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Urgent Response Services
Urgent Response Services

This time-limited service (up to 12 weeks) is available for children and youth (up to 18 years of age) with Autism. It is provided at no cost to the family.

What is Urgent Response Service (URS):
  • It is intended to address a specific high-risk behaviour with a focus on preventing further escalation of risk of harm to self, others, and/or property.
  • URS provides a plan and service elements to address the high-risk behaviour that may include:
    • Short-term interdisciplinary consultation to a child/youth’s family and other professionals who may be working with the child and family including educator(s).
    • Respite services, with a focus on the respite provider participating in the delivery of the intervention/strategies.
    • Direct support to the family and/or professionals involved to implement behavioral and therapy strategies with the child/youth using a mediator model approach. The clinician will work with the family to support them in managing the child’s behavior. The clinician does not provide behavioural intervention directly to the child alone.
  • A dedicated URS Coordinator will work with the family to develop and oversee the service plan and to provide service navigation to other services within or outside of the Ontario Autism Program.
Eligibility

URS is available to children/youth currently registered in the Ontario Autism Program who are exhibiting one of the following high-risk behaviours that have started or escalated in intensity over the preceding 14-day period:

  • Suicidal Ideation or Behaviour
  • Self-Injurious Behaviour
  • Violent Thinking
  • Aggression
  • Fire Starting
  • Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour
  • Harm to Animals
  • Flight Risk
  • Risk of Exploitation
  • Property Destruction
How to Access URS

To learn more about the service: