Families of children with disabilities often face challenges that go beyond medical care. Aspects such as finding stable housing, affording food, accessing childcare, or getting the right educational supports can make a big difference in a child’s health and development.

The project team will work with rehabilitation teams to better support families with these everyday challenges.

Social prescribing is an approach used in many parts of the world that connects people to helpful community services and supports, such as food programs, housing resources, family supports, and educational services. For families of children with disabilities, these connections can make it easier to access care, reduce stress, and support healthier outcomes for children.

This project will bring together parents, clinicians, and leaders from four Children’s Treatment Centres in Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Together, they are designing social prescribing approaches that work for families and fit within pediatric rehabilitation settings in Canada.

With guidance from international experts, each participating centre will put its approach into practice and learn from the experience. Families and care teams will share what works well and what could be improved so the models can continue to evolve.

This project will aim to establish: 

  • Social prescribing approaches ready to use at partner centres
  • Practical guidance for other Children’s Rehabilitation Centres across Canada
  • New knowledge about how connecting families to community supports can improve access to care and health equity

This innovation project will ensure families get the support they need—not just in a clinical setting, but in their everyday lives.

Award

  • Kids Brain Health Network: $159,998
  • Brain Canada: $40,000

Partners

  • Rehabilitation Centre for Children 
  • Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation
  • Children’s Treatment Network
  • KidsAbility 

Team

  • Principal investigator: Dr. Michelle Phoenix
  • Co-investigator: Vanessa Tomas
  • Collaborator and parent lead: Hannen Flores
  • Collaborator and parent lead: Amie Richards
  • Collaborator and clinical lead (and parent/caregiver): Melanie Sheldon
  • Collaborator and expert consultant: Dr. Arvin Garg
  • Collaborator and expert consultant: Dr. Sue Woolfenden
  • Collaborator and expert consultant: Dr. Katarina Ostojic
  • Collaborator and expert consultant: Dr. Anna Basu
  • Collaborator and clinical lead: Kim Hesketh
  • Collaborator and clinical lead: Cynthia Lennon
  • Collaborator: Dr. Kristy Wittmeier
  • Collaborator: Dr. Elizabeth Hammond
  • Collaborator: Kristen Baumann
  • Collaborator: Nisha Krishnan-Patel
  • Collaborator: Sarah Critch