W H O , W H A T , A N D H O W
Prepared and Presented By:
Julia Valley, MSW
Youth Community Developer
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre

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Youth Services in Ottawa
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Mental Health
Addictions
Counselling
Housing
Sexual Health
GLBTTQ
Immigrant
Miscellaneous
Community Health and Resource Centres
Adolescent Health Clinic
Strategies to Help Navigate
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For Support Staff
For Parents
Discussion

Youth Services
M E N T A L H E A L T H

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Youth Services Bureau (YSB)
 www.ysb.on.ca
; 613-729-1000
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Provides services for youth, ages 12-20
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Programs include mental health, community, housing (emergency and long-term), employment, and justice services

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Multi-Systemic Therapy - 613-562-3004
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Intensive, home-based family preservation program for youth (ages 12 to 18) who are at risk of out-of-home placement due to significant antisocial behaviour
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WrapAround Ottawa – Referrals via the Coordinated
Access Committee
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Helps families and individuals (up to the age of 20) create a team of friends, community members and professionals to support them in dealing with complex problems

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Child, Youth, and Family Crisis Line – 613-260-2360
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24/7 crisis line for children, youth, and parents (up to age 18)
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Has mobile capabilities so that in-home supports may be possible
Crisis Unit
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Short-term crisis stabilization unit, ages 12-15
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Can stay up to 5 days, although stays are usually 3 days
Parental involvement essential
Mental Health Walk-In Clinic
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Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00-20:00 (last appointment at
18:00)
Short-term counselling may be arranged following walk-in visit
Youth and Family Counselling - 613-562-3004
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Ongoing counselling for youth/ their families on various issues

Downtown
Drop-In
Child,
Youth, and
Family
Crisis Line
Mental
Health
Walk-In
Clinic
Youth &
Family
Counselling
Services
Intake
Crisis Unit
Young Men and
Young Women’s
Shelter

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Provides physical and mental health treatment for children and youth, ages 0-17
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Intake can come via the Emergency Department,
Urgent Care, and/or a physician's referral
*Back on Track
(adolescents)
* Centre Ado du
Millennium
(adolescents)
Emergency
Urgent
Care
Inpatient
Day
Treatment
Outpatient
*Abuse & Trauma
*ADHD/Disruptive
Disorders
*Consultation
*Eating Disorders
*Mood & Anxiety

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Provides mental health treatment for youth and adults, ages 16 and older
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Intake for the Youth Psychiatry Programs are done via
CHEO’s Centralized Intake, with a physician’s referral
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Intake for the Adult Psychiatry Programs are done via a physician’s referral or through another hospital
YOUTH
(ages 16-18)
Inpatient
Partial Hospitalization
Day Treatment
Outpatient
ADULTS
Anxiety
Mental Health & the
Law
Recovery
Sleep
Depressive Disorders
Occupational Stress &
PTSD
Schizophrenia
Substance Use &
Concurrent Disorders

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Emergency Psychiatric Services – Civic and General
Campuses
Mobile Crisis Team
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Physician or community agency referral required
Inpatient Services – Civic and General Campuses
Day Hospital – Civic and General Campuses
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Physician referral required
Outpatient Services – Civic and General Campuses
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Physician referral required
On Track: The Champlain First Episode Psychosis Program
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No physician referral required
The Regional Centre for the Treatment of Eating Disorders
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Age 18 and over
Physician referral required

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Queensway-Carleton Hospital – Ages 16 and over
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Emergency Psychiatric Services
Inpatient Services
Outpatient Services
Hôpital Montfort – Ages 16 and over
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Emergency Psychiatric Services
Inpatient Services
Day Hospital
Outpatient Services
Outlying Hospitals
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Youth over the age of 16 will likely be able to access treatment at their community hospital or in the community hospital’s
Emergency Department
Youth under the age of 16 will likely be re-directed into Ottawa or to a community-based agency within their town to receive services

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Child, Youth, and Family Crisis Line
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613-260-2360 or 1-877-377-7775
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For children and youth up to age 18, and their parents
 Kids Help Phone
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1-800-668-6868
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For children and youth, ages 5-20
 Distress Centre of Ottawa
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613-238-3311
 Mental Health Crisis Line
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613-722-6914 or 1-866-996-0991
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For ages 16 and older

Youth Services
A D D I C T I O N S

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Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre
 www.davesmithcentre.org
; 613-594-8333
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Residential Treatment
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Family Services
 Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services
 www.rideauwood.org
; 613-724-4881
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School-Based Program
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Youth Continuing Care Program (ages 15-17)
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Youth and Young Adult Substance Abuse Program (ages 18-24)
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Family Spiral and Parent Program (runs on a monthly basis)
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Individual Counselling (usually less than a 2 month wait)

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Sandy Hill Community Health Centre (*Services Available
City-Wide)
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613-789-8941
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Individual Counselling for Youth, Parents, and Adults
Wait is based on need (i.e. “triage”)
Serenity Renewal for Families
 www.serenityrenewal.ca
; 613-523-5143
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Has sliding fee scale but identifies that no one will be turned away
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Programs for January-June 2013
• Photovoice, ages 12-16
• Teen Group, ages 13-16
• Girls Group, ages 12-14
• Partying 101, ages 16-25
• Healthy Communications (for Parents and Youth, ages 9-16)
Withdrawal Management Centre
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 www.cgso.ca
; 613-241-1525
Non-medical centre to assist with managing the effects of withdrawal
Ages 16 and over

Youth Services
C O U N S E L L I N G

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Catholic Family Services
 www.cfsottawa.ca
; 613-233-8478
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Individual Counselling
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Sliding Fee Scale
Family Services Ottawa
 www.familyservicesottawa.org
; 613-725-3601
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Individual Counselling
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Sliding Fee Scale ($5.00-$100.00)
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2-3 month wait
Parenting Groups
Jewish Family Services
 www.jfsottawa.com
; 613-722-2225
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Individual Counselling
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Sliding Fee Scale

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Christian Counselling Ottawa
 www.christiancounsellingottawa.ca
; 613-729-8454
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Individual Counselling
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Sliding Fee (and fees can often be covered or reduced significantly by client’s church or by seeing a student counsellor)
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No wait list
St. Paul’s University Counselling Training Program
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613-782-3022
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Individual Counselling, ages 17 and over
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Sliding fee scale ($5.00-$70.00)
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Wait is no more than a month
University of Ottawa Counselling Training Program
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613-562-5289
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Individual Counselling, for youth and adults
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Sliding fee scale (maximum of $50.00)
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Wait for youth counselling is 3-4 months
Wait for adult counselling is 8 months

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Employee Assistance Programs
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Some employers provide access to Employee Assistance Programs
(EAP)
EAP programs offer short-term counselling (usually 6-10 sessions)
EAP counsellors may be able to assist with resolving the issue, providing “bridging” until another service provider is in place, or providing referrals to other services
EAP programs also frequently offer some type of 24/7 crisis service
Private Practice Counsellors
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Fees can vary but may be covered by extended health plans
Counsellors/social workers/psychologists can be researched online via numerous sites
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Examples include:
 www.findasocialworker.ca
 www.cpo.on.ca

Youth Services
H O U S I N G , S E X U A L H E A L T H , G L B T T Q ,
I M M I G R A N T , A N D M I S C E L L A N E O U S

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City of Ottawa Emergency Shelter Placement Assistance
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613-560-6000, business hours
3-1-1, after hours
YSB Young Men’s Emergency Shelter
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613-907-8975
YSB Young Women’s Emergency Shelter
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613-789-8220
YSB Transitional and Long-Term Housing Programs
 http://www.ysb.on.ca/index.php?page=housing-and-shelter&hl=eng
Housing Help
 www.housinghelp.on.ca
; 613-563-4532
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Information, advocacy, and referral
Assists with finding private market, supportive, and affordable housing

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Sexual Health Centre
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179 Clarence Street
Satellite Sexual Health Clinics
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4 all-ages clinics (Kanata, Barrhaven, Orleans, Ottawa West)
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6 youth clinics (South Carleton H.S., West Carleton Secondary
School, Sir Robert Borden H.S., Osgoode Township Morrow
House, Operation Come Home, YSB Downtown Drop-In)
 http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/public-health/sexualhealth/sexual-health-centre

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Planned Parenthood Ottawa
 www.ppottawa.ca
; 613-226-3234
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Information and Referral
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Options Support Program ( options@ppottawa.ca
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St. Mary’s Home
 www.stmaryshome.com
; 613-749-2491
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Residence
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Young Parent Outreach Centre (includes counselling, life skills and parenting programs, health care)

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Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre
 www.orcc.net
; 613-562-2334 (office line)
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Crisis Line (613-562-2333 )
Crisis Counselling
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Available to individuals over 16 years old
Long-Term Counselling
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Available to individuals over 16 years old
Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa
 www.sascottawa.org
; 613-725-2160
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Information and Referral
Support Groups (may be available)

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Pink Triangle Services
 www.ptsottawa.org
; 613-563-4818
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Discussion and Support Group for Youth
Parenting Group
Gay Zone Gaie
 www.aco-cso.ca/gayzonegaie ; 613-580-2610
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Sexual Health Clinic
Education/ Health Promotion Activities
Social Events (book club, men’s yoga)
GLBTTQ Youth Mental Health Counselling
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613-233-4443
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Provided by a counsellor out of the Centretown Community
Health Centre
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Services available city-wide

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Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization
 www.ociso.org
; 613-725-0202
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Individual Counselling
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Sliding fee scale but waived for individuals on limited incomes
Youth Counselling – Group Format
Community Integration Programs
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Settlement Work
Multicultural Liaison Officer Program
Catholic Immigration Centre of Ottawa
 www.cic.ca
; 613-232-9634
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Supportive Counselling
Settlement Services
Various Youth Programs

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Family Doctor
Walk-In Clinics
2-1-1/ Community Information Centre of Ottawa
 http://ottawa.cioc.ca
Youth Net/ Réseau Ado
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613-738-3915
Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa
 www.efryottawa.com/services.html#youthservices
Parent’s Lifeline of Eastern Ontario
 www.pleo.on.ca
Children’s Aid Society of Eastern Ontario
 www.casott.on.ca
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Up to age 16

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14 Community Health and Resource Centres cover all areas of the City of Ottawa
Services are provided to individuals based on geographic catchments
Services vary between centres but may include:
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Individual Counselling
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Sexual Health Services
Youth Drop-In Centres
Youth Social and Recreational Programs
Youth Community Development/ Health Promotion
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Visit www.coalitionottawa.ca
to determine which CHRC is closest to you

613-737-3664

Strategies to Help Navigate
F O R S U P P O R T S T A F F A N D F O R P A R E N T S

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Try to identify what the issue actually is
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If the person can receive service from a specialized agency (i.e. housing, sexual health), the wait may not be as extensive
Connect with your local Community Health and
Resource Centre
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Can help with connecting with other agencies
Can offer free, short-term individual counselling for the youth
– but also for the parent(s)
Think about CHEO’s Adolescent Health Clinic
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Services for youth up to age 18
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While the Adolescent Health Clinic will not see youth with severe psychiatric illnesses or eating disorders, they can potentially assist with many other challenges

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If counselling is needed, think about counselling options outside the “norm”
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EAP or private therapists (if the person has extended health coverage)
Family Service Centres or counselling training centres (like St. Paul’s
University or University of Ottawa)
Know that being on more than one waiting list is not a bad thing
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Getting called to receive service when you don’t need it (because you’re already receiving support from somewhere else) is better than waiting for one agency to call you back
Be careful not to provide too many options for referrals/ next-steps
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Offering too many options can be overwhelming
Often no more than three (3) steps/referrals are appropriate for individuals who are struggling

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Connect with a family physician (if not already done) – or a walk-in clinic, if necessary
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Can provide a referral (if psychiatric support is required)
Can provide medication and monitoring, if required
Can serve as a central liaison for other service providers
(depending on relationship with physician)
May be an easier person to access with a shorter wait time
May be able to provide therapeutic support
Make use of YSB’s “as needed” services
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Provides support while waiting for other services
May provide other service providers with additional information about what is going on in youth’s situation
May assist with the triage process
May result in some short-term follow-up care

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Be an advocate
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Learn how to assertively ensure your youth’s situation is seen as unique – without being aggressive or rude
Reach out to other parents (i.e. via PLEO, through Parent
Support or Education Groups)
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Parents who have experience navigating the system will likely offer suggestions to help as you try to navigate as well
Can help to normalize experiences and emotions
Educate yourself about what is going on in your youth’s life – as well as about the system
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Learn – not only about the “disorder” or “diagnosis” – but also about the available services and about ways in which to strengthen your interactions with your child
Ask questions – write them down – and write down the answers
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This ensures that you get the answers you need and gives you the opportunity to have the time with the service provider that you need

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Do not forget about your own mental health
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Ask for help when you need it – rely on family and friends
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Connect with a counsellor for support, if required
Trust your instincts
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If you feel as though something is going on with your youth (or that something has changed), do not minimize what your instincts are telling you
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If you feel as though your youth is at immediate risk, bring him/her to an appropriate hospital Emergency Department
Emergency services are available, if required
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9-1-1 is available for life-threatening emergencies
Ottawa Police Service is available if a person is at immediate risk of harming him/herself or others

For more information…
Julia Valley, MSW
Youth Community Developer valley@wocrc.ca
613-591-3686, ext. 251
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre www.wocrc.ca