5. Counseling Services

Counseling offers multiple services to families and children with mental health needs. The types and combination of services are decided upon with the family in developing a service contract or plan of care. These services provide assessment and intervention services to families and children experiencing a wide variety of adaptive skill and social functioning difficulties, such as:

• Depression/suicide
  
• Acting out behaviours
  
• Anger control problems
  
• Sexual offences
  
• Victims of sexual and physical abuse
  
• Learning difficulties
  
• Poor peer relations
  
• Aggressive/assaultive behaviour

Services to address the above may include:

• Counseling and skill development
  
• Group support and mutual aid
  
• Networking and support building
  
• Crisis support
  
• Play therapy
  
• Parenting training

For referrals to Counseling Services, please call (519) 352-0440

3. Foster Care Services

Chatham-Kent Children's Services is responsible for the safety and protection of children and, wherever possible, Chatham-Kent Children's Services works to keep children in their own family.

Foster Care refers to the placement of children in supportive, nurturing environments when keeping them in their home is not possible.

Foster homes and residential services are located throughout the county. Depending on the child's needs, Chatham-Kent Children's Services is able to access foster care services outside of the county. Children may need foster care for just a few days, a week, several months or possibly years.

For information regarding foster care services, call (519) 352-0440

6. Adoption Services

Adoption Services are responsible for finding and providing permanent homes for children who have come into the care of the agency and who are legally free for adoption. Homestudies are conducted on prospective adoptive parents, with support provided to adoptive parents for a period of time following the placement of the child.

As well, if the agency arranged an adoption, the adoptee or the birth relatives may receive non-identifying information about family members or the adoptive parents. The staff in the department can also assist you with a reunion.

For more information about the services this department provides, please call (519)352-0449.

2. Children's Protective Services

Children's Protective Services exists to serve the needs of children in care of the agency by assigning them workers to advocate for and assist them in meeting their needs, in accordance with Ministry standards.

Workers ensure that children in the care of the Society:

• Are aware of their rights and responsibilities
  
• Obtain regular medical and dental care
  
• Receive service and care that respects their cultural and religious differences
  
• Take part in the development of their Plan of Care and any change to it
  
• Receive an education that is appropriate to meeting their needs
  
• Participate in recreational and athletic activities

To access these services, please call (519) 352-0440

4. Group Services

Group Services provides intervention to children, youth and parents in a variety of clinically-focused treatment groups.

Providing services in groups enables the agency to offer service to a greater number of clients simultaneously, thus reducing the wait for treatment and allowing the client to focus on specific skill development in a social setting. It is also widely accepted and is the treatment of choice for many situations.

Group Work Intervention affords an opportunity for participants to gain personal confidence and skill while also building on the experience of peers.

The group further provides support and a safe and accepting environment in which to test out new strategies for effectively relating with others. Feedback is immediate, sensitive, and designed to enhance the individual's journey toward effective and meaningful connections with others.

Most clinical groups involve a parallel parent education/support component, which is offered at the same time as the children's group program. This enables the group leaders to educate parents and guardians on methods for supporting the children's progress. It further reinforces the fact that addressing a child's emotional and behavioural problems is a shared responsibility and everyone in the family must work together for change.

To access these services, please call (519) 352-0440

1. Services for Children with Developmental Needs

Developmental Services offers prevention and therapeutic intervention to help infants and young children regardless of any special developmental, physical, emotional or
behavioural needs. They assist children to learn to participate in and contribute to their family and community to their maximum potential. The services are provided to children (birth to age 6) at a location that lends itself to the most favourable outcome (i.e. in homes, drop-ins, nursery school and child care facilities, schools and hospitals).

Included in this stream of service delivery is Autism Services. They provide services to children 0-12 years of age diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Services to the child and family include assessment, treatment, case management, advocacy, family support and linkages to needed resources. Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) is provided to children who meet the eligibility criteria in the Chatham-Kent area, in association with the Southwest Autism Intervention Program.

For information regarding services for children with developmental needs, call (519) 352-0440