Growth & Innovation

Research & Grants

Ontario Trillium Fund Grow Grant-Facing Your Fears (FYF)

This fiscal year, we wrapped up the final year of our Facing Your Fears program, which was funded through an Ontario Trillium Fund Grow Grant. Over the grant's three years, we have provided high-quality group treatment for 67 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their caregivers in Durham Region.

We provided service to 67 families

Through the data collected via evaluation measures, we demonstrated that the telehealth  Facing Your Fears curriculum resulted in increased use of emotional regulation skills and was effective at reducing symptoms of anxiety for children. We also built caregiver capacity by providing parent training on promoting emotional regulation and social skills at home and in the community; allowing participants to develop and practice practical lifelong skills related to their emotional, social and mental well-being.

Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant

Thank you to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their generous grant, which has enabled us to embark on an exciting renovation project to revitalize our washroom facilities. Although our existing facilities were diligently cleaned and maintained, they became worn and outdated. As a nonprofit organization, bathroom renovations were never a top priority due to limited resources. However, thanks to the grant and the dedicated efforts of Right Choice Renovations Inc., we provided our clients and staff with a more welcoming and rejuvenated space.

Workforce Capacity Grant

We created a six-month Internship Program in conjunction with Durham College’s Behavioural Science’s Bachelor’s Program (BScBA). Over a six-month period, students from the BScBA would learn to implement ABA with children and youth receiving services through the OAP program under the supervision of trained Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBA), and Registered Behaviour Technicians (RBT) employed full-time by Lake Ridge Community Support Services.  Ten clients were served through this Internship Program. 

Participation in the Internship Program allowed students to meet the following learning otcomes:

• Implement ABA principles and procedures with support in an individual and/or group setting to support client learning and development.

• Communicate effectively in oral, written, and electronic forms to enhance the quality of service through exposure to tasks like supervision meetings, skill-based program writing, and report writing.

• Practice ongoing self-evaluation of knowledge and skills and identify areas for professional development.

Upon completion, the program successfully saw two iterations, during which 12 students were trained in total, and three were hired as behaviour technicians.

What participants said