Welcome to 2023
2023 is here and we are looking forward to a New Year with you!
Note: Lake Ridge Community Support Services (LRCSS) will be closed from December 26, 2022, until January 6, 2023. Services will resume on January 9, 2023.
Happy New Year
As we approach 2023, our programs and services continue to evolve for all clients. We will continue to engage with our clients, caregivers, employees and the community to collaborate and understand what services are needed in our community and to ensure our services are individualized to meet your needs. Three key areas we reflect on from 2022 and look forward to additional progress in 2023 include:
1) ONTARIO AUTISM PROGRAM
The beginning of 2022 had a busy start due to an expansion of LRCSS services. In partnership with the lead agency Grandview Kids, Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth and The Region of Durham, we collaborated to design, develop, and implement the Entry to School Program (ETS). The ETS program falls into the category of early years support, one of the four core services offered by the Ontario Autism Program funded by the Ministry of Children Community and Social Services. The program was a success in 2022, and we’re already preparing for the 2023 program. If you’ve received a letter inviting your child to enroll, visit the Grandview Kids website for all the information you need to enroll.
Our Foundational Family Services team continued to evolve, adding new Peer Support and Brief Targeted Consultation offerings. New programs include our Caregiver, Family and Peer Mentoring Groups focusing on Caregiver Burnout in which caregivers can discuss strategies for coping with burnout in a collaborative environment and Crisis Prevention and Management, which uses Safe Management Group training to teach caregivers how to de-escalate behaviour crises. You can look for several opportunities to connect with our team and your peers by visiting our Foundational Family Services page.
2) COVID-19
COVID-19 is still here, but we are learning to adapt to our new operating methods. We noticed an increase in illness for clients, staff and the community at the end of 2022 and predict this will continue into 2023. At LRCSS, our masking mandates and cleaning protocols will remain in place to start the year and will be regularly reviewed by our team. We continue to follow the directives from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services as well as local public health guidelines. Like all of you, we’re looking forward to a day when we can put COVID-19 in our rearview mirror, but until that time, we’ll continue to keep client and staff health a top priority.
3) ABA for All Fundraising Initiatives
We will also be continuing our fundraising efforts. In 2022 we were able to put some of our fundraising dollars into decreasing the costs of some of our programs for families. As we raise more money, we will find more ways to try and offset the costs of service through our ABA for All fund.
This year we hosted our first ever Golf Tournament at Kedron Dells Golf Club. We welcomed over 70 golfers and 19 local business sponsors who helped us raise over $10,000. We also hosted our 3rd virtual Stone Soup ABA Conference. This year’s conference saw over 545 behaviour analysts join us from across North America and beyond and five amazing sponsors raising over $25,000 for the ABA for All Campaign.
Stay tuned to all our Fundraising Initiatives, and share them with your network so we can expand our reach and impact in 2023.
Stay in Touch
Stay in touch with us in 2023 via our email newsletter or follow up on social media at @lrcssaba (links below). From the LRCSS team, we wish you and your family good health and happiness for 2023.