While children wait…
Community services and agencies:
While families access First Words services, parents can also benefit from information and services provided by various community agencies.
- Link families to Ottawa Public Health Information (OPHI). Qualified nurses can help families access information on Speech and Language information and other early years services and agencies.
- Encourage families to visit the “Parents” section of the First Words website. They will find many useful resources and information that will help them support their child’s communication development.
- Link families to the community. Many free early years programs focusing on early learning and social development are offered in the community through various agencies. First Words keeps an informal community resource list of some of the programs and services offered in the community – find it here.
First Words services:
- Ask families about their visit to one of First Words screening clinics. After attending a screening clinic, families will be told if their child should receive a complete speech and language assessment or not. If further services are needed, they will have received a package of intake forms.
- Make sure the family has completed and returned the intake forms given at the clinic as soon as possible. These forms need to be returned to the First Words Intake office at CHEO. Families should received a call within three months after sending the intake forms. If they haven’t, they can call the First Words Intake office at (613) 737-7600 ext. 2500. For more information on the First Words service delivery model, click here.
Private speech-language pathologists:
- Parents may wish to use a private speech-language pathologist for their child at their own cost. Families who have received the services of a private speech-language pathologist can still receive First Words services.
- First Words keeps a list of private speech-language pathologists who see children in the Ottawa area. Please note that First Words does not confirm the practitioner’s certification or qualifications. The Private Practice Checklist includes suggested questions to use when contracting a private speech-language pathologist. These lists can be found in the “Downloads” section of this website.