Mackenzie Health Urgent Response Services (URS)

The Mackenzie Health Centre for Behaviour Health Sciences is working with the York Simcoe Autism Network (YSAN) to deliver an Urgent Response Services (URS) program for those children or youth registered in the Ontario Autism Program, up to age 18, who have been identified as high risk.  

URS is a time-limited, rapid response service that addresses a specific need to prevent a child or youth with autism from harming themselves, others, or property.

Services include:

• Short-term interdisciplinary consultation to a child/youth’s intervention team and/or family and/or educator(s)
• Respite care
• 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

Please note that URS is not a 24/7 crisis support service or a residential service – it is only available during business hours between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Families requiring immediate support outside of regular business hours should proceed to the Emergency Department of their local hospital.

To access URS, please call 1-866-377-0286, email urs@ctnsy.ca, or complete the online referral form. A service navigator will contact you within two business days of receiving the referral to determine eligibility for the service.