published by Chantal Krantz
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The Navigator Program is a new program targeting the support for caregivers, primarily parents of children requiring complex care. It builds on and is a direct companion program to the pioneering Champlain Complex Care Program.
Where the Complex Care Program is focused on providing exceptional medical care for the children, the Navigator Program is focused on providing parents with the non-medical support they need in order for the whole family to thrive while meeting the massive burdens of caring for a child with medical complexity.
What is the Navigator Program?
Some of our Goals
Interfacing with the complex web of community support
Deploy a comprehensive Navigator methodology by similar partnerships across Canada*
Improve access to relevant support/community resources
Improve understanding of issues faced by families with children with complex medical care
Some gaps and challenges we've heard from parents
Isolation
Connecting with families with similar experiences
Emotional Health
Grief (grieving the loss of unmet milestones in life)
Relationship Health (communication, co-parenting, finding time for intimacy and relationship planning)
Anxiety/Depression
Financial Burden
Navigating the complex web of federal, provincial and municipal supports in order to receive financial assistance
Lack of ability to work because of the level of commitment to care and the unpredictability of the child’s needs
Significant out of pocket expenses on equipment and child care
Recreation
Finding accessible and inclusive activities/summer programs
Connecting through activity with child outside of caregiver role
Daycare/School
Securing daycare with appropriate staffing
Ensuring proper support for child in a school environment
Respite
Finding, retaining reliable worker for home support
Finding a reliable space for out of home respite
What we are doing so far
Work in strengthening partnerships, formalizing and/or creating new processes, advocating on behalf of families
Formalized community of practice of social workers and parents in our community who are already working towards supporting these families
Creating a comprehensive chart of what funding and resources are available and how to access them
Collaborating with Children's Integration Support Services/ Andrew Fleck Child Care Services to help address the gap in specialized child care
Regular organized gatherings such as a ‘coffee and chat’, wellness and informative workshops where content is determined by parents identified needs
Partners include: Government of Canada (Social Development Partnership Program), Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre, Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre, Local Health Integration Network, and Rogers House.
Quick Stats
Last updated: May 8, 2019