Ontario Autism Program: workforce capacity fund
Learn about the workforce capacity fund under the Ontario Autism Program.
Overview
The needs-based Ontario Autism Program (OAP) has changed the way many autism services are being delivered. With more funding going directly to families for core clinical services, the demand for clinicians continues to rise, and the sector is adapting to offer a broader range of flexible and individualized clinical services in an open market.
The workforce capacity fund gives grants to service providers and community organizations to help address challenges and transition to delivering service within the needs-based program.
The workforce capacity fund provides grants in two funding streams:
- Service provider expansion stream: provides direct financial support to help children’s service providers expand their internal capacity to deliver OAP clinical services to more children. This includes 12-month grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 in value.
- Sector innovation stream: supports capacity-building projects that can lead to system-wide change and innovation at the community, regional or provincial level. This includes 12-month grants ranging from $25,000 to $300,000 in value.
We prioritize applications for the fund that aim to support families and service providers in northern, rural and remote communities, as well as francophone and Indigenous families, as they often face unique challenges.
We have sought applications for the fund in three rounds and awarded grants in 2022, 2023 and 2024. We are not currently accepting applications. More information about future opportunities to apply for the fund will be posted here.
The fund is one initiative under the OAP capacity action plan.
Grant recipients
2024
The following service providers received workforce capacity fund grants in 2024 for the third round of funding.
Service provider expansion stream
Abilities Behaviour Consulting
Location: Guelph
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Anchor Rehabilitation and Support Services
Location: Waterdown
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Anderson Therapy Services Inc.
Location: Dundas
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Aspire Academy Inc.
Location: Carp
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Attuned Families
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
Autism Behavioural Services Inc.
Location: Fergus
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
The Autism Centre of Toronto
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Autism In Mind Children's Charity
Location: Markham
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Boomerang Health
Location: Maple/Vaughan
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Brenna Lanktree and Associates
Location: Sault Ste. Marie
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; purchasing clinical supervision.
Bright Spot Therapy Services
Location: Timmins
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Canopy Support Services
Location: Peterborough
Project description: Hiring new staff.
Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent
Location: Chatham
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
CommuniCare Therapy Inc.
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
Connections Behaviour Consulting
Location: Guelph
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
ConnectWell Community Health
Location: Lanark
Project description: Increasing staff hours.
Creative Therapy Associates
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services
Location: Hiawatha First Nation
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Dragonfly Family and Learning Services Inc.
Location: Killaloe
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
Dufferin Child and Family Services
Location: Orangeville
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Eastwood Psychologists
Location: Brampton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Geneva Centre for Autism
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
George Jeffrey Children's Centre
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Grandview Children’s Centre
Location: Courtice
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
The Hullabaloo ABA Inc.
Location: Mississauga
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
The Interdisciplinary Family Centre of Eastern Ontario Inc.
Location: Clarence-Rockland
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Ignite
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Kenora-Rainy River Districts Child and Family Services
Location: Kenora
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Lansdowne Children’s Centre
Location: Brantford
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Lumenus
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
New Haven Learning Centre
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Northern Outreach and Clinical Services
Location: Sudbury
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Nurturing Behaviours Inc.
Location: Delaware
Project description: Hiring new staff/ increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
One Kids Place Children's Treatment Centre
Location: North Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Oxford Speech Plus
Location: Tillsonburg
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
QuickStart Early Years
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
R. Pessah Speech-Language Pathology Professional Corporation
Location: Timmins
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
South Asian Autism Awareness Centre
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff.
Spectrum Intervention Group
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Speech Specialists Canada
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Spokes Autism Services Inc.
Location: Burlington
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Sunshine Learning Centre Inc.
Location: Ajax
Project description: Hiring new staff/increased staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
Telus Health Canada Ltd.
Location: North York
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; investing in technology.
THRIVE Child Development Centre
Location: Sault Ste. Marie
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Timiskaming Speech and Language Inc.
Location: Kirkland Lake
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Weechi-it-te-win Family Services Inc.
Location: Fort Frances
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Willow Tree Mind & Wellness Inc.
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Zanon Speech Therapy
Location: Nepean
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Sector innovation stream
ACT Learning Centre
Partners: ABC Pediatrics, On the Ball Pediatrics, Spectrum Intervention Group, Believe Grow Thrive, Creative Therapy, Insight Rehab, Bright Spot, All About Communication, OT4Kids, Elgin Bluewater Speech and Language, Spark Pediatrics, Aspire Academy, Big Words Little People, Stride Academy, Make Way for Me, Capelli and Associates, Anchor Psychology.
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Provincewide recruitment and retention of qualified clinicians to the OAP in speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and applied behaviour analysis, with the addition of mental health in 2024-25, and focus on northern, rural, remote and francophone communities.
Algoma Family Services
Partners: Garden River Wellness Centre, Garden River First Nations
Location: Sault Ste. Marie
Project description: Co-create an approach to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning that bridges Indigenous and Western worldviews and the development of culturally relevant workshops to provide follow-up and treatment support for families post-diagnosis.
Algonquin Child and Family Services (Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca)
Partners: North Bay Indigenous Hub
Location: North Bay
Project description: Enhance the accessibility of OAP services for Indigenous families through community networks; the delivery of OAP services that respect cultural traditions; capacity building for Indigenous Hub staff resulting in the delivery of quality OAP services; and engagement of communities in service design.
AlphaBee
Partners: Biglow Behaviour Services, Raven Winged Consulting, Sounding Board Psychotherapy
Location: Etobicoke
Project description: Create relevant content that is accessible provincewide to improve staff training and skills, targeting front-line and supervisory staff and non-English speaking caregivers, with a focus on Francophone and Indigenous communities.
Bethesda Community Services
Partners: Contact Brant
Location: Thorold
Project description: Disseminate a therapeutic respite training series for respite agencies contracted to provide respite to children on the autism spectrum accessing Ontario Autism Program urgent response services.
Big Words Little People - Speech, Language and Literacy
Partners: Make Way for Me Occupational Therapy for Children and Youth, Stride Academy
Location: Napanee
Project description: Provision of interdisciplinary clinical student placements, including candidates in the following programs: speech-language pathology, communicative disorders assistant, applied behaviour analysis, occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant.
Children's Community Network
Partners: Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury-Manitoulin
Location: Sudbury
Project description: Build parent/caregiver and broader system capacity to support children and youth on the autism spectrum who are connected to the child welfare system.
Dalton Associates
Partners: Eabametoong First Nation Education Authority
Location: Fergus
Project description: Deliver training and supervision in applied behaviour analysis to educational staff and paraprofessionals to increase local capacity to provide culturally safe services to children and youth on the autism spectrum.
Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services
Partners: Mackenzie Health
Location: Hiawatha First Nation
Project description: Design and implement a series of Indigenous-based, psycho-educational workshops for Indigenous parents of children on the autism spectrum.
FIREFLY - Physical, Emotional, Developmental and Community Services
Partners: Giishkaandago' Ikwe Health Services, Kenora Association for Community Living
Location: Kenora
Project description: Continue to expand current resources by working with partners to further develop culturally-appropriate screening and caregiver education resulting in improved efficiencies; building and refining client and caregiver support strategies to improve access to services; and extending the project reach to support families in remote, isolated communities.
Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
Partners: CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University (Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy programs), Brock University, Mohawk College, Durham College
Location: Hamilton
Project description: Provide dedicated placements in the McMaster Children’s Hospital Autism Program for students, including specific spaces for students who are bilingual in French and English and the development and implementation of training for interdisciplinary trainees to learn about self-report tools and their application within clinical practice.
Monarch House
Partners: Brock University, Western University (Faculty of Education, Clinical Education), Mohawk College, University of Toronto, Georgian College, Seneca College, Boomerang Health, Telus Health Children's Support
Location: Oakville
Project description: Implement a specialized interdisciplinary placement program for college and university students studying in the fields of speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, applied behaviour analysis, and mental health to train and prepare skilled clinicians and direct care staff to deliver core clinical services in the Ontario Autism Program.
Progressive Steps Training and Consultation Inc.
Partners: Durham College
Location: Ajax
Project description: Implement a behaviour assessment and treatment clinic specializing in the delivery of trauma-informed applied behaviour analysis services and deliver a student training program to build the clinical competency and practical experience of behaviour science students.
Punjabi Community Health Services
Partners: Kick Start Therapy
Location: Mississauga
Project description: Expanding upon a culturally and linguistically appropriate service delivery model for children accessing core clinical services in the Ontario Autism Program to include group-based speech-language pathology.
Prescott-Russell Autism Group
Partners: The Interdisciplinary Family Centre of Eastern Ontario
Location: Embrun
Project description: Identify priority areas of need for Francophone families through the administration of a survey to inform the development and delivery of French language services and supports under the Ontario Autism Program.
Six Nations of the Grand River
Partners: McMaster Children’s Hospital Autism Program, Six Nations Family Health Team
Location: Oshweken
Project description: Increase access to diagnostic services available in the community that are aligned with the unique values and beliefs of the Haudenosaunee people and result in increased trust and willingness to explore diagnosis.
Stride Academy
Partners: Brock University, Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis
Location: Kingston
Project description: Developing a recruitment toolkit to help attract new professionals to the field of applied behaviour analysis.
Superior Life Skills
Partners: Superior Greenstone District School Board, B.A. Parker Public School, Marjorie Mills Public School, Geraldton Composite High School, Ginoogaming First Nation, Long Lake #58, Migizi Miigwanan Secondary
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Increase family engagement, including in rural communities and in rural First Nations through a the delivery of workshops, hosting a conference with local community support providers and caregivers and the creation of school transition planning and materials.
Thames Valley Children’s Centre
Partners: Western University (Mary J. Wright Child and Youth Development Clinic)
Location: London
Project description: Increase access to applied behavioural analysis and mental health services, including through virtual service delivery, and providing provincially scaled training and education opportunities.
University Health Network
Partners: Holland Bloorview Rehabilitation Kids Hospital, Northern Ontario School of Medicine University, The Institute for Education Research, Western University, McMaster University's School of Rehabilitation Science
Location: Toronto
Project description: Extension of an inter-disciplinary, inter-regional (Greater Toronto Area, Southwestern Ontario and Northern Ontario) student-led clinic for speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and mental health services.
wm + a
Partners: ABA Educator Inc., Child and Community Resources, Kerry Maisels Behaviour Consulting Inc., THRIVE Child Development Centre
Location: Toronto
Project description: Create a competency tool kit for practitioners, including associated training through the delivery of regional sessions; the development of a provincial repository; and the development and delivery of training modules in both French and English to support professionals serving children on the autism spectrum in their community.
2023
The following service providers received workforce capacity fund grants in 2023 for the second round of funding.
Service provider expansion stream
A Balanced Approach
Location: Conestogo
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Abilities Behaviour Consulting
Location: Guelph
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
Achieve Therapy Centre
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Algonquin Child and Family Services (Hands Thefamilyhelpnetwork.ca)
Location: North Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Anchor Rehabilitation and Support Services
Location: Waterdown
Project description: Hiring new staff; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Applied Behaviour Consulting Inc.
Location: Greely
Project description: Increasing staff hours; staff training
Aspiration & Discoveries
Location: Markham
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
The Autism Centre of Toronto
Location: North York
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
Autism in Mind Children’s Charity
Location: Markham
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Behaviour Analysis North
Location: Sudbury
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Behaviour Innovations
Location: Hamilton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
The Behaviour Team
Location: North York
Project description: Increasing staff hours; staff training.
Best Behaviour Inc.
Location: Waterloo
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; purchasing clinical supervision.
Bethesda Community Services Inc.
Location: Thorold
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Big Words Little People – Speech, Language and Literacy
Location: Napanee
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Boomerang Health
Location: Maple/Vaughan
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Brenna Lanktree and Associates Inc.
Location: Sault Ste. Marie
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Camino Wellbeing and Mental Health
Location: Kitchener
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Canopy Support Services
Location: Peterborough
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Chad Clower Speech-Language Pathologist Professional
Location: Rosslyn
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent
Location: Chatham
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
CommuniCare Therapy
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Hiring new staff.
Community Living North Halton
Location: Milton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Connections Behaviour Consulting
Location: Guelph
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote areas.
ConnectWell Community Health
Location: Lanark
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Counselling Services of Belleville and District
Location: Belleville
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Creative Therapy Associates
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Dalton Associates
Location: Fergus
Project description: Increasing staff hours.
The Discovery Centre
Location: Oakville
Project description: Hiring new staff /increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services
Location: Hiawatha First Nation
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Dufferin Child and Family Services
Location: Orangeville
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Eastwood Psychologists
Location: Brampton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Family Counselling Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries
Location: Cambridge
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
George Jeffrey Children’s Centre
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Grandview Children’s Centre
Location: Oshawa
Project description: Hiring new staff.
Haldimand Norfolk R E A C H
Location: Townsend
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Hello Speech Developmental Services
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Hope Autism Services Inc.
Location: Mississauga
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Horizons Behaviour Consulting
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare – Regional Children’s Centre
Location: Windsor
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Ignite
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Integrate Health Services Inc.
Location: Ajax
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
John McGivney Children’s Centre
Location: Windsor
Project description: Hiring new staff; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Kayla’s Children’s Centre
Location: Thornhill
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
Kenora Chiefs Advisory
Location: Kenora
Project description: Staff training; service provider travel to support the creation of a professional development workshop to inform the delivery of culturally appropriate services for Indigenous children.
Kerry Maisels Behaviour Consulting Inc.
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Keystone Child, Youth & Family Services
Location: Owen Sound
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Kingston Health Sciences Centre
Location: Kingston
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Lake Ridge Community Support Services
Location: Whitby
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
Lansdowne Children’s Centre
Location: Brantford
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
Lifeworks
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
Lumenus
Location: North York
Project description: Increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Magnificent Minds Inc.
Location: North York
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Make Way For Me! Occupational Therapy for Children and Youth
Location: Kingston
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investments in technology.
Maltby Centre
Location: Kingston
Project description: Hiring new staff; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Missing Links Autism
Location: Oakville
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
Momentum Autism Services
Location: Hamilton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
New Haven Learning Centre
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Northern Outreach and Clinical Services
Location: Sudbury
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Nurturing Behaviours Inc.
Location: Delaware
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
One Care Inc.
Location: Oshawa
Project description: Hiring new staff.
One Kids Place Children’s Treatment Centre
Location: North Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
The Portia Learning Centre Inc.
Location: Kanata
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
QuickStart Early Years
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Room to Bloom Therapy Centre Inc.
Location: Bolton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Roots & Wings Psychology
Location: Sudbury
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Shining Through Centre
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
South Asian Autism Awareness Centre
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff.
Spectrum Intervention Group
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
Speech Specialists Canada
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Speech Therapy Centres of Canada Ltd.
Location: Richmond Hill
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Spokes Autism Services Inc.
Location: Burlington
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Stride Academy
Location: Kingston
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training.
Strides Toronto
Location: Scarborough
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Sunbeam Community and Developmental Services
Location: Kitchener
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Surrey Place
Location: Toronto
Project description: Investing in technology.
Thinking In Pictures Educational Services (TIPES)
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
THRIVE Child Development Centre
Location: Sault Ste. Marie
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Timiskaming Speech and Language Inc.
Location: Kirkland Lake
Project description: Increasing staff hours; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Two Can Talk
Location: Vaughan
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
The Village BITO (Because It Takes One)
Location: Vaughan
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Virtual Behaviour Services
Location: Amherstburg
Project description: Hiring new staff.
Weechi-it-te-win Family Services Inc.
Location: Fort Frances
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services
Location: Burlington
Project description: Hiring new staff; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Zanon Speech Therapy
Location: Nepean
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investments in technology.
Sector innovation stream
ACT Learning Centre
Partners: ABC Pediatrics, On the Ball Pediatrics, Creative Therapy Autism, Insight Rehab, Bright Spot, All About Communication, OT4Kids, Make Way for Me, Elgin Bluewater Speech/Language, Creative Therapy, Big Words Little People, Spark Pediatrics, Stride Academy, Spectrum Intervention Group, Aspire Academy
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Develop digital resources, a virtual job fair, and student placements for ABA/SLP/OT students with a focus on northern, rural, remote and francophone communities.
Algoma Family Services
Partners: Garden River Wellness Centre, Garden River First Nation
Location: Sault Ste. Marie
Project description: Pilot a collaborative approach to assessment, diagnosis and treatment implementation that represents Western and Indigenous world views.
Algonquin Child and Family Services (Hands Thefamilyhelpnetwork.ca)
Partners: North Bay Indigenous Hub
Location: North Bay
Project description: Develop a local, community-based model of service for Indigenous families that supports Indigenous wellness and a continuum of culturally safe services ensuring diversity of traditional practices is respected.
Alphabee
Partners: Roots & Wings Psychology
Location: Etobicoke
Project description: Improve access to training for behaviour therapists and increase the types of training that are available. This will include adding training modules about cultural competency with a focus on interacting with Indigenous communities and factors to consider when working with rural and remote communities.
Anderson Therapy Services Inc.
Partners: Parnell Associates, Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Centre (KERC)
Location: Dundas
Project description: Develop a weekly multi-disciplinary screening program and screening tool to support early identification with a focus on serving Indigenous children and those living in rural/remote areas. Develop digital materials for families to increase access to information about autism and the OAP funding process.
Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services
Partners: FIREFLY – Physical, Emotional, Developmental and Community Services
Location: Kenora
Project description: Facilitate access to diagnosis, service navigation and service coordination for children in care.
Autism Society Ontario
Partners: Department of Applied Disability Studies, Brock University; Kalyana Support Systems; Ignite Behavioural Consulting
Location: Toronto
Project description: Develop and deliver a modular e-course to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of Autism-specific ABA staff training for programs across Ontario.
Dalton Associates
Partners: Eabametoong First Nation Education Authority
Location: Fergus
Project description: Provide training and supervision to educational staff/paraprofessionals in Eabametoong First Nation to increase local capacity to serve children and youth with autism.
FIREFLY – Physical, Emotional, Developmental and Community Services
Partners: Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services, Kenora Association for Community Living, Kenora Chiefs Advisory, Kenora Rainy River Districts Child & Family Services, Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority
Location: Kenora
Project description: Develop a community-based outreach program that supports in-community screening, assessment, OAP registration and access to service for Indigenous families and children.
George Jeffrey Children’s Centre
Partners: Children's Centre Thunder Bay; Dilico Anishinabek Family Care; North of Superior Programs
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Address service access and technology issues in the north and create a professional development and training program that would support a local community of practice as it relates to treating children with ASD.
Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
Partners: McMaster Children's Hospital, CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University – School of Rehabilitation Science, Brock University – Dept. of Applied Disabilities Studies, Mohawk College – Department of Health Studies, Mohawk College – Community Services, Mohawk College - School of Community, Justice and Liberal Studies
Location: Hamilton
Project description: Create 27 student placements at McMaster Children's Hospital's Autism Training Hub. Provide French-language training opportunities for front-line staff members. Provide continuing education opportunities to applied behaviour analysis providers across the province.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Partners: Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists
Location: Toronto
Project description: Develop professional resources for occupational therapists related to working with children on the autism spectrum. Develop a virtual coaching and mentorship program. Provide interprofessional coaching for OAP core clinical service providers.
Kijicho Manito Madaouskarini Algonquin First Nation
Partners: Bancroft Family Health Team, North Hastings Community Integration (NHCI), North Hastings Community Trust, North and Central Hastings, Addictions and Mental Health Services – Hastings Prince Edward (AMHS-HPE) IMPACT, Transitional Worker Candace Leushner, Hastings Prince Edward District School Board
Location: Bancroft
Project description: Develop strategies to enhance access to OAP services and outcomes for Algonquin families, including a website on Algonquin understanding and approaches to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Hire family outreach workers to support service navigation, case management and coordination of care for Algonquin communities.
Monarch House
Partners: Brock University, Western University, University of Toronto, Boomerang Health Services, Lifeworks
Location: Oakville
Project description: Create a graduate student specialized placement program focused on applied behaviour analysis, speech-language pathology and occupational therapy. Create a community of practice for recent graduates with a special interest in autism.
Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA)
Partners: ONTABA’s Private Practice Special Interest Group, Stride Academy, Behaviour Analysis North, Tracie Linblad Consulting
Location: Toronto
Project description: Develop a business toolkit for private ABA providers containing business modules related to establishing a viable, sustainable fee-for-service practice.
Ontario Federation of Friendship Centres (OFIFC)
Partners: Autism Ontario
Location: Toronto
Project description: Develop Indigenous-specific autism curriculum/training for service providers to increase capacity to deliver culturally appropriate services for Indigenous children and youth.
Punjabi Community Health Services
Partners: Kick Start Therapy
Location: Mississauga
Project description: Taking into consideration language and culture barriers that South Asian clients might face in accessing services, provide parents with tools to build skills to work with their children and promote linkages with organizations that support children and caregivers in culturally appropriate ways.
Six Nations Health Services
Partners: Bethesda Children and Youth Services, Kawenni:io/Gaweni:yo language immersion school, Indigenous Services Canada/Federal School
Location: Ohsweken
Project description: Hire a cultural advisor to deliver culturally relevant programming in entry to school program classrooms, advise on classroom set-up, develop culturally relevant supports, and provide advice on treatment and recommendations from a Haudenosaunee cultural perspective.
University Health Network
Partners: Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare & Education (CACHE), Holland Bloorview Rehabilitation Kids Hospital, Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) University, Institute for Education Research (TIER), McMaster University's School of Rehabilitation Science, University of Western, George Jeffrey Children's Centre
Location: Toronto
Project description: Expand existing inter-disciplinary, inter-regional (north and Toronto) student-led clinic for speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and mental health.
University of Western Ontario, Mary J. Wright Child & Youth Development Clinic
Partners: Thames Valley Children's Centre (TVCC)
Location: London
Project description: Create an integrated, comprehensive menu of virtual group services for practitioners to increase skills in delivery of virtual group-based applied behaviour analysis and mental health programs
Woolwich Counselling Services
Partners: Carizon Family and Community Services, Interfaith Counselling Centre, KW Counselling Services, Porchlight Counselling and Addictions Services, Shalom Counselling Services
Location: Elmira
Project description: Develop a regional approach to providing integrated core mental health services for children with autism.
2022
The following service providers received workforce capacity fund grants in 2022 for the first round of funding.
Service provider expansion stream
Adora Bright Learning Centre
Location: King City
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
AlphaBee
Location: Etobicoke
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Anderson Therapy Services
Location: Dundas
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Applied Behaviour Consulting Inc.
Location: Alexandria
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Aspire Academy Inc.
Location: Carp
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Attuned Families
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Autism Behavioural Services Inc
Location: Fergus
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Behaviour Analysis North
Location: Sudbury
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Behaviour Essentials Inc.
Location: Amherstburg
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Behaviour Innovations
Location: Hamilton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Behaviour Team Inc.
Location: Scarborough
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Best Behaviour Inc.
Location: Waterloo
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; investing in technology.
Bethesda Community Services
Location: Thorold
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Boomerang Health
Location: Maple
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Brenna Lanktree and Associates
Location: Sault Ste. Marie
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investments in technology.
Bright Spot Therapy Services
Location: Timmins
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investments in technology.
Canopy Support Services
Location: Peterborough
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Chad Clower Speech-Language Pathologist Professional Corporation
Location: Rosslyn
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investments in technology.
Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent
Location: Chatham
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investments in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
CommuniCare Therapy Inc.
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Community Living North Halton
Location: Milton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Connect the Dots
Location: Thornhill
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
ConnectWell Community Health
Location: Lanark
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Convergency
Location: Brampton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Counselling Services of Belleville and District
Location: Belleville
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investments in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Creative Therapy Associates
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Dufferin Child and Family Services
Location: Orangeville
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision, investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Engaging Minds Learning Group
Location: Collingwood
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to rural and remote communities.
George Jeffrey Children's Centre
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investments in technology, and travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Grandview Children's Centre
Location: Oshawa
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Hands The Family Help Network
Location: North Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
H-N R.E.A.C.H.
Location: Townsend
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Hope Autism Services Inc.
Location: Mississauga
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
I Am Smart S-cool
Location: Thornhill
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Kayla's Children's Centre
Location: Thornhill
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Kaymar Rehabilitation Inc.
Location: Kingston
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Kick Start Therapy
Location: Brampton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Kinark
Location: Markham
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
Lake Ridge Community Services
Location: Whitby
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Lansdowne Children's Centre
Location: Brantford
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Launch Behavioural Health
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Laurentian University - Speech-Language Pathology Clinic
Location: Sudbury
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Lifeworks
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; investing in technology.
Mackenzie Health
Location: Richmond Hill
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investments in technology.
Maltby Centre
Location: Kingston
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investments in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Momentum Autism Services
Location: Hamilton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Monarch House
Location: Oakville
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
New Haven Learning Centre
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Northern Outreach and Clinical Services
Location: Sudbury
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Nurturing Behaviours
Location: Mt. Brydges
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
One Kids Place
Location: North Bay
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision, investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Pathways Health Centre for Children
Location: Sarnia
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
Portia Learning Centre Inc.
Location: Kanata
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision.
Reach Out Centre for Kids
Location: Burlington
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; investments in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Shining Through Centre
Location: Woodbridge
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Speech Specialists Canada Inc.
Location: Scarborough
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Speech Therapy Centres of Canada Ltd.
Location: Richmond Hill
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology.
Step by Step Learning Group
Location: Brampton
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
Strides Toronto Support Services
Location: Scarborough
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; purchasing clinical supervision; investments in technology.
Sunbeam Developmental Resource Centre
Location: Kitchener
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Thames Valley Children's Centre
Location: London
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; purchasing clinical supervision; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
The Autism Centre of Toronto
Location: Toronto
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
Timiskaming Speech and Language Inc.
Location: Kirkland Lake
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology; travel to serve rural and remote communities.
Two Can Talk
Location: Vaughan
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
Village BITO
Location: Maple
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training; investing in technology.
Virtual Behaviour Services Inc.
Location: Amherstburg
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours.
Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services
Location: Burlington
Project description: Hiring new staff/increasing staff hours; staff training.
Sector innovation stream
1to1 Therapy Services
Partners: McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Western University, 1to1 Rehab, Boomerang Health - SickKids, LifeWorks, Monarch House, Therapy Spot
Location: Stouffville
Project description: Create a speech-language pathology graduate student specialized placement program focusing on autism and Ontario Autism Program services.
ACT Learning Centre
Partners: ABC Pediatrics, On the Ball Pediatrics, Creative Therapy Autism, Insight Rehab, Bright Spot, All About Communication, OT4Kids, Make Way for Me, Elgin Bluewater Speech/Language, Creative Therapy, Verney Conference Management, Chameleon Digital Marketing
Location: Ottawa
Project description: Develop and test the following methods of improving capacity in the Ontario Autism Program through the recruitment of speech-language pathology and occupational therapy students: digital education resource and presentation to increase awareness of the Ontario Autism Program; student placements in northern, rural, remote and/or francophone communities; a 2-day workshop for students focusing on Autism Spectrum Disorder; an autism-focused community of practice; a virtual job fair; a website, social media group, and digital tool for human resources recruitment and retention.
Geneva Centre for Autism
Partners: Autism Ontario, Ontario Association of Mental Health
Location: Toronto
Project description: Develop and deliver an educational and training platform for professionals seeking to learn more about autism and mental health.
George Jeffrey Children's Centre
Partners: Children's Centre Thunder Bay, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, North of Superior Counselling Programs
Location: Thunder Bay
Project description: Contract a recruitment specialist to develop a recruitment campaign for use across multiple organizations in the Thunder Bay and District; work with a local provider to purchase portable wireless internet with rocket hub package for use by clients and professionals for services; purchase a supply of devices for a loan program to support virtual service access; hire a consultant to engage key stakeholders across various sectors to develop a strategy to address late diagnosis; consult with local stakeholders on recent successful autism campaigns; develop and pilot a travel fund for families and/or professionals.
Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
Partners: McMaster University, CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability, Brock University, Mohawk College
Location: Hamilton
Project description: Create 27 student placements at McMaster Children's Hospital's Autism Training Hub; provide French-language training opportunities for front-line staff members.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Partners: Ontario Society of Occupational Therapy
Location: Toronto
Project description: Develop and deliver event, coaching and resources to increase competencies of occupational therapists to work with children/youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
John McGivney Children's Centre
Location: Windsor
Project description: Develop and deliver a range of initiatives to support underserved communities in Windsor area (deliverables = outreach to community leaders, creation of a hub and toolkits for communities / staff, and cultural inclusivity training for staff).
Punjabi Community Health Services
Partners: Kick Start Therapy Inc.
Location: Mississauga
Project description: Conduct research on the provision of culturally adapted applied behaviour analysis services to South Asian clients (deliverables = conference and research reports).
R. Pessah Speech-Language Pathology Professional Corporation
Location: Timmins
Project description: Develop and implement bilingual speech-language pathology training and remote supervision program for northern, rural and remote areas.
South Asian Autism Awareness Centre
Partners: Toronto Autism Services Network
Location: Scarborough
Project description: Develop and deliver an incubator program for three service providers outside the Greater Toronto Area to facilitate mentorship, knowledge exchange, business development training and access to networks of other services providers and professionals. The three chosen service providers will be focused specifically on delivering Ontario Autism Program core clinical services.
Surrey Place
Partners: Toronto Autism Services Network: Geneva Centre for Autism, Holland Bloorview, Kerry's Place Autism Services, Lumenus Community Services, South Asian Autism Awareness Centre, Strides Toronto
Location: Toronto
Project description: Develop and test a multi-platform tool to increase administrative efficiency of Ontario Autism Program core clinical services.
University Health Network
Partners: Holland Bloorview, McMaster University, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Institute for Education Research, Western University
Location: Toronto
Project description: Develop an inter-disciplinary, inter-regional (north and Toronto) student-led clinic for speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and mental health services.
Western University
Partners: CommuniCare Therapy, ACT Learning Centre, Ontario Speech-Language Association
Location: London
Project description: Develop and deliver a digital education resource (best practice guidance document) for speech-language pathologists serving, or interested in serving, children and youth in the Ontario Autism Program.