Urgent Response Services (URS)

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Resources leads the delivery of URS for Durham Region, Haliburton County, Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough County, and Northumberland County (HKPR) by working in collaboration with local service providers. URS is one of the key elements of the Ministry of Children Community and Social Services’ Ontario Autism Program (OAP).

What does URS provide? 

URS is a time-limited (up to 12 weeks), rapid response service that addresses a specific need to prevent further escalation and stabilization of a child or youth harming themselves, others or property. The service is available to any child or youth registered in the OAP who meets specific criteria that is determined through a screening process with our Urgent Response Coordinators. This screener assesses the impact of high-risk factors and will be conducted shortly after referral to the program.

About Urgent Response Service

  • Short-term interdisciplinary consultation for a child/youth’s caregivers.
  • Development of a service plan following an assessment by the clinical team and in consultation with caregivers and child/youth.
  • Support for the caregivers and professionals involved in the child/youth’s life to implement intervention and/or therapy techniques, this is a mediator model intervention.
  • Service navigation and coordination to existing services within the community.
  • Interdisciplinary services involved in the URS program include, but are not limited to ABA Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Mental Health Clinical, Psychologist and/or Nursing.
  • Between the ages of 0 and 18 years old;
  • Are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder;
  • Registered with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP);
  • Living in Durham Region, Haliburton County, Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough County, and Northumberland County (HKPR);
  • Your child is engaging in a new or recently (last 14 days) escalated behaviour that is harmful to themselves or others;
    • Suicidal ideation or behaviour
    • Violent thinking
    • Fire starting
    • Harm to animals
    • Risk of exploitation
    • Self-injurious behaviour
    • Aggression
    • Inappropriate sexual behaviour
    • Flight risk / elopement
    • Property destruction

 

  • You need emergency services.  Call 911 or your local health department.
  • Your child’s behaviour requires crisis support service.  Refer to this to find the right support 2025-Crisis-Services-.
  • You need an out-of-home residential service.  While therapeutic respite services may be part of a URS plan, this is not typical respite support and will be time-limited.  URS therapeutic respite requires the respite provider to participate in delivering the intervention plan for the child in partnership with the family.
  • Does not provide direct funding or traditional respite services for families.
  • Is not a fast track to core clinical services in the OAP or other services outside the OAP.
  • An intervention for challenging behaviour that is happening only in a school or community setting.

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Watch this short video to learn more about our Urgent Response Service!

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Referral

The service can be accessed through:

  • Self-referral by caregiver.
  • With consent from caregiver, referral from a clinician, care coordinator or other relevant professional.

Caregivers who live in Durham Region or Haliburton County, Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough County, and Northumberland County (HKPR) and have a child or youth that meet criteria can access the Urgent Response Services by calling our team at 905-427-8862 , via email at ursreferrals@rfecydurham.com or by completing the referral form below.

One of our URS Coordinators will make initial contact with the caregiver within two business days of receiving the referral and will complete a screening to determine eligibility for the program based on the defined Ministry criteria.

If you are not eligible for URS, the Coordinator will help you connect with other services within or outside the OAP.

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What does Urgent Response Service look like?

For your family:

  • Your URS Coordinator and service team will design a service plan specific to your  child and family. The Coordinator may also make referrals to other services outside of URS that might be helpful for your family.
  • Various service elements may be part of your child’s plan as determined by the URS Coordinator and the other clinical professionals on the team.  The services provided are intended to support stabilization and prevent further escalation of risk of harm to self, others or property.
  • All interventions in URS are based on a mediator model approach.  This means that a clinician works with your family to support you in managing your child’s behaviour. The clinician does not provide intervention directly with your child alone, therefore you and your family need to be  working actively with the clinician(s) during service to de-escalate the target behaviour.
  • Therapeutic respite services  may be part of your service plan. This will be l be time-limited and does not look like typical respite, it will require you to work with the respite provider to participate in the delivery of the intervention plan for your child.
  • Once the plan is implemented, the URS Coordinator will monitor the delivery of services.  The Coordinator will meet with the family at the end of the first six-week period to review the plan and once again before completing service and discharge.

For service providers involved with your family:

  • Other professionals currently working with your child and family, such as a core service provider or an educator, may be called upon at the start of the process.  They may  be part of the team designing the service plan for your child.  They may be asked to meet during and/or at the end of the service to plan for supports for your family.
  • Current service providers may also receive a mediator model or consultation support from those providing the URS intervention.

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Before the end of service, your family will meet with the URS Coordinator to review the status of your service plan and determine what other referrals can be made within or outside of the OAP.

Additional Resources

Caregivers requiring immediate support should proceed to the nearest emergency department of their local hospital.

Ontario Autism Program (OAP)

Learn more about OAP

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

Visit OAP Urgent Response Services

AccessOAP

Visit AccessOAP website

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If your child or youth with a diagnosis is not registered with the OAP, contact AccessOAP or by phone at 1-833-425-2445 to register your child/youth.

URS Referral Form

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Our Commitment to EDIAA

Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth is committed to fostering a workplace where equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility are not just ideals but integral parts of our daily operations. We honor and celebrate the diversity of all employees, board members, community partners, stakeholders, and external personnel.

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More services to support children and youth:

Urgent Response Service

We lead the delivery of Urgent Response Services across Durham Region and HKPR, supporting families of children registered with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) who are experiencing urgent needs.

 

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This program helps families access services for children and youth up to 18 years with complex needs that go beyond the local (Durham Region) service system.

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Dual Diagnosis Respite Funding

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Access Service is your front door to services at Resources responding to general inquiries and appropriately redirecting you to the right program.

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