The residential program of the Centre exists to provide care in both official languages for those adolescents whose difficulties are of such a nature as to require treatment on a 24-hour basis. The program capitalizes on the "in-residence" component of intervention in providing a therapeutic milieu and programs related to life style, education and recreation.
These programs are licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, under the Child and Family Services Act, R.S.O., 1990.
Settings
The Centre operates four residences for youth with mental health concerns. One is located on the main campus on Carling Avenue, four Anglophone residences are in urban homes in Ottawa, and two (one Anglophone and one Francophone) are located in rural settings in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell, east of the City.
Six of the beds (four Anglophone and two Francophone) are directly funded by the Ministry (Child and Family Intervention – CFI) and are accessible to the community. Twenty-five beds (Children in Care – CiC) are available on a fee-for-service basis and are generally purchased on a per diem basis as “outside paid resources,” by Children’s Aid Societies.
In addition to the residential programming, clients may also be registered to attend the Debbie Campbell Learning Academy, a fee-for-service accredited private school program, operated by the Centre, for young people who have behavioural problems that exceed what is acceptable in regular school programs.
During the summer months, each community residence is taken to the Centre’s residential camp program at Hurd’s Lake (near Arnprior, ON) for two one-week sessions. The camp programming includes water safety, canoeing, out-tripping and other fresh-air activities.
Who May Refer
Referrals for residential treatment come from Children's Aid Societies and parents. All requests for CFI admissions to the Mental Health Residential Treatment program are directed to the Ottawa-Carleton Children's Coordinated Access & Referral Service. A representative of the Centre sits on the Coordinated Access Committee and is available to provide advice and recommendations to the group with respect to bed availability and appropriateness of referrals. A young person may be referred to a CFI bed ONLY with the approval of Coordinated Access.
Referrals to the CiC services are also through the Intake Coordinator, however, access to these beds are at the sole discretion of the Centre. Referral forms may be downloaded from the “Referral Paths and Information” page of this site, or can be obtained through the Intake Coordinator.
Admission Criteria
In order to be considered for admission to a residential program at the Centre, a young person shall:
- be a resident of Ontario
- be between the ages of 12 and 17 at the time of application
- either currently attend community school or have the potential to do so
- be able to function at or above the borderline range of intelligence
- be free from types of organic impairments which block therapeutic change
- present with behaviour that can be more appropriately addressed in a residential environment than in the present setting
- present with a “clinical picture” whereby he/she is assessed as moderate to severe in degree of disturbance
- demonstrate evidence of the potential to change within the resources available
- demonstrate an appropriate fit for the specific treatment placement available
Client Profile
The Roberts/Smart Centre specializes in treating adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems. Priority is given to those youths with the most serious problems and for whom the Centre is able to provide an appropriate intervention program.
The Centre reserves the right to request an assessment by a psychiatrist or psychologist prior to making a final commitment to admit a young person. The Centre also reserves the right to request an assessment of substance use and addictions concerns prior to making final admission decisions. While substance use/abuse does not always preclude admission, serious addictions issues may require attention prior to admission to a residential mental health program.
Length of Stay
The residences are long-term facilities and, though duration of stay will vary, the average length of stay is fifteen months.
Plans of Care/Treatment
Plans of Treatment are developed for each adolescent in residential treatment. Using the multi-disciplinary process, involving clinical and youth counselling staff, the adolescent, parents/guardians, and other concerned professionals, an individualized plan of care is formulated. In addition, through the use of consultants, specialized services such as the assessment and treatment of specific disorders can also be provided.
