Social Work
Social Workers at Niagara Children’s Centre are regulated professionals who provide support and brief counselling to families, children and youth to help them adjust to/cope with and understand the impact of disability and complex health needs.
Social Workers may work individually with referred children, youth, or families or may lead Family Education and Support Groups open to all children, youth, and families impacted by delays and disabilities.
Support for Parents and Caregivers
Areas of support for parents and caregivers include:
- Coping with the impact of the child’s condition
- Coping with stress related to having a child with a disability
- Dealing with change and transitions
- Feelings of loss and grief
- Strategies for parenting
- Changing relationships within the family
- Accessing financial assistance and benefits
- Communicating with various agencies and community services
- Planning for the future
- Linking with other families
- Case coordination and advocacy
Support for Children and Youth
Areas of support for children and youth:
- Feelings, worries and needs
- Developing positive self-esteem
- Questions about health and sexuality
- Bullying and teasing
- Family, friends, relationships
- Meeting other kids with disabilities
- Planning for the future
- Sibling support
Eligibility
- All individual Social Work services must be primarily related to the family or child/youth’s adjustment or coping related to the child/youth’s disability or delay.
- Parents/legal guardians of children aged 0-4* (*prior to August 31 of the year the child turns 4):
- The child must be receiving core Centre services of occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and/or speech-language pathology and have a need for the service(s) over prolonged period.
- Youth under age 18 and parents/legal guardians of children and youth who are school-age and under 18:
- The child/youth must have diagnosed or identified physical, developmental, or communicative delays or disabilities. The child does not need to be receiving active Centre services for the parent/legal guardian or youth to seek time-limited support from a social worker if there is a self-identified significant difficulty with adjustment/coping related to delay or disability.
Referrals
- Social work referrals can be made by parents/legal guardians or primary care providers. Visit our referrals page.
- Without a referral:
- Any parent/legal guardian or youth of children with physical, developmental, or communicative disabilities and delays can access Family Education and Support Groups led by Social Workers (e.g. community resources, funding options and assistance, parent support groups). Check our Programs and Events Calendar.
- Any youth with physical, developmental, or communicative disabilities and delays can access Open Registration Child/Youth Opportunities led by our social workers. Check our Programs and Events Calendar.
- Any family can access Family Education and Support Groups led by Social Workers (e.g. community resources, funding options and assistance, parent support groups)
- For 1-1 Social Work Support:
- Referrals can be made by any member of your child’s therapy team