Q & A

Q & A

Is C-IT Vanier, Craigwood, or Western Area Youth Services?
What services does Vanier provide?
How long will I wait?
Will there be a cost to me for your services?
What if can't come to London to get the help my family needs?
Can someone come right now and take my child into a residence?
Can my child see a Psychiatrist or Psychologist?

Is C-IT Vanier, Craigwood, or Western Area Youth Services?

C-IT is the entry/intake point for non-residential mental health treatment services in all three agencies for youth 0-18 and their families. Staff from the three agencies rotate through a schedule of answering C-IT calls. All of these staff are qualified to help you access programs for any one of the agencies. Referrals for residential services go through the C.S.C.N. (Community Services Coordination Network) or your local Children's Aid Society.
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What services does Vanier provide?

Vanier Children's Services include a range of assessment, treatment and consultation services provided on an out-patient, residential or in-home basis. When you call and describe your situation, we will be better able to inform you of the appropriate options. Many of the options are described on this Web site. Web pages are also available for Craigwood Youth Services and Western Area Youth Services.
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How long will I wait?

Crisis appointments can be made within 24 hours. Intake appointments are generally available within a 4-week period after the initial call. We will give you some idea of the waiting times for specific Vanier programs when we meet you. Depending on which program best suits your needs, there will be varying waits for services. During this period, Intake staff will be available to provide limited support and will provide you with information about our 24/7 crisis services.
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Will there be a cost to me for your services?

The Ontario Ministry of Child & Youth Services funds the majority of services at Vanier Children's Services. There are no fees attached to ministry-funded programs.

If you are referred by C-IT to our Community Mental Health Service - "Focused Family Therapy Program" (London services only), you may be asked to contribute towards the costs of your counselling. The sliding fee scale is based on family income levels. All fee contributions by "Focused Family Therapy"clients help to cover the costs of operating this community program. No one will be denied service in this program, based on their inability to make a fee contribution.
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What if can't come to London to get the help my family needs?

Vanier Children's Services also serves families in Middlesex County, at a variety of locations: Parkhill, Strathroy, Glencoe and Lucan. We have both In-Home parenting/coaching supports (Intensive Family Services) and "Focused Family Therapy" (up to 12 sessions) with a Child & Family Therapist available to County residents. There is no cost for these County services. Please call C-IT 519-433-0334 for more information.
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Can someone come right now and take my child into a residence?

Vanier Children's Services does not provide emergency residential admissions.

All Vanier services are available on voluntary consent from the parent/guardians and in some cases, the child. All Residential admissions are planned. If you are dealing with an emergency situation please contact London Health Sciences Centre or your local hospital emergency department. If a child needs to be removed from a home because of protection concerns, this is the responsibility of the Children's Aid Societies. Vanier does not place youth in custody because of committing an offence. We do understand how stressful it can be sometimes as a parent trying to manage strong-willed children.

We do offer planned parent relief services (day/overnight):

Contact C-IT 519-433-0334. For more information about residential services in this area contact CSCN 519-438-4783.

We can be a place to call when you need support and direction. We can meet with you the very next day if you are in crisis. We can determine if the level of risk and need you are experiencing matches the criteria for a residential admission. We will provide you with the information you need to access residential programs.
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Can my child see a Psychiatrist or Psychologist?

Children and their families are normally assigned to a "Child and Family Therapist" (Master's trained clinician) who will help them with assessment and treatment plans. Psychiatric and psychological consultations are available selectively for children in most of our programs, once the need for this type of assessment has been determined after program admission/ assessment is completed. Parents/guardians can not ask directly for services from a Vanier psychiatrist or psychologist.

If an urgent psychiatric consultation is required for children up to 16, you may be able to access that resource at the Child and Adolescent Centre which is part of London Health Sciences. You will need a physician's referral for that service. If your child is actively suicidal, you can access a doctor/clinician for a risk assessment at the Pediatric Emergency Department of the London Health Sciences Centre.

Psychological testing is available for children who are receiving multidisciplinary assessment and treatment services from one of the following teams: Early Years (0-6 yrs); our 2 residential programs: "Hand in Hand" and "Transitions, Learning and Change"/TLC.
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