ABOUT US
The JP Comfort Home program is designed to provide a supportive environment for children and youth aged 3 to 18, of all genders, with a focus on those from visible minorities and urban cultures.
The program aims to address a wide range of needs, including trauma and mental health issues, developmental disabilities, severe behavioral issues, substance abuse, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), fetal alcohol syndrome, and LGBTTQS children and youth. Additionally, the program aims to facilitate the integration of children and youth with their families and help those without a family support system to become independent, equipping them with essential skills to thrive in society.
In response to feedback from various Children’s Aid Society (CAS) placements, the program recognizes the need for accommodations for children and youth from visible minorities who are not suitable for returning home or to a foster home. Understanding that children and youth develop at varying stages and may have different disabilities, the program emphasizes the importance of individualized programming for their success.
The core focus of the program is on building relationships and rapport with the children and youth it serves. It adopts a strength-based approach, creating a collaborative structure between the children,
youth, and staff members. The staff members are dedicated to understanding and addressing the needs and wants of the children and youth, advocating for their requirements and plans while maintaining a hands-off approach and avoiding power struggles.
The program ensures that the children and youth receive three healthy meals a day with regular access to snacks, promoting good nutrition and a recommended sleep pattern for their age to support their overall well-being. Upon admission, staff members assess and collaborate with the children and youth to develop individual programming and establish behavior management techniques and strategies.
Recognizing the challenges within the system, the program’s staff members are trauma-informed and approach each situation on a case-by-case basis. They understand that many children and youth with
trauma may initially exhibit impulsive behaviors and may require support in developing life skills and coping mechanisms to make better choices. The program aims to help children and youth realize the
impact they have within the home and community, encouraging their identity expression and supporting their cultural and spiritual needs in an inclusive and gender-neutral environment.
In addition to its inclusive nature, the program is open to emergency admissions on a short-term basis and is prepared to provide personal support for children and youth with special needs. The program’s
ultimate goal is to support at-risk children and youth in achieving independence, focusing on health and safety, nurturing self-esteem, and assisting them in obtaining employment, with a specific focus on urban children and youth from visible minorities The success of the program will be measured by the children and youth’s ability to stabilize in the
program, progress towards their goals with their families, and their independence upon discharge. Outcomes will be determined based on documentation of goal achievement and progress reports.
The program is committed to providing critical interventions based on collaborative assessments and supporting children and youth in following medical, behavioral, and psychological plans.
PROGRAM STATEMENT AND DISCRIPTION OF CLIENT PROFILE TO BE SERVED
A. Program Overview
The program aims to provide support to at-risk children and youth, fostering their success and productivity in society. The primary goals include promoting independence, focusing on health and safety, nurturing self-esteem, and aiding in employment opportunities. The program will focus specifically on urban children and youth, particularly visible minorities, acknowledging the specific needs of this demographic. Success will be measured by the children and youth’s ability to stabilize in the program, achieve their goals with their family, and attain independence upon completion of the program. Outcomes will be assessed through documentation of goal achievement and progress reports.
B. Describe program in detail
Critical interventions will be determined through collaborative assessment of the children and youth. The program will provide support in medical, behavioral, and psychological plans. Additionally, active involvement in educational planning, advocacy for necessary assessments, and fostering participation in recreational and social activities will be emphasized. The program will also incorporate specific cultural and social attributes, with staff trained to teach skills in various areas. Access to community services such as the YMCA, Recreation Centre Cassey Campbell, library, parks, and sports facilities will be facilitated.
C. Focus of interventions
The program will address trauma, severe behavioral issues, mental health issues, developmental issues, substance abuse, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and Autism/ASD/ADHD, services for LGBTTQ2S children and youth, victims of human trafficking (minors),
D. Description of clients
The program will serve youth aged 3 to 18 of all genders in an inclusive environment. It will focus on children and youth from visible minorities and urban cultures, who may experience trauma, mental health issues, developmental disabilities, severe behavioral issues, substance abuse,
Autism/ASD/ADHD, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and LGBTTQ2S.
E. Needs profile of children/youth for whom referrals will be accepted
The program will accept referrals for children and youth experiencing trauma, severe behavioral issues, mental health issues, developmental issues, substance abuse, services for LGBTTQ2S children and youth, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and Autism/ASD/ADHD.
Services for LGBTTQ2S children and youth and victims of human trafficking (minors).
F. Described your proposed bed capacity
JP Comfort Home will have 4 bed homes. We will provide 4 staff members per shift. In cases where we have children/youth facing significant challenges that necessitates 2:1 staffing , we will ensure that this level of support is provided.
G. Age Range of Clients
3-18 Males, Females, LGBTTQ2S
H. Will you have capacity to provide services in French:
The program does not currently have the capacity to provide services in French. Alternative arrangements, such as securing a French interpreter, will be advocated for when needed. Staff recruitment will also prioritize bilingual candidates.
I. Describe how you plan to connect children and youth to appropriate cultural and spiritual resources in the community should they require this. Also describe your plan to provide
cultural appropriate services for indigenous children.
Our main referral will be Children and Youth that are visible minorities, and our staff team diversity will match the culture of the youth. For indigenous culture staff would be taking in the Native Family Services training for dealing with Children and Youth that are indigenous. We will also advocate and encourage all Children and Youth to attend cultural events, programs pertaining to their cultural.
J. Describe your proposed behavior management program
The program’s behavior management approach centers on building relationships and rapport with children and youth, guiding them in difficult and crisis situations. Documentation and strategic interventions will be employed to identify effective behavior management strategies. The program will ensure that children and youth understand rules and regulations, the impact of their choices, and will seek their input on the effectiveness of the program.
JP Comfort Home Therapist plan of care.
JP Comfort home has a Psychotherapist attached to the program. Joel Dos Santos is a Registered Social Worker, BA, MSW, RAW and psychotherapist with over five years of experience connecting with clients and helping them to address and overcome their unique mental health and wellness needs. He is motivated to positively impact the clients that he serve, and he has experience working in the fields of mental health, youth learning disabilities, and homelessness. He has a passion for
providing opportunities and creating safe spaces for racialized people to openly share and discuss their lived experiences and mental health challenges within a supportive and understanding process that is free from stigma. He utilize various approaches to his work with clients including strength- based, client-centered approach and he cultivate a safety zone with clients that is free of judgement. He find Cognitive Behavioural Therapy effective, and he also call upon trauma-informed modalities and Motivational Interviewing in my work with clients. He create a warm, safe, welcoming and brave space where all voices can be heard, challenges overcome, and lives transformed. Joel specialties and expertise are listed below:
Top Specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Expertise
ADHD
Anger Management
Autism
Career Guidance
Divorce
Emotional Disturbance
Family Conflict
Grief
LGBTQ+
Life Transitions
Men’s Issues
Mood Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
Parenting
Peer Relationships
Racial Identity
Relationship Issues
School Issues
Self Esteem
Self-Harming
Stress
Thinking Disorders
Client with Trauma:
Intervention Approach: Joel Dos Santos
Trauma informed care: Providing a safe and subject/stigma free environment to explore the
following:
1) Validation: Warm validation the client perceived experience of the Traumatic event.
2) Preferred Choice: Allowing Client the opportunity to accept and decline and express choice and
free will.
3)Encouraging collaboration, having therapist and client – co create aspects and goals related to their
goals.
4) avoiding in traumatisation
5) Assessments and referrals: examine the Trauma response: using Adverse Child Effects test score.
Referral made for furthering diagnosis such as: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Narrative Therapy: The use of storytelling or Narrative building.
Using characters in film or text & history to examine trauma. This intervention allows the client to talk
about their Trauma without self-retraumatizing. externalizing the issues a client may face limiting
their own personal/emotional response.
Exposure Therapy: Exposure therapy is a well-established treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) that requires the patient to focus on and describe the details of a traumatic experience.
Exposure methods include confrontation with frightening, yet realistically safe, stimuli that continues
until anxiety is reduced
SAFETY PLANNING:
Client and clinician will co-create a comprehensive Safety plan the will address all related triggers
with an action plan.
SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING AND SAFEGAURDS: Provide psyche education to clients along the lines of pathways of recruitment or grooming.
Supporting Client Behavioral and Developmental disorders:
ABA: to Support clients with high behavioral needs JP comfort home will be informed by Local Agency, Papillon Family Health. Locations include: Meadowvale Mississauga and downtown Brampton. Their focus will be to provide our clients with Collaborative, Strength-Based ABA Strategies collaborating with families to ensure our therapeutic strategies enhance your child’s strengths in comfortable and nurturing settings.
Victims of Human Trafficking.
Intervention Approach: Trauma Informed Care, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Trauma informed care: Providing a safe and subject/stigma free environment to explore the following:
1) Validation: Warm validation the client perceived experience of the Traumatic event.
2) Preferred Choice: Allowing Client the opportunity to accept and decline and express choice and free will.
3)Encouraging collaboration, having therapist and client – co create aspects and goals related to their goals.
4) avoiding in traumatisation
5) Assessments and referrals: examine the Trauma response: using Adverse Child Effects test score.
Referral made for furthering diagnosis such as: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Referrals to an integrated services hub called nCourage to increase access to easy, reliable, wrap-around services for victims and survivors. Visit ncourage.ca for more information.
Services include:
Case management
Trauma counselling
Outreach
System navigation
Life skills
Continuing education
Family reunification
All services are free of charge and are offered onsite at a confidential location.
CYAC B.O.O.S.T Training Modules:
Partnering with Child & Youth Advocacy center in peel to conduct: BOOST intervention training
prevention and intervention models with clients in care.
Behavioural Issues:
JP Comfort Home in partnership with WonderTree Child, Adolescent and Family Practice www.wondertreepractice.ca will provide wrap around services for our client. Through a referral with Resident Psychotherapist Joel Dos Santos. Wonder Tree is a pediatric a handpicked multidisciplinary team that is passionate and flexible to meet the needs of neurodivergent,
complex medical and developmental conditions.
Nurse Practitioners
Occupational Therapists
Speech and Language Therapists
Certified Ontario Teachers
Developmental Service Workers
Early Childhood Educators
Child and Youth Workers
Executive functioning Coaches
Youth Workers
Executive Functioning Coaches
Social Workers
Clinical, Neuro, and School Psychologist
Clinical, Neuro, and School Psychologists
Mental Health Issues:
Client and clinician will undergo weekly sessions at the residence. The therapeutic intervention applied to residents include CBT, DBT and motivational interviewing. Consultation and Referrals will be made with client’s medical representatives. In addition, In instances of intense mental health concerns, consultation and referrals through Peel regions youth mental health organizations Every mind and AYSP. Consultations and referrals will be made to the Inpatient Mental Health unit and followed by DR. Bach
Developmental Issues:
Referrals and consultations will be made with client’s medical representatives. To inform a personal resident house safety plan. Referrals and consultations will be made with Erin oak Kids and Kids
Pathways Peel for service navigation and funding. Consultations and referrals will be made to the Inpatient Mental Health unit and followed by DR. Bach
Substance abuse:
Client and clinician will undergo weekly sessions at the residence. The therapeutic intervention applied to residents include CBT, DBT and motivational interviewing. Clinician will also create a detoxification plan with client. Clinician uses a harm reduction approach with residents in the house, focused on safety and reduction. Consultations and referrals will be made to the Inpatient Mental Health unit and followed by DR. Bach
K. List exclusion to the program slash client’s profile (IE services you will not provide (example fire setting) or clients profile you will not serve
Not wheelchair accessible.
L. Will this program accept emergency placement requests?
This program would be able to accept emergency placements in an on-call situation. As this program does understand that these types of situations do happen, and to support Children and Youth and the system we would be able to take these situations on a short-term basis.
M. If this is an application for a foster pole program, please specify the estimate per diem you will pay to foster parents, and list items that will be included in the per diem. Include an allocated of the per diem per month per item.
N/A
N. Please describe minimum qualification and experience required for staff to be hired
Diploma or degree within a relevant field, or three years’ experience. A candidate ideally would have attended a higher learning institution in any related field and/or some experience and training in crisis intervention. We will be the following the Qualified Personnel Requirements set out by The Ministry of Children, Community and Services.
O. Please describe all mandatory and additional training you provide to all staff and if applicable to foster parents. Please include a description of the behavioral management curriculum you plan to use
Staff are orientated in the home and all functions of the home. Staff are trained in UMAB, First AID and CPR, Trauma Informed Care, Pride and Spirit Training, Policies and Procedures and Duty to Report. Staff approach used in a strength-based manner.