FAQ

Answers to common questions about adult developmental services, eligibility, and how families can access support.

Clinical Services

  • We offer a wide variety of Clinical Services to support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They are provided through several service pathways:

    Social Work

    Psychology – Eligibility Assessments

    Psychiatric Nursing

    Occupational Therapy

    Speech & Language Pathology

    Behaviour Consultation

    Our services are fully integrated between all our Adult Clinical Services programs. We are person-centred, focusing on where the individual and caregiver want to begin their clinical journey.

    We value clear service pathways, realistic and holistic services, flexibility in service delivery, and engaging with our community partners.

  • Clinical services are delivered by clinicians and professionals in a variety of disciplines.

  • You can access our Clinical Services through Hamilton-Niagara's Developmental Services Ontario (DSO).

  • The criteria for eligibility for Clinical Services may vary by program and service. We encourage you to discuss eligibility with Developmental Services Ontario.

  • Our offices are located in Hamilton, Vineland and Thorold.

  • We will meet you in person, on the phone or on video, whichever meets your comfort level.

  • Our offices in Hamilton and Thorold are accessible on the city bus routes.

  • We are a funded service by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

  • Yes, we work with you as a caregiver to find creative ways to support your loved one. We also provide caregiver workshops on multiple topics.

    Please refer to our event calendar for upcoming events.

Community Response Program

  • We offer a wide variety of services to support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through Community Response Program streams:

    Outreach Behaviour Services

    Assessment Bed up to 90 days

    Our In-Bed Treatment is located in Vineland

    Mobile Treatment

    Workshops and Training

  • Our services are fully integrated between all our Adult Clinical Services programs. We are person-centred, focusing on where the individual and caregiver want to begin their clinical journey.

    We value clear service pathways, realistic and holistic services, flexibility in service delivery, and engaging with our community partners.

  • Our services are rendered and cared for by:

    Behaviour Consultants

    Behaviour Resource Consultants

    Behaviour Counsellors

    Psychiatric Nurses

    Nurse Practitioners

  • Our Community Response Programs are accessed through Hamilton-Niagara's Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) and will require endorsement and support by the Regional Behaviour Provider:

    Brantford and Hamilton – Pivot at Willowbridge

    Niagara - Bethesda

    Haldimand Norfolk – Regional Support Associates

  • The eligibility criteria will vary by program and service. We encourage you to discuss eligibility with Developmental Services Ontario.

  • Our office location is in Vineland.

  • We will meet you in person, on the phone or on video, whichever meets your comfort level.

  • We are a funded service by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

  • Yes, we work with you as a caregiver to find creative ways to support your loved one. We also provide caregiver workshops on multiple topics.

    Please refer to our event calendar for upcoming events.

Southern Network of Specialized Care

  • We offer complex support coordination when available resources are insufficient to address an individual's needs and all existing resources with the local system have been exhausted. The 3 program streams are:

    Complex Support Coordination

    Health Care Facilitation

    Dual Diagnosis Justice Case Management

  • Clinicians and professionals in various disciplines deliver the Southern Network of Specialized Care.

  • You can access the Complex Support Coordination and Health Care Facilitation through Hamilton-Niagara's Developmental Services Ontario (DSO).

    You will be able to access Dual Diagnosis Justice Case Management directly by calling 1.800.789.1773.

  • Eligibility requires that you be an adult, 18 years or older, with a confirmed Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability and meet the following criteria:

    Those with extraordinary medical and/or behavioural support needs are determined by scores on the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) sections 3A (medical: scores seven or greater) and 3B (behavioural; scores of 10 or greater).

    High overall support needs: individuals with SIS percentiles greater than 70%.

    Safety concerns: the caregiver has concerns about the individual's safety because of their medical and/or behavioural support needs (ADSS s6.3 and 6.5).

    Overnight supports: individuals with exceptional medical support also require night support.

  • Our offices are located in Hamilton, Vineland and Thorold.

  • Our offices in Hamilton and Thorold are accessible on the city bus routes.

  • We will meet you in person, on the phone or on video, whichever meets your comfort level.

  • We are a funded service by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

  • Yes, we work with you as a caregiver to find creative ways to support your loved one. We also provide caregiver workshops on multiple topics.

    See our calendar for upcoming events.

Chaplaincy and Bereavement Support Services

  • Our Chaplain provides Bereavement supports with a spiritual focus to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Niagara and Hamilton regions.

  • You can connect directly with Bethesda's Chaplain at 905.684.6918 ext. 331.

  • Our offices are located in Hamilton, Vineland and Thorold.

  • Our offices in Hamilton and Thorold are accessible on the city bus routes.

  • We will meet you in person, on the phone or on video, whichever meets your comfort level.

  • We are a funded service by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

Residential Services

  • People who can receive Residential services are over the age of 18 with a confirmed developmental disability.

  • All Residential placements must be consulted through Developmental Services Ontario.

  • Yes, there is a cost for Residential Services. A monthly room and board payment will be required through your Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) income.

  • Yes, you can still visit your family when living in Residential services.

  • Yes, most of our homes will support multiple people with similar likes and needs.

  • Yes, all of our homes are staffed to meet the needs of the people who reside there.

Respite Services

  • Respite is located at 3950 Fly Road, Vineland.

  • People who can receive Respite services must reside in the Niagara area and are over 18 with a confirmed developmental disability.

  • Respite services are referred through Developmental Services Ontario.

  • Yes, there is a daily fee that will be required.

  • Yes, you can utilize Passport funding towards Respite services.

  • You can access Respite services for one weekend every six weeks and two weeks during the summer.

  • Up to eight people may attend Respite at one time.

  • Yes, Respite has staff to support those who need it 24 hours daily.

  • Our staff will plan fun weekend activities in the home, on the Fly Road property or in the community.

Day Programs

  • Bethesda’s Day Programs are located in our locations in Thorold, Vineland and Dunnville.

  • Please contact us directly at 905.684.6918 option 4 for information and all services available.

  • Yes, there is a daily fee that will be established based on the individual needs of the participants.

Supported Independent Living (SIL)

  • People who can receive SIL must be over 18 with a confirmed developmental disability.

  • All SIL placements can be accessed by referral through Developmental Services Ontario.

  • Yes, a monthly room and board payment will be required through your Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) income.

  • Yes, our staff will schedule weekly support hours each week.

Recreation

  • Our virtual activities are provided to individuals who reside in the community and have an established developmental disability.

  • Some of our activities are of no charge, and some activities will have a cost associated with them. This will be dependent on the materials that will be required.

  • To find out more information, please get in touch with us directly at 905.684.6918, option 4.

Familyhome

  • Familyhome is a great program where a person opens their home to an adult with a developmental disability.

  • A thorough home study is completed which will include medical, police checks, references, and home inspections.

  • A Bethesda Case Manager is assigned to each Provider and individual supported. Monthly oversight visits and many monthly check-ins are scheduled, and on-call in the moment support is available.

  • Yes, a monthly room and board payment will be required through your Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) income or Old Age Security (OAS)