Ottawa Children’s Coordinated Access and Referral to Services (OCCARS) is a community mechanism designed to support professionals in their work with children, youth, and their families.
It is not a service itself. Instead, it is a way to bring people together to make recommendations and referrals, helping families get the support they need.
Referral Process:
1. A professional (school staff, social worker, community agency, etc.) completes the application with your input and gathers documents.
2. The file is reviewed. Not all requests go to the committee for a presentation. Some requests are reviewed by the OCCARS team and can be expedited.
3. When a presentation is scheduled, the committee listens, asks questions, and then makes recommendations or referrals.
4. Recommendations are given back to the professional, who will review them with you and help with next steps.
You are always invited to attend a committee presentation, but it is not mandatory if you do not feel comfortable.
Access the Referring Worker Checklist HERE
The Coordinated Access and Referral Committee is committed to:
- Help families find the right services at the right time.
- Make sure recommendations are the least intrusive and most helpful for your child or youth.
- Support children, youth, and families when community services haven’t met their needs.
The committees bring together representatives from these partner agencies:
- Centre Le CAP
- CHEO
- Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa
- Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre
- Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est
- Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
- Ottawa Catholic School Board
- Ottawa Carleton District School Board
- Roberts/Smart Centre
- Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
- Service Coordination des services
- Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
- YouTurn Youth Support Services
Contact Information:
Ottawa Children’s Coordinated Access & Referral to Services
1355 Bank Street Suite, 300
Ottawa, ON, K1H 8K7
E-mail: info@coordinatedaccess.ca
Fax: 613-288-0426