant Hearing Screening Program at ErinoakKids.
Infant Hearing Program
Click here to read the latest information for parents on Newborn Hearing Screening and the Hearing Check during COVID-19. It explains how the Central West Infant Hearing Program, serving Halton, Peel, Waterloo, Guelph/Wellington, and Dufferin, has been impacted by the pandemic and answers some questions parents of newborns may have.
ErinoakKids is Calling, Please Answer
Please note that our staff may be calling you from numbers you do not recognize or that have a blocked caller ID, as some are working remotely. If you are expecting a call from ErinoakKids, please pick up even if you do not recognize the name on your caller ID.
ErinoakKids Connect - Online Registration Now Available
ErinoakKids Connect is a secure portal to provide clients and their families with online access to their ErinoakKids health care information and enable direct communication with ErinoakKids clinicians. Beginning May 1, 2020, registration is available through our website.
Learn more.
Temporary Changes to SSAH, Enhanced Respite and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) Programs
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) has announced that expenditures deemed admissible for the SSAH, Enhanced Respite and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities programs are being temporarily expanded to accommodate activities, services and supports that can be purchased by program recipients and their families while at home. This is being done to better support the health and well-being of program recipients and their families while physically distancing. These temporary changes are effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice by the MCCSS. For full details on these changes, please visit MCCSS’ website.
ErinoakKids Virtual Learning Hub
We've introduced a new Virtual Learning Hub, to help children and families continue to learn and grow during this time.
Information for DFO Service Providers and Families
During the closure, ErinoakKids staff working on the Ontario Autism Program - Direct Funding Option (DFO) are working remotely and continue to process all service-related documents submitted through the website portal
Mail service to ErinoakKids sites has been temporarily suspended, so all service-related documents should be submitted electronically through the portal
.
At this time, all DFO program guidelines and documentation timelines remain in place. Please undertake best efforts to submit all documents (invoices, behaviour plans, etc.) electronically within the usual timelines.
We understand that some activities that require in-person contact with clients or providers may not be able to be completed at this time. If you require an exception to the program timelines or have other questions please contact the following:
- DFO Service Providers: Please email Danielle Gauci, Program Coordinator, at dgauci@erinoakkids.ca
- DFO Families: Please call your Client Financial Services Clerk and leave a message – they will be monitoring their voicemail daily and will reply to your inquiry.
Longo’s Family Resource Centre - Update
Please be assured that families will not be charged late fees for keeping borrowed toys from the Longo’s Family Resource Centre during our closure. Once our sites reopen, please return borrowed items to the Centre. In the meantime, enjoy the toys!
Although our centres are open, we are not accepting returned toys at this time. If you have outstanding items at home, you will be contacted at a later date with details on when and how to return the toys.
Canadian COVID-19 Information Resources
Find the latest information about COVID-19: definitions, cases, information guides, etc.
Peel Region
Peel Region COVID-19 site
Kids Poster on Hand Washing (PDF)
How to self isolate (PDF)
Child Development Resource Connection Peel (Emergency childcare for essential workers)
Halton Region
Halton Region COVID-19 site
Government of Canada
COVID-19 site
Vulnerable populations and COVID-19 (PDF)
Reduce the spread - Wash your hands (PDF)
Public Health Ontario
Public Health Ontario site
How to self-monitor (PDF)