Adrian Polidano

On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, Grandview Kids will transition its phone system from traditional desk phones to a digital solution, called Teams Phone. Teams Phone enables our staff members to use their computers as phones for all their calling needs.

This transition brings many benefits, including a more user-friendly experience when calling Grandview Kids and a modern telephone solution to support improved technology at our new headquarters and satellite locations. Below is more information about our transition to Teams Phone and how it affects clients and families.

Rest assured: While the software we use to make and receive calls changes on June 19, our main phone number will NOT change. You will still be able to reach us at 905-728-1673 (toll-free at 1-800-304-6180). Grandview Kids’ transition to Teams Phone will not change how we offer our programs and services to clients in any way.

How does the change to Teams Phone affect clients and caregivers?

Automated greeting

When you call Grandview Kids on/after June 19, you will notice that our automated greeting and directory have changed. Please be sure to listen carefully to our new greeting when you call us on or after this date, as selections may have changed.

Personal extensions

While our main phone number is not changing, our staff will no longer have extensions. On/after June 19, every staff member will have individual Teams Phone numbers to reach them (these numbers look like typical phone numbers). If you regularly call a member of Team Grandview using their extension, please ask them after Wednesday, June 19 for their new Teams Phone number. Moving forward, you can reach Team Grandview members using their direct Teams Phone number. If you don’t yet know your clinician’s new Teams Phone number, you can call the main line and dial by their name to be connected (after June 19).

Questions?

We thank you in advance for your patience as Team Grandview becomes accustomed to the Teams Phone system. If you have questions about Grandview Kids’ transition to Teams Phone, please email communications@grandviewkids.ca.

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Something new is flying into Grandview Kids this Fall. Two Ontario Sculptors, Francis Muscat and Fly Freeman, are creating a suspended artwork for our entrance at our new headquarters. The artwork will include beautiful, fantastical bugs emerging from cocoons and filling the upper spaces of the area (see the artistic rendering below). But, these artists need the help of Grandview Kids’ creative community!

The bugs are going to be works of imagination. The artists want each bug to have a story, to have a purpose – a unique personality and appearance. Help us create the bugs. Help us build their stories. Your ideas will inspire this amazing, lasting piece of artwork in our new headquarters.

There are a few ways Grandview Kids clients and families can get involved.

From home

Draw a bug! Think about what you bug might look like – all the bugs are flying bugs, so your bugs should have wings, and most bugs have 6 legs, 2 eyes, 2 antenna, and a body – but these are just suggestions. Use your imagination. Download the template or pick up a printed copy at any of our Grandview Kids locations.
Colour a bug drawing! Drawn by Francis and Fly, but coloured by you. We have some funky designs of butterflies and beetles. All you have to do is supply the colour! Download the templates or pick up a printed copy at any of our Grandview Kids locations.
To submit: Take a photo of your finished drawings and email to newbuild@grandviewkids.ca by May 31, 2024.

In-person workshop

Build your own bug workshop (space limited): A chance to build a small bug and meet the sculptors. We will have all that you need to make your own, unique bug. Also, you can see how the sculptors are going to make the big butterfly and beetle bugs for the new building. Space is limited, so registration is required.
- Date: Wednesday, May 29
- Location: Grandview Kids Main Site 600 Townline Rd S, Oshawa
- Time: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Drop in any time that evening (registration required)
- All ages welcome, but please register each family member.

Register here!

We can’t wait to see the amazing ideas and innovation of the Grandview Kids community!

Each year on March 31, the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)  to raise awareness about transgender people. It is a day to celebrate the lives of transgender people, empowering them to live authentically, while still acknowledging that due to discrimination, not every trans person can be (or wants to be) visible.

Although much has been accomplished since the beginning of the new millennium, including the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005, and the protection of gender expression and identity in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code in 2017, challenges and discrimination persist.

In the last five years, we have seen a rise in dangerous rhetoric attacking the trans community, as well as a spike in policy decisions that limit access to gender-affirming care for trans children and youth. As a paediatric service provider, this worries Grandview Kids.

Our sector’s leading organizations recently wrote to Ontario’s Premier and Minister of Health, sharing our stance that, “gender-affirming healthcare for children and youth must remain as decisions between the patient/client, their parents/caregivers, and their clinicians – without intrusion by government.”

Policies aimed at fostering inclusion and representation and honouring the human rights of 2SLGBTQ+ children and youth in all settings are not only critical to their overall health and wellbeing, they are life saving. We all must continue to work together to combat discrimination and violence toward trans children, youth and adults, further advocating for the protection and promotion of the human rights of trans and gender-diverse people in Canada. The human rights of all people are universal and indivisible, regardless of their sexual orientation and their gender identity and expression.

In 2018, approximately 75,000 people in Canada were transgender or non-binary, representing 0.24% of the Canadian population aged 15 and older. In 2018, lesbian, gay, bisexual and other sexual minority people in Canada were twice as likely as heterosexual people to report experiencing unwanted sexual behaviours in public (57% versus 22%) or at work (44% versus 22%), as well as online harassment (37% versus 15%), over the previous 12 months. Transgender people in Canada were more likely to report their mental health as poor or fair than their cisgender counterparts, more likely to have seriously contemplated suicide in their lifetimes, and more likely to have been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder.

These statistics demonstrate the challenges, and are likely an under-reported sample, considering many people are not open about their gender or sexual orientation for many reasons, including fear of scrutiny or discrimination.

Join us in addressing these challenges and barriers by becoming a Trans Ally this International Day of Trans Visibility. PFLAG, the first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families, assembled some excellent tools and resources to help you get started.

Resources

Join us and others to take a stand against bullying and be an advocate for kindness and inclusivity by wearing a pink shirt on February 28, 2024.

Pink Shirt Day is celebrated on the last Wednesday in February every year to promote anti-bullying. The initiative was started in 2007 in small-town Nova Scotia, after a Grade 9 boy was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Other students took a stand against this bullying, distributing pink shirts to all Grade 9 boys in an act of solidarity. This simple act of kindness spread across the school, community and country, becoming a global movement to support children and youth affected by bullying.

Bullying is a form of aggression where there is a power imbalance; it is behaviour that makes the person being bullied feel afraid, alone or uncomfortable. This can include such behaviours as being teased, insulted or excluded. There are many different types of bullying, ranging from being made fun of, to having one’s property destroyed, to cyberbullying-type measures such as having hurtful information posted on the Internet.

Having needs due to neurological, developmental, physical and mental health conditions can add to the challenges children and young people face as they learn to navigate social situations in school and in life. While bullying and cyberbullying is an unfortunate reality for many young people, children with physical, communication and developmental needs are at greater risk for being targeted by their peers.

That’s why Pink Shirt Day is so important to Grandview Kids!

We all have a role to play in making the community accessible and inclusive for all abilities. Becoming an Inclusion Ally is one way you can make a difference!

An Inclusion Ally is someone who listens to and supports people with different needs and abilities, but does not have this lived experience. It’s not a label you give yourself. An Inclusion Ally is always learning and unlearning. An Inclusion Ally finds a way to make sure everyone feels like they belong.

Don’t know where to start to combat bullying? We can help!

Our Ability Acceptance Program is available to local businesses, schools, licensed child care centres and community groups, with the goal to enhance the understanding and acceptance of all abilities and promote inclusive practices. Request a presentation!

Remember, sometimes disabilities are visible, but other times they may be invisible. This includes brain injuries, chronic pain, mental illness, gastro-intestinal disorders, and much more. Because they’re not obvious to spot, invisible disabilities may be overlooked and misunderstood. That’s why it’s important to treat everyone with respect, kindness and understanding.

Together, we can make our classrooms, schools and communities more inclusive for people of all abilities!

AlayaCare is our new Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology that will replace our existing software. AlayaCare is a software solution that spans clinical documentation, administration functionality, client and family portals, mobile care functionality and more. Over the last several months, many members of Team Grandview have participated in training sessions to prepare for the move to this new system. AlayaCare will modernize and simplify our clinical staff’s tasks and processes, notably the documentation they capture during each client visit.

Scheduling update

Starting Wednesday, January 31, 2024, Grandview Kids will be transitioning our old EHR to AlayaCare for a brief period. Due to this transition, you will not be able to reschedule appointments until this transfer is complete. Once the transition is complete and our scheduling capabilities return to normal, an update will be issued on Grandview Kids’ Facebook, Instagram and X pages. Please be advised that we can still accept and process appointment cancellations during this transition.

Additionally, there will be a pause on our automated reminder calls advising you of your appointments. As this feature in AlayaCare is still in development, please stay tuned to our social media pages (linked above) for news of this exciting new feature.

Below is a brief series of frequently asked questions to help you learn more about AlayaCare

Why is Grandview Kids transitioning to AlayaCare?

Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO), the association representing Ontario’s publicly funded child development and rehabilitation sector, was contracted with the Ontario Education Collaborative Marketplace to source a new EHR for all member organizations (which includes Grandview Kids). Their goal was to select a new vendor that offers member organizations an EHR that is modern, efficient and encourages collaboration. Last year, all Children’s Treatment Centres in Ontario, including Grandview Kids, provided feedback on different vendors before ultimately agreeing upon AlayaCare as the preferred EHR.

How will AlayaCare improve service delivery?

AlayaCare will modernize our current EHR environment, enabling our clinical staff to input critical client information more efficiently than before. The introduction of AlayaCare will also allow Grandview Kids to develop a portal for clients and/or caregivers to access information relating to their care.

Please note that the portal for clients and/or caregivers will not be available immediately. We plan to leverage AlayaCare’s enhanced client-facing functionalities as we continue to build our future state.

Will the transition to AlayaCare affect my service?

You will experience the same high-quality care and service from Grandview Kids, and we’re committed to making the transition smooth for our clients and their families. Entering your information into the system may take a few additional minutes over the next few weeks, and we appreciate your patience as we shift to the new system.

Will the Grandview Kids ensure my privacy during this transition?

Grandview Kids is dedicated to ensuring the highest level of privacy while ensuring we provide the best possible care for our families. We are committed to protecting our clients’ health data and follow strict protocols set out by Ontario’s Personal Health Information Act (PHIPA). While migrating our existing EHR, we are using advanced encryption technologies and robust authentication methods to secure the transfer of sensitive health data through our trusted partner organization. AlayaCare, our new EHR, uses the latest technology to store, organize and access client data securely while maintaining the confidentiality of all personal health information. Secure procedures are implemented to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in the migration process, minimizing the risk of data breaches. Grandview Kids has several policies for all staff addressing confidentiality and client privacy rights.

For more information on how Grandview Kids is committed to protecting your privacy, please visit our Privacy page.

Where can I get more information about AlayaCare?

Please visit the AlayaCare website to learn more about the EHR.

In December and January, we acknowledge Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and Orthodox Christmas. Read more about each holiday below, written by members of our Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee.

Hanukkah: December 7 to 15, 2023

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, originates from a historical conflict in 175 B.C., when King Antiochus prohibited Judaism in Judea, resulting in the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. The subsequent rebellion, led by Judah the Maccabee, culminated in victory around 164 B.C. The unique aspect of Hanukkah lies in the miraculous event involving a single jar of oil found upon the Maccabees’ return to the Temple. Initially sufficient for one day, this oil inexplicably burned for eight days, providing ample time for the victorious Maccabees to secure additional sacred oil. This extraordinary occurrence is commemorated through Hanukkah’s eight nights of celebration. Today, the festival’s commencement varies in the Gregorian calendar, with the 2023 celebration spanning from December 7 to December 15. Traditional practices include lighting a menorah, adding one candle each night, reciting blessings and exchanging gifts. The festival also features festive foods like sufganiyot and latkes, symbolizing the enduring lamp oil. Families partake in spinning a dreidel for chocolate gelt, adding to the rich traditions of Hanukkah.

Christmas: December 25, 2023

Christmas Day is celebrated globally to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is observed by both Christians and non-Christians as a religious and cultural holiday. Though the exact date of Jesus’s birth is not recorded in the Bible, December 25 corresponds with the traditional date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar.

As recounted in the Bible’s New Testament, the Christmas narrative aligns with messianic prophecies told in the Old Testament. It was said that Jesus’s mother, Mary, would conceive through immaculate conception and that He would be born in a manager in Bethlehem. Mary and her husband Joseph, though originally from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, were on a journey to Bethlehem to fulfill census requirements decreed by Caesar Augustus. Once in Bethlehem, there was no room for them at the inn, only finding respite in a stable where Jesus would be born. The angels proclaimed the good news of the promised Saviour’s birth to lowly shepherds who then spread the word.

For many people, Christmas is not celebrated as a religious holiday but rather as a cultural holiday full of traditional celebrations with friends and family.

Many traditions accompany the Christmas holiday, such as giving presents, frequently associated with a figure named Santa Claus. Other traditions include the sending of cards to family and friends, parties with good food and drink, and the singing of carols and other songs.

On behalf of the IDEA Committee, Merry Christmas to all celebrating! “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom He is pleased!” (Luke 2:14 ESV). 

Kwanzaa: December 26 to January 1, 2023

Kwanzaa is an African American cultural holiday that is embraced in Canada and across the globe. The holiday is dedicated to celebrating African family, community and culture. Dr. Maulana Karenga, the founder of Kwanzaa and a member of the organization Us, established the holiday in 1966–67 as a response to race riots in Los Angeles, aiming to affirm African American culture and foster unity.

Celebrated from December 26 to January 1, Kwanzaa derives its name from Swahili, meaning “first fruits,” and is characterized by a seven-day observance aligning with the seven principles of Nguzo Saba: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (co-operative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith). Symbolism during Kwanzaa includes seven community values represented by symbols such as a straw mat, fruits, vegetables, corn, a cup, a kinara with seven candles and homemade gifts. Kwanzaa, spanning seven days, culminates in a vibrant December 31 celebration marked by gatherings in colorful African attire, a festive feast called karamu, and lively music, dance and singing, while the final day, January 1, is quieter and allows reflection on personal goals and aspirations for the upcoming year.

Orthodox Christmas: January 7, 2024

Orthodox Christmas is observed on January 7 by Eastern Orthodox Christians, marking the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s observed as per the Julian calendar, not the Gregorian calendar. This holiday is considered one of the most important in the Orthodox Christian calendar, marked by sacred rites, holy liturgies, and family gatherings. The tradition of observing Orthodox Christmas was carried over to Canada by immigrants from Eastern European countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, and Greece, amongst others. It continues to thrive in diverse, multicultural Canadian society today.