Adrian Polidano

Grandview Kids names Children First Consortium as the preferred proponent to build a state-of-the-art facility

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

New Ajax Grandview Kids HQ Sign indicating its location

Ajax, ON – After 14 years of advocacy and 17 months of extensive planning and evaluations, Grandview Kids is pleased to announce the Children First Consortium as the preferred proponent to finalize the design, build and finance the “New Grandview Kids.”

The Children First Consortium team includes:

Applicant Leads: Amico Design Build Inc., Sacyr Construction S.A
Design Team: Parkin Architects, H.H. Angus and Associates Limited
Construction Team: Amico Design Build Inc., Sacyr Construction S.A
Financial Advisor: Stonebridge Financial Corporation

Infrastructure Ontario and Grandview Kids selected the preferred proponent following an open, fair and competitive request for proposals that began in May 2021. The project is delivered as a Design-Build-Finance contract using a Public-Private Partnerships (P3) model. A P3 model transfers the appropriate risks associated with design, construction and financing to the private sector.

“We have been working toward this moment for many years,” shared Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Chief Executive Officer of Grandview Kids. “We have imagined a space that offers high-quality, child-centred care in a facility that welcomes all families. We have been guided by the vision of hope, belonging, discovery and celebration for all families. We know the Children First Consortium shares in this vision, and we are one step closer to seeing our dream come to life.”

The new Grandview Kids headquarters will be a centre of excellence in paediatric care. The building will include:

Centre-Wide Therapy Services: occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech-language pathology, therapeutic recreation, audiology, infant hearing, blind low-vision, social work
Ontario Autism Program including Autism Diagnostic Hub, Foundational Family Support Program, Early Years Caregiver-Mediated Program, Entry to School Program and Core Services
Preschool Outreach Program
School-Based Rehabilitation
Developmental Paediatric Medical Services including specialized medical clinics
Family/caregiver resources and support
Campbell Children’s School

Once complete, Grandview Kids will consolidate the existing main site in Oshawa and multiple satellite locations into one purpose-built site at 1461 Harwood Avenue North, Ajax. Grandview Kids will maintain three satellite locations to reduce extensive travel times for some clients and their families.

The opening will have a significant impact on local families. Sarah-Lynne Gibbons is the Mom of Zoe. “Little Miss Zoe” as she is best known, is three years old and has a metabolic genetic condition known as SLC35A2-CDG. “To me, the New Grandview Kids means more opportunities for our family to gain knowledge and access more equipment and new devices. These will give Zoe the best chance at living her best life and reaching her highest potential. Grandview has been such a huge foundation to Zoe’s success thus far and that has been with such limited resources available. We cannot wait to have the Ajax location up and running.”

Progress continues with Infrastructure Ontario and Grandview Kids working to finalize contract details with Children First Consortium. The project is expected to reach a financial close in the coming weeks, with the construction phase aimed to begin in the spring.

The Durham Region community can donate to the New Grandview Kids through the Grandview Kids Foundation. Visit https://www.grandviewkidsfoundation.ca/ to contribute to the Believe Campaign and help build a new facility that hosts unlimited potential for children and youth.

About Grandview Kids

Grandview Kids – founded in 1953 – is an independently operated, not-for-profit Children’s Treatment Centre in Durham Region. A Centre of Excellence for paediatric assessment, care and rehabilitation, Grandview Kids provides specialized programs, medical services, and outpatient clinical treatment and support to thousands of children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs, as well as support for parents and caregivers. Its mission is to help every child and youth live life to their full potential.

For more information about Grandview Kids, visit: http://grandviewkids.ca/.

For updates, follow @GrandviewKids on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media contacts:

Avori Cheyne
Director, Strategic Communications, Partnership and Engagement
905-728-1673 ext. 2240
Avori.Cheyne@grandviewkids.ca

Durham Region is home to a number of high-quality, reliable licensed child care programs. With more than 300 licensed child care centres, Montessori programs, nursery schools and six home child care agencies, there are a variety of programs to choose from! This article aims to help Grandview Kids’ families make an informed decision when selecting an inclusive and welcoming child care program for their child.

Here are five tips on finding inclusive child care in the Durham Region

Illustration of three kids laying down on their stomachs with their hands on their cheeks smiling.

1. Find the type of child care that’s right for you

There are different forms of licensed child care available in the Durham Region. These include licensed child care centres and before and after-school programs, Montessori schools, nursery schools and licensed home child care. Each type of child care has its own benefits including a variety of operating hours, qualified registered early childhood educators, part-time or full-time attendance. Programs must adhere to regulations overseen by the Ministry of Education and follow How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years. Licensed programs are monitored annually.

Unlicensed child care also has regulations by the Ministry, including the number of children allowed in a provider’s home. Unlicensed child care Is not monitored as closely as licensed programs. Learn more by visiting the Ministry of Education’s types of child care webpage.

2. See if you qualify for child care fee subsidy

The Durham Region Children’s Services Division, Child Care Fee Subsidy Program helps families, who live in the Durham Region, with the daily cost of licensed child care. To be eligible, parents/caregivers need to be working, going to school, have a special or social need (yourself as the parent or your child) or be receiving Ontario Works. The Children’s Services Division has created an online Fee Subsidy Calculator, which uses your annual household income to estimate how much child care would cost when receiving fee subsidy. Learn more about Child Care Fee Subsidy and its application process; there is currently no wait time for eligible families. Families can receive care based on the date that care is required.

Illustration of a mom sitting cross-legged on the floor while her child colours beside her.

3. Search for licensed child care in your area

Using the Child Care Directory or the Children’s Program Locator interactive map, you can search for licensed homechild care agencies, child care centres and before-and-after school programs in your neighbourhood. The Children’s Services Division has created a video tutorial to help you find child care in your area. The Directory and Program Locator will provide information on the provider’s website, age groups offered, hours of operation, if child care fee subsidy is accepted, and if the building is accessible.

4. Speak with educators about supports available for children with special needs

In the Durham Region, licensed child care programs have the opportunity to enter into an agreement with the Children’s Services Division, which provides the provider to access funds from the Ministry of Education. This is called a Purchase of Service Agreement. Each provider must uphold quality standards known as the Durham Region Operating Criteria, including having an inclusivity statement. As such, providers with a Purchase of Service Agreement are connected to a network of Special Needs Resourcing (SNR) agencies. This network includes:

Early Learning Inclusion Consultants (ELI) and funds for Enhanced Staffingfrom Resources for Exception Children and Youth, Durham Region.
Durham Behaviour Management Services.
Surrey Place Blind Low-Vision program.
Durham Health Infant and Child Development program.
Grandview Kids’ Preschool Outreach Program.

Each licensed child care program will work with caregivers and children with special needs to formulate an Individual Support Plan (ISP). This plan will help your child transition into care, receive supports to help them fully participate in the activities offered in the program, and enjoy their time with peers and educators.

Unlicensed child care providers are not able to apply for a Purchase of Service Agreement. This means, unlicensed providers are not monitored by the Durham Region Operating Criteria and do not have the same access to SNR agencies.

Illustration of a father colouring with his daughter.

5. Ask questions

Choosing a child care program can be a difficult decision. Here are some questions that you can ask the supervisors/directors when choosing the best child care for your child:

Is your home licensed with the Ministry of Education?
Is your centre required to follow Durham Region Operating Criteria for quality assurance?
What are the qualifications and training of the educators?
What does a typical day look like?
Do the educators have experience working with children with special needs?
Does your home or centre have access to SNR services?
How do you include children with special needs in your programming?
Are educators trained in first aid or emergencies?
How can I help support my child’s needs while at child care?

For a comprehensive list of questions, check out the Ministry of Education’s common questions to ask a child care provider online tip sheet.

For Support to find child care placements, families can contact:

Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth, Durham Region, Access Coordinators – Sue or Kristen at 905 427-8862 extension 504.

Authors

This blog was written in partnership with The Regional Municipality of Durham, Children’s Services Division. The Children’s Services Division is responsible for planning, funding and managing the early learning and child care sector in the Durham Region. For more information, please visit the Children’s Services Division website.

The Grandview Kids Vaccine Clinic supports National Vaccine and Kids Day

On Thursday, January 27, Grandview Kids is joining organizations across the country in a National Kids and Vaccines Day. This day is led by Children’s Healthcare Canada, ScienceUpFirst and the Sandbox Project to promote vaccine confidence to the largest unvaccinated cohort of Canadians.

In the Durham Region, only about half of eligible children between the ages of 5 and 11 years have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Grandview Kids is playing an active role in empowering families to make an informed choice and supporting children through the vaccine process.

In December 2021, Grandview Kids opened a Paediatric Vaccine Clinic focused on providing a sensory-safe environment for children and youth who require a little bit more time and support.

A little boy holding his mother's hand while waiting to be vaccinated by a nurse at the Grandview Kids vaccine clinic.

The Martin family share more about their experience:

Our girls, Teagan (age 11) and Logan (age 7), both live with autism and were vaccinated with their first dose in December and second dose is in February through Grandview Kids. After having to deal with the anxiety and fear issues that came with having to have COVID swab tests done at local centres we were hoping that we would be able to find a place that was quiet inviting and understanding of how to work with special needs children to receive their vaccines and Grandview went above and beyond in assisting in that. The kids were very excited at the sensory elements provided to help ease their anxiety and the gift table afterwards was a big hit with them as they were very much looking forward to what the table offered and they got to pick out something.
Kara, Greg, Teagan and Logan Martin

Thus far, the clinic has administered more than 1,500 children, youth, members of the Grandview Kids staff and their families. Each child and youth is met by a friendly Peer Navigator, who will provide words of encouragement, fidget toys, movies, colouring sheets, prizes and a safe, quiet space to receive the vaccine. No one is rushed and everyone is welcome.

Two boys holding their treats after successfully receiving their vaccine at Grandview Kids' vaccine clinic.

“It has been a wonderful experience knowing we are actively contributing to the fight again COVID-19 in our community,” shares Grandview Kids Chief Executive Officer, Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann. “We are proud to provide a sprinkle of joy to an experience that can be distressing to children and their families.”

Appointments for upcoming clinics for children (5 to 12 years) and youth (13 to 17 years) are available on the Grandview Kids Eventbrite webpage. Each clinic is run by volunteers, with additional support provided by Grandview Kids Peer Navigators, and vaccines delivered by Grandview Kids regulated healthcare professionals. “As I reflect on the services provided by the Grandview Kids Vaccine Clinic, we must send a shout-out to all the kids we have met. We have been moved to tears at their bravery and belly laughed at the antics and incredible negotiating skills of the kids getting their shot. What we know for sure is that kids can do really hard things. Kids are curious, and kids want to do their part to help move forward beyond COVID” (Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Grandview Kids CEO).

Countless in-person events, like clinical appointments, moved to virtual ones throughout the pandemic. Many people (especially children and youth) take time to get used to the switch to virtual, and warming up to the idea of a virtual appointment can be a big ask. In this blog, Grandview Kids Speech-Language Therapy Assistant Karen has compiled some of her top points, breaking down the usefulness of virtual therapy sessions during the pandemic.

Kids sitting in a row in front of their own laptops.

What makes virtual appointments useful compared to in-person ones?

What happens between sessions (167 hours per week) is much more valuable than what happens in a session (1 hour)
Practicing an activity with a clinician talking you through it empowers you to feel confident when practicing between sessions
Virtual care allows clinicians to provide relevant, real-time suggestions tailored to specific family needs
You can partner with a clinician to find ways to embed goals into existing activities – eliminating the need to find extra “therapy time”
Eliminate transitions in and out of the car/centre/therapy room and putting on/taking off winter gear
Identify the MOST relevant target, that may have a domino effect in improving other skills
When clinicians coach families through using the strategies, parents get to experience the successes (i.e., new words, first steps) first-hand!

Illustration of a woman talking to a client over video chat on her laptop.

What could a virtual appointment look like other than child and clinician directly engaging in activities together?

A phone call to discuss goals and brainstorm ideas
A zoom call to look at space/materials and discussion around daily routines, and tailored suggestions to work existing goals into your day
Clinician could observe you and your child during a favourite activity, or daily routine, and provide tips of how to target goals in those activities
Clinician could observe and help troubleshoot a challenging routine (i.e., brushing teeth or meal time)
Clinician could actively coach you through using strategies during playtime or an existing daily routine

In March, at the top of 2021, soon-to-be college student Owen DiManno was awarded an Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO) Scholarship, a prestigious award only presented to a select few inspiring individuals. No word is better suited to describe Owen than “resilient,” says EKO as they officially announce him as a recipient of their scholarship. It is hard not to agree with this fair assessment as Owen has overcome quite a bit of adversity at a young age and still manages to show up for himself and others in various ways.

To better explain how Owen has ended up as an EKO Scholar, some background information on his journey is necessary.

In April of 2018, Owen was at his first High School Track Meet when he suffered a dissected carotid artery, which caused an ischemic stroke, describes Owen’s mother, Rebecca DiManno. After his injury, Owen underwent life-saving surgery at Sick Kids Hospital and spent several months bouncing around hospitals in recovery before arriving at Grandview Kids. Since arriving and spending the past three years at Grandview Kids, Owen has built incredible, lifelong relationships with his therapists and fellow Grandview Kids! His physical therapist, Corrie, nominated him for the scholarship, citing his resilience and positive attitude as a couple of the many reasons he deserves to receive it.

One of the reasons that landed Owen the scholarship was his steadfast commitment to raising awareness for Paediatric Stroke, helping to start a foundation to support this cause called Achieving Beyond Brain Injury. His mother has helped him with the Foundation from the get-go and notes that “from the moment he woke up from the induced coma, he started volunteering for stroke research studies.” After interacting with other kids who had suffered a stroke, it only further fuelled his desire to be a loud voice and support system for kids who he saw also suffered a stroke.

In addition to his work with his Foundation, Owen, as the enormous sports fanatic that he is, joined Grandview Kids’ sitting volleyball team. In 2019, the team competed in the annual ParaSport games, ultimately finishing fourth in the entire province! Before his stroke, Owen was involved in competitive sports, citing his competitive nature as a driving force in his life to overcome various obstacles, whether they be pushing through his rehab journey or achieving personal goals.

Portrait photograph of Owen DiManno posing beside his mother, Rebecca, in front of a lush garden. — Portrait shot of Rebecca and Owen DiManno.

Given his drive, determination, and observable skill, it’s no doubt that Owen has become quite the role model for the younger kids at Grandview! When asked how he feels about being a role model for the younger generation at Grandview, he states:

I love being with the younger kids and feel that I’m able to show them that having a disability doesn’t slow me down, and I’m able to adapt to different situations, and they can too. Being involved with the Grandview Kids sitting volleyball team was very important to me, and I loved the inclusivity and team building, we ranged in all ages and abilities, but we were one team. Being a role model helps me because I know that my attitude must remain positive, and that rubs off on everyone you meet.

Fast-forward to March of 2021: Owen had officially become an EKO Scholar!

“I felt quite honoured to be awarded such a competitive scholarship,” Owen states, further mentioning that “EKO is a wonderful organization that provides kids with disabilities, like me, with opportunities to achieve their dreams and goals.”

This past September, Owen started his first year at Durham College, pursuing an Ontario College Diploma as a Developmental Services Worker. He notes that the time he spent living at the rehab hospital significantly impacted his outlook. Owen explains

“[living at the rehab hospital] allowed me to experience a multitude of people with different abilities and the clinicians that worked with all of us. I want to make a difference in someone’s life, I want to work with kids with different abilities, and a lived experience is something that can’t be taught.”

As Owen enters the next chapter of his life, it goes without question that no matter what he aims to accomplish next, his determination will be a driving force in what ultimately allows him to achieve it.

Dr. Meghann Lloyd celebrates a decade as Grandview Kids Research Associate

Dr. Meghann Lloyd on a field high-fiving a little boy. — Grandview Children’s Centre for U.O.I.T. May 16, 2012. (Ian Goodall/Goodall Media Inc.)

Dr. Meghann Lloyd, Associate Professor, Kinesiology at Ontario Tech University, celebrates her tenth anniversary as Grandview Kids’ Research Associate! Over the last decade, Dr. Meghann Lloyd has worked closely with Grandview Kids, furthering research focused on childhood disability. In commemoration of this milestone, Dr. Meghann Lloyd reflects on her time with Grandview Kids and looks towards the future as she answers some of our questions.

Why did you choose a career focused on childhood disability?

During my undergraduate degree at Acadia University, I volunteered in the S.M.I.L.E. program, where I was paired with a young boy with autism, and we played together on Saturday mornings, working on goals. It was in my third year that I realized the adapted physical activity was an academic field of study. I also had the chance to do an Honours research project in my fourth year of undergrad, and I knew very quickly that this area was what I wanted to pursue for my career. While I enjoyed working with children with typical development, I felt strongly that the children with disabilities were more fun, more of a challenge, and far more rewarding to work with.

Three little boys posing in and outside of play tubes in Dr. Meghann LLoyd's lab. — Children Dr. Meghann LLoyd has worked with at her lab.

What has been your most significant accomplishment as the Grandview Kids Research Associate in the past 10 years?

My most significant accomplishment as the Grandview Research Associate has been the longevity of trusting relationships. Gaining the trust and respect of the staff and clinicians at Grandview allows me the freedom to propose my own research questions and the commitment to pursue the questions that Grandview puts forth. To have been able to foster and commit to this relationship over the past ten years has been a privilege.

Little boy squatting on top of a tall block in Dr. Meghann Lloyd's lab.

Reflecting on your past successes and now towards the future, what is the most ambitious goal you hope to realize at Grandview Kids?

My goal is for the research myself and my graduate students complete to be relevant to Grandview, but more importantly, actionable. I also envision a day where Grandview has the capacity to ask its own questions and execute the studies. To achieve this, substantial external funding would need to be secured and the infrastructure in place to implement the plans. If we realize this goal, Grandview would establish itself as a research hub east of Toronto in pediatric rehabilitation and adapted physical activity and would be able to train the next generation of researchers, as well as clinician-scientists. This would benefit Grandview clients but also the academic fields.

Little boy holding a toy bat up to a softball in Dr. Meghann Lloyd's lab.

Thank you for a stellar decade of dedicated work and research, Dr. Meghann LLoyd. Having you as a Research Associate at Grandview Kids, we know to expect great things in our future!