Urgent Response Service (URS)

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CTN is leading the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services’ (MCCSS) Urgent Response Service (URS) in Simcoe County and York Region. URS is one of the key elements of the ministry’s revamped Ontario Autism Program (OAP).

Is your child or youth:

Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Registered with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP). If your child or youth with a diagnosis is not registered with the OAP, contact AccessOAP at accessoap.ca or call them at 1-833-425-2445 to register your child/youth.
Living in Simcoe County or York Region.
Engaging in a new or recently escalated behaviour that is harmful to themselves or others.

If you answered yes to the above, please contact a CTN Service Navigator who will help determine URS eligibility based on defined ministry criteria.

What We Do

URS is a time-limited (up to 12 weeks), rapid response service that addresses a specific need to prevent further escalation 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 defined ministry criteria which is determined through a screening process that looks at high risk factors.

Services include:

Short-term interdisciplinary consultation to a child/youth’s intervention team and/or family and/or educator(s)
Respite
Direct support to the family and/or professionals involved to implement intervention and/or therapy techniques with the child/youth (e.g., mediator model intervention)
Service navigation and coordination to existing services outside of the OAP

The URS:

Is not a 24/7 crisis support service or a residential service
Does not provide direct funding for families
Is not a fast track to core clinical services in the OAP or other services outside the OAP

Families requiring immediate support outside of regular business hours should proceed to their nearest emergency department of their local hospital.

Eligibility:

Families who live in York Region or Simcoe County who have a child/youth, registered for the Ontario Autism Program can access Urgent Response Services by calling our team at 1-866-377-0286, ext.215 via email at urs@ctnsy.ca or by completing the referral form. One of our service navigators will make initial contact with the family within two business days of receiving the referral to determine eligibility for the service.

Referral:

The service can be accessed through:

Self-referral
Referral from a clinician, care coordinator or other relevant professional

Additional Resources:

If you have questions about this service, please email urs@ctnsy.ca.

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Does my child need to be registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) to be eligible for this service?

Yes, this service is accessible to only those registered in the OAP who meet specific criteria.
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Can I refer my own child or do I need a professional referral?

This service can be accessed by self-referral or professional referral.
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What do you mean by "urgent" or "in crisis"?

This service is provided to those in need of rapid response to prevent further risk of harm to the child/youth, others or property.
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What do I do if my child is in crisis during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)?

Please call our ACCESS team at 1-866-377-0286, ext.215 and someone will call you back within two business days. If it is urgent, please visit your local hospital emergency room.
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What do I do if my child is in crisis after business hours?

Please take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room.
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Once my child is referred to URS, how long will we wait for this service to begin?

Someone from our Access team will contact you within two business days of receiving your child’s referral to complete the screening with you. If your child is eligible, you will then be connected with a URS coordinator. There is no waiting list for the service.
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What does this service look like?

A service navigator will assess your child's needs and determine if your child will receive consultation support, direct support, service navigation or if your family will be provided respite.
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What if my child requires more support after the 12 weeks of receiving URS?

You will be referred to community agencies or discuss other options with someone on the URS team.

EVENTS

Kerry's Place - First Steps: A New Diagnosis of Autism - Online

November 08, 2025

Has your child recently received a new diagnosis of Autism? This 2-hour workshop is designed as a “first step” for parents and caregivers who are eager to learn about what current services are available, and begin exploring options to best support their families’ unique needs.

Kerry's Place - Caregiver Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) - Online

November 08, 2025

Adapted from the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® (NVCI) training program offered through the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), this session will help participants recognize and respond early to signs of anxiety and/or distress, implement supportive verbal and non-verbal communication techniques and appropriate de-escalation strategies, and manage their emotional responses during challenging situations.

SURVEY

As a parent/caregiver, I would like to learn more about:

Behaviour Regulation Strategies
Mental Health and Self-Care for Caregivers/Parents
Information Related to School or Special Education
Funding and Financial Planning Resources and Information for Kids and Youth with Disabilities
Transition Planning (school and adulthood)