Community Networks of Specialized Care
On May 18, 2005, the Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) announced that it would create four Community Networks of Specialized Care across the province. This change is part of MCSS’s transformation of developmental services.
The new networks improve service to adults with developmental disabilities who need specialized care for mental health and behavioural issues.
In March 2006, MCSS announced the lead agencies for the four networks:
| Regions | Lead Agencies |
| Northern Ontario | Hands (TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca) |
| Central Ontario (from Waterloo in the west to Peterborough in the east, including Simcoe County and the Greater Toronto Area) |
|
| Eastern Ontario (from Hastings County eastward to the Quebec border and northward to Renfrew County) | Ongwanada and Prescott-Russell Services for Children and Adults |
| Southern Ontario (including the Hamilton and Niagara regions and southwestern Ontario) | Bethesda and Regional Support Associates |
The Community Networks of Specialized Care ensure a support system that is
- accessible―adults with developmental disabilities, their caregivers and their families can get the clinical services they need when and where they need them;
- coordinated and integrated―all services and supports work together with adults with developmental disabilities and their families to make a difference;
- accountable―we know the networks are actually making a difference.
Specialized services are clinical services that are provided by qualified health professionals. These services include
- crisis response,
- specialized case management,
- community-based clinical services,
- day treatment,
- specialized housing, and
- in-patient hospital treatment.