Foundational Family Services
Assisting families to support their child’s development
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View our upcoming services below.

The caregiver-child relationship is a life-long journey of learning and discovery, especially for caregivers raising a child with autism. Access to quality and timely information is critical for families to support their children and youth in reaching their full potential.
Foundational Family Services offer a wide range of evidence-based support provided in various formats to build family capacity to support their child’s ongoing learning and development. They may include:
- Family and peer mentoring
- Caregiver workshops and follow-up coaching sessions
- Brief targeted consultation
- Transition supports
- Family resource and clinic days
Foundational Family Services are available to all families registered with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) at no cost.
Upcoming Services
Family Resource Clinic Day
Meet with a Family Support Staff one-on-one to ask questions about navigating community resources, financial supports and the OAP
Caregiver Connect: A Parent Support Group
Weekly sessions to discuss topics like managing stress, providing engaging activities, supporting changes and advocating for your child.
Supporting Executive Functioning Skills
Discuss behavioural strategies to support the needs of your child and allow them to independently initiate and complete daily tasks
Teaching Early Communication Skills
Understand how early speech and communication skills develop. Learn teaching strategies that can increase your child’s communication
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder
Informative workshops to learn about the basics of autism, including common features, how it affects everyday life and recent research on causes
Transitioning to Adulthood
Discuss the different types of transitions your teenager may encounter and learn strategies that can help manage them
Parent Advocacy
Explore the seven principles of being an advocate. Families will have the opportunity to participate in discussions and interactive activities
Let’s Play! Strategies for Teaching Early Play Skills
Learn strategies to teach early play skills such as imitation, turn taking, increasing length of play interactions and expanding ways to play with toys
Supporting Transitions
Discuss common transitions your child may encounter, such as starting a new activity, changing schools, moving or welcoming a new sibling
Getting Started with Toilet Training
Learn about signs of readiness, different toilet training methods and strategies that can help with the toileting process
Eating and Mealtime Routines
Discuss nutritional considerations, common eating challenges during mealtime routines and learn strategies to address them
Healthy Sleep Habits
Learn the benefits of healthy sleep habits and common sleep issues in children such as falling asleep on their own and night awakenings
Orientation to the Ontario Autism Program
Learn about changes to the OAP, how they affect your family and information to navigate childhood budgets and interim one-time funding
Supporting Social Skills
Learn teaching strategies to enhance interactions with peers like greetings, sharing, initiating interactions and having conversations
Foundations of ABA
Understand the basic principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), the scientific methodology that supports skill development in this two part series
ABA Essentials for Caregivers
7-week program designed to introduce caregivers to essential strategies of ABA including a group session and one-on-one follow-ups
Group Teen Triple P
Receive information on ways to cope with an autism diagnosis, self-care and ways to incorporate these strategies into your daily life
Coping with a Diagnosis
Receive information on ways to cope with an autism diagnosis, self-care and ways to incorporate these strategies into your daily life
Triple P – Group Stepping Stones
Manage common problem behaviours and developmental issues in children with developmental disabilities ages 12 and under
Triple P Seminar 1 – Positive Parenting
We look at the seven key principles of positive parenting to help caregivers develop manage their children’s behaviour and emotions.
Family Resource Clinic Day
Meet with a Family Support Staff one-on-one to ask questions about navigating community resources, financial supports and the OAP
Community Resources and Funding
Learn about services, supports, programs and funding options available to families with children with autism in the city of Toronto
Triple P Seminar 2 – Reaching Potential
Master important steps to successfully teach your child new skills in their everyday environment for success at home, school and beyond
Behaviour 2: Dealing with Challenging Behaviours
Develop an understanding of common strategies for addressing challenging behaviours, including case studies and examples
Triple P Seminar 3 – Changing Behaviour
Discuss common behaviour problems in children and steps to help manage challenging behaviours and encourage positive behaviour
No Fair! How to Teach Emotional Regulation
Learn about emotional regulation, how to identify dysregulation and practical strategies to help your child manage their emotions
Increasing Daily Living Skills
Learn about the variables that influence how your child learns self-help skills and different strategies to teach these skills to your child
Preparing Your Child to be Home Alone
Determine if your child is ready to stay home alone, provide behavioural strategies to set them up for success and create a plan for your child.
Getting Started with Toilet Training
Learn about signs of readiness, different toilet training methods and strategies that can help with the toileting process
Transitioning to Post-Secondary School – Caregiver Session
Caregivers learn about the challenges their teens face, skills needed for success, disclosing a diagnosis, navigating services and more.
Family Resource Clinic Day – IN-PERSON EVENT
Meet with a Family Support Staff one-on-one to ask questions about navigating community resources, financial supports and the OAP
Transitioning to Post-Secondary School – Teen Session
Learn about transition challenges, skills needed for success, disclosing a diagnosis, navigating services and helpful wellness tips
Creating and Using Visuals – IN-PERSON EVENT
Review the benefits of visuals and provide an overview of the types you can use to support your child, such as daily schedules and token boards
Building Conversation Skills
Understand the components of conversations, including questions and comments. Learn effective strategies for teaching conversation skills
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Wellness Events
Did you know that we offer free events for clients, caregivers and professionals?

Resource Library
Find accessible information developed by our clinicians to help you on your journey.