We are here for you!

May 28, 2020

John McGivney Children’s Centre (JMCC) has been helping abilities grow for more than 40 years. We are passionate about what we do. Over the last three months, we have had to provide our services in different ways in order to ensure the safety of our clients, our staff, and the community. We all look forward to the time that we can meet in person once again, and to that, we have an important announcement.

As always, we remain committed to providing the best service possible to children and youth with special needs and their families in Windsor and Essex County. As of June 8, 2020, we will slowly begin to resume a limited number of on-site appointments. This will include children and youth who require in-person service with an assistive mobility or communication device and/or other appointments that are urgent, but can also be conducted safely. However, at this time, virtual care will continue to remain the primary way that service is delivered for the majority of the children and families we serve.

Here is what you need to know:
Over the coming weeks and months, as we continue to monitor the situation and follow the advice of public health experts and our government, our plan is to phase-in more in-person services, while focusing on the health and safety of our clients and their families, our staff and our community. 

We have been working hard to make the Centre safe for all. In order to minimize risk, please understand that only clients with confirmed appointments will be able to enter the building, and only one parent/caregiver may accompany a child to the appointment. Staff will review the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 with you and you will be asked to respect all physical distancing and associated safety guidelines. Our staff will be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), appropriate for the work they are doing, according to public health guidelines. For more information, please review Keeping Everyone Safe document and our Keeping Everyone Safe at JMCC video.

Additionally, at this time, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel our traditional JMCC Summer Camp. However, we are committed to offering a variety of virtual programming for kids throughout the summer. Please stay tuned to our website and our social media channels for updates.

We are extremely grateful to our clients, their families and our staff for their patience, understanding and adaptability during these uncertain times. We are pleased to begin slowly and safely introducing a limited number of urgent, in-person services, while continuing to offer many virtual services and resources to support our clients and their families through this challenging time. If you have questions, please call 519-252-7281. 

• Our staff are monitoring their voicemails and their emails and are committed to responding to your inquiries in a timely manner.
   
• Please note that when a staff member calls, the number that shows up on your caller ID may display as a “Blocked” or “Private” number.
   
• We continue to accept referrals for JMCC services. Parents and legal guardians can refer to the Centre directly and physicians and other professionals can also refer with parent consent. To make a referral by phone, please contact Beth Reidy at 519-252-7281 ext. 271. To make a referral by fax please send the referral form to 519-252-5873.
   
• In the resources side bar on the Family Services page you will find links and information on COVID-19 specific resources for families, caregivers, children and teens. These include financial resources, coping tips and strategies, community resources and more. 
   
• In the resources side bar on the services pages of our website (occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy etc.), there are tip sheets and other tools for families.
   
• Connect with us on Zoom: We are excited to be able to offer families the opportunity to participate in virtual meetings, therapy sessions and check-ins with JMCC team members on Zoom. If you are interested in exploring this further, please contact your child’s therapist today! 
   
• Check out our video gallery for fun, family activities with therapeutic benefits. These videos also provide a great opportunity to see familar JMCC faces. 
   
• Our CEO, Jessica Sartori, shared a video message for our JMCC families and our community. Watch it today! 
   
• We are continuously developing additional tips and resources for families to work together on therapy goals at home. Stay tuned to our social media channels, our website and your email for updates!

We look forward to continuing to connect with you. Please reach out to us by phone, email and on social media. Stay healthy and be well!