The Extensive Needs Service is a new program that will provide wrap-around services for children and youth in Ontario who have co-occurring medical, physical and developmental complexities and/or social vulnerabilities.
McMaster Children’s Hospital is one of three hospitals in Ontario that has received funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to implement the three-year proof of concept program. Please see the provincial announcement for details.
A team of dedicated staff and physicians at McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH) will work together to ensure that children and youth with extensive needs and their families can easily access an interconnected system of services. This focused effort will ensure that the most vulnerable pediatric patients are not left behind because of delays to their care or limited access to appropriate treatments.
The MCH team is currently engaging with community partners to support next steps including the development of a pathway to identify and refer eligible children and youth to the program.
The extensive needs program will officially launch later this spring and team members will contact eligible kids and families.
