This is the first and only initiative that I have experienced
where there has been 100% committment
from all of the participating organizations.
There is a popular joke that the best way to eat an elephant is slowly and one bite at a time. For the York ASD Partnership it was no joke – they had undertaken a huge task and they knew they would have to set priorities and chunk the work to keep from becoming overwhelmed.
The implementation plan divided the work into three distinct phases:
1. Disseminating and resourcing the strategic plan;
2. Aligning with existing and on-going initiatives in York Region; and
3. Resourcing and organizing for long-term strategies.
The ASD Steering Group was established to guide, direct, and oversee the goals of the Strategic Plan and lead the distribution of actions to be taken by each of the Working Groups.
Download the
YASDP Organization Chart
Jan 2011
Download the
YASDP Organization Chart
March 2014
Each Working Group was required to develop a Terms of Reference using a common template. Each group tracked their work and progress towards their goals on forms that were created and monitored by the Systems Change Working Group.
The following lists each Working Group with their primary roles and accomplishments:
Detailed description of Screening and Assessment Working Group.
Detailed description of Communications Working Group
Detailed description of Mapping and Pathways Working Group.
Detailed description of Physician Support Working Group.
View the YASDP Training Course Videos
Detailed description of Professional Development Working Group.
Detailed description of Transition Planning Working Group.
Detailed description of Systems Change Working Group.
Detailed description of Adult Supports and Services Working Group.
In the fall of 2014, the Crisis Support Working Group was formed. Once it receives a report from an outside consultant funded through a grant obtained by YASDP and the Mental Health Collaborative, it will begin its work in earnest. Another Working Group called Coordinated Plans of Care (formerly called SPOC) is also is the process of being established.
Each Working Group was required to develop a Terms of Reference using a common template. Each group tracked their work and progress towards their goals on forms that were created and monitored by the Systems Change Working Group.
The following lists each Working Group with their primary roles and accomplishments:
Detailed description of Screening and Assessment Working Group.
Detailed description of Communications Working Group
Detailed description of Mapping and Pathways Working Group.
Detailed description of Physician Support Working Group.
View the YASDP Training Course Videos
Detailed description of Professional Development Working Group.
Detailed description of Transition Planning Working Group.
Detailed description of Systems Change Working Group.
Detailed description of Adult Supports and Services Working Group.
In the fall of 2014, the Crisis Support Working Group was formed. Once it receives a report from an outside consultant funded through a grant obtained by YASDP and the Mental Health Collaborative, it will begin its work in earnest. Another Working Group called Coordinated Plans of Care (formerly called SPOC) is also is the process of being established.
Each Working Group was required to develop a Terms of Reference using a common template. Each group tracked their work and progress towards their goals on forms that were created and monitored by the Systems Change Working Group.
The following lists each Working Group with their primary roles and accomplishments:
Detailed description of Screening and Assessment Working Group.
Detailed description of Communications Working Group
Detailed description of Mapping and Pathways Working Group.
Detailed description of Physician Support Working Group.
View the YASDP Training Course Videos
Detailed description of Professional Development Working Group.
Detailed description of Transition Planning Working Group.
Detailed description of Systems Change Working Group.
Detailed description of Adult Supports and Services Working Group.
In the fall of 2014, the Crisis Support Working Group was formed. Once it receives a report from an outside consultant funded through a grant obtained by YASDP and the Mental Health Collaborative, it will begin its work in earnest. Another Working Group called Coordinated Plans of Care (formerly called SPOC) is also is the process of being established.
The York ASD Partnership had been born from a common vision that people in York Region with ASD be able to live to their fullest potential at home, at school, at work, and at play.
While parents and service providers had come together to develop a plan to ensure the realization of that vision, there were costs associated with coordination and implementation that needed to be supported by adequate and stable funding.
Core funding was limited to project management (i.e. 2 staff sharing a 3-day/week part-time contract) and a minimal amount for administrative support. Office space and meeting rooms were provided by partner organizations.
Raising the core funding became a shared responsibility of all partners. This required:
1) A formal partnership agreement with each participating organization
2) An annual membership fee prorated to the partner’s capacity to contribute with the largest amount being a one-time annual fee of $25,000.
One of the larger participating agencies acted as the financial trustee for the partnership. View the YASDP Financial Trustee Agreement.
The York ASD Partnership had been born from a common vision that people in York Region with ASD be able to live to their fullest potential at home, at school, at work, and at play.
While parents and service providers had come together to develop a plan to ensure the realization of that vision, there were costs associated with coordination and implementation that needed to be supported by adequate and stable funding.
Core funding was limited to project management (i.e. 2 staff sharing a 3-day/week part-time contract) and a minimal amount for administrative support. Office space and meeting rooms were provided by partner organizations.
Raising the core funding became a shared responsibility of all partners. This required:
1) A formal partnership agreement with each participating organization
2) An annual membership fee prorated to the partner’s capacity to contribute with the largest amount being a one-time annual fee of $25,000.
One of the larger participating agencies acted as the financial trustee for the partnership. View the YASDP Financial Trustee Agreement.
The York ASD Partnership had been born from a common vision that people in York Region with ASD be able to live to their fullest potential at home, at school, at work, and at play.
While parents and service providers had come together to develop a plan to ensure the realization of that vision, there were costs associated with coordination and implementation that needed to be supported by adequate and stable funding.
Core funding was limited to project management (i.e. 2 staff sharing a 3-day/week part-time contract) and a minimal amount for administrative support. Office space and meeting rooms were provided by partner organizations.
Raising the core funding became a shared responsibility of all partners. This required:
1) A formal partnership agreement with each participating organization
2) An annual membership fee prorated to the partner’s capacity to contribute with the largest amount being a one-time annual fee of $25,000.
One of the larger participating agencies acted as the financial trustee for the partnership. View the YASDP Financial Trustee Agreement.
The partnership has applied for program grants on numerous occasions and was awarded grants in 2011, 2013 and 2014:
2011: The Partnership was awarded a $25,000 Autism Speaks Canada grant to ensure that intake staff at every door in the service system has enough knowledge of ASD and the service system to respond to families with sensitivity and support. This grant funded training modules and development of a warm transfer protocol.
2013: The Partnership received another grant from Autism Speaks Canada to train all children’s and adult’s mental health service workers in York Region on ASD and related mental health concerns. Also in 2013, York Support Services Network received one-time funding from the Ministry of Community and Social Services to print several checklists.
2014: the Ministry of Community and Social Services provided funding to the Partnership to hold a community meeting to review progress since the partnership was formed and to document the story of its success.
The partnership continues to monitor applicable grant opportunities and take advantage of such opportunities whenever possible.
The partnership has applied for program grants on numerous occasions and was awarded grants in 2011, 2013 and 2014:
2011: The Partnership was awarded a $25,000 Autism Speaks Canada grant to ensure that intake staff at every door in the service system has enough knowledge of ASD and the service system to respond to families with sensitivity and support. This grant funded training modules and development of a warm transfer protocol.
2013: The Partnership received another grant from Autism Speaks Canada to train all children’s and adult’s mental health service workers in York Region on ASD and related mental health concerns. Also in 2013, York Support Services Network received one-time funding from the Ministry of Community and Social Services to print several checklists.
2014: the Ministry of Community and Social Services provided funding to the Partnership to hold a community meeting to review progress since the partnership was formed and to document the story of its success.
The partnership continues to monitor applicable grant opportunities and take advantage of such opportunities whenever possible.
The partnership has applied for program grants on numerous occasions and was awarded grants in 2011, 2013 and 2014:
2011: The Partnership was awarded a $25,000 Autism Speaks Canada grant to ensure that intake staff at every door in the service system has enough knowledge of ASD and the service system to respond to families with sensitivity and support. This grant funded training modules and development of a warm transfer protocol.
2013: The Partnership received another grant from Autism Speaks Canada to train all children’s and adult’s mental health service workers in York Region on ASD and related mental health concerns. Also in 2013, York Support Services Network received one-time funding from the Ministry of Community and Social Services to print several checklists.
2014: the Ministry of Community and Social Services provided funding to the Partnership to hold a community meeting to review progress since the partnership was formed and to document the story of its success.
The partnership continues to monitor applicable grant opportunities and take advantage of such opportunities whenever possible.