Advancing Autism Program Development
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A commitment to excellence and quality services for kids and families
At Kinark Child and Family Services, our commitment to providing high-quality, client-centered autism services continues to guide the evolution of our programs. In 2024-25, we advanced several key initiatives that enhanced the safety, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness of the care we provide.
A significant milestone this year was our alignment with the new regulatory framework under the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO). As of July 1, 2024, all Behaviour Analysts in Ontario are now regulated by the CPBAO, following a provincial mandate to strengthen oversight and reduce risk in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) services. Kinark has ensured that all required staff are registered, reinforcing our commitment to safe, accountable, and trusted care for the families we serve.
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In our Autism program, 91% of caregivers agreed their child can apply the skills they learned in their daily lives. |
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As we continue to shape our program with the changing Ontario Autism Program (OAP), we are prioritizing listening to what clients, families and the community tell us that they want. We expanded access by introducing more flexible service hours, now offering home-based, virtual, and centre-based ABA sessions during evenings and weekends. This has allowed our families more options within their busy schedules to find a time that works best for them. Our menu of in-person and virtual Foundational Family Services also grew, supporting families who are balancing work, school, and caregiving responsibilities while ensuring consistency in their child’s care.
In addition, we broadened our service offerings to include Speech-Language Pathology, enabling a more holistic and multidisciplinary approach that strengthens communication development alongside behavioural goals. Kinark is now a service provider of Urgent Response Services (URS) in both the Durham and Four Counties regions. This expansion allows us to support more families in crisis with timely, targeted interventions.
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The staff are kind, respectful and genuine, they gear the programs towards my child’s needs and are very focused in working towards their goals. – Autism Family |
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Our partnerships across the community have continued to grow. Collaborations with organizations such as the Foster Parent Society of Ontario, York Regional Police, Jays Care Foundation, and local libraries have helped extend inclusive, community-based learning opportunities to more children, caregivers, and families across our regions.
Our programming supports caregivers accessing Jordan’s Principle, ensuring First Nations children receive the services they need without delay. In addition, we are actively investing in Indigenous capacity building through staff training, partnerships, and the creation of culturally safe services.
Kinark remains focused on delivering personalized, evidence-informed autism services that meet families where they are, more equitable access to services and culturally safe care and continuing to listen, adapt, and grow alongside the communities we serve.
To learn more about our autism programs and services, visit the Kinark Autism Services website.