Direct Home Services Program

What is the Direct Home Services Program?
The Direct Home Services Program (DHSP) is a home based early intervention program offered to families of young children (birth up to school entry) who display or are at risk for significant developmental delay.The goal of the program is to develop and implement individualized skill teaching and behavioural strategies with the family to achieve positive gains in the child's development.

Children are re-assessed every six months to determine developmental gains, identify new skills to be mastered, or to graduate the child if the need for the service is no longer required.

What We Do
A Child Management Specialist (CMS) with the Direct Home Services Program provides guidance and direction to caregivers on a regular basis regarding appropriate programming goals and activities to be carried out   with the child.   The CMS is professionally trained in child development and positive behavior management strategies.

A CMS is available for community-based presentations on topics related to child development, behavior, and the DHSP.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who can refer?

Referrals to this service can be made by a child's caregiver or by healthcare professionals including Physicians, Community Health Nurses, Speech-Language Pathologists, etc. Referrals are only accepted through the Developmental Health Central Intake referral process.

Download the Referral Form for Developmental Health (pdf) here.

How long will I Have to wait for my child to receive service?
A CMS visits the family within one month of receiving the referral to explain the program and determine eligibility. If eligible for the service , the child will be seen as soon as the CMS has a time slot   available in his/her schedule.

How is the service delivered?
The method of service delivery depends on the intervention being provided. Services may occur in the home or virtually. Frequency of visits will depend on the intervention provided and the needs of the child and family. This will be discussed with the family prior to beginning services . The CMS works with the child and family to establish appropriate developmental and/or behavioral goals and home programming activities to be carried out between visits. Activities are adjusted as the child's needs change.

This service does require a commitment from parents/caregivers to follow through with home programming suggestions in between visits in order to assist the child in making positive developmental gains. The parent(s) or primary caregiver is required to be present during home visits and willing to work on the program suggestions The CMS works as part of the child's intervention team which may include Psychologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Audiologists, etc.

OFFICE LOCATIONS

Corner Brook Office
Western Memorial Regional Hospital, 3rd Floor
Corner Brook, NL   A2H 6J7
Telephone: 709-784-5284

Bonne Bay Health Centre
P.O. Box 70 Norris Point, NL A0K 3V0
Telephone: (709) 458-2381

Deer Lake Office
20 Farm Road
Deer Lake, NL A8A 1J3
Telephone: (709) 635-7830
                                                 
Pasadena Office
83A Midland Row
Pasadena, NL A0L 1K0
Telephone: (709)  686-6326

Piccadilly Office
Box 15, Site 3, RR#2
Port Aux Port, NL A0N 1T0
Telephone:   (709) 642-5601

Port aux Basques Office
MP Place Ground Floor
3-9 Bar Haven Dr. P.O. Box 100
Port-aux-Basques, NL A0M 1C0
Tel: 709-695-6260

Stephenville Office
127 Montana Drive
Rehabilitation Annex
Stephenville, NL A2N 2T4
Telephone: (709) 643-8690

Stephenville Crossing Office
66-68 Hospital Road, P.O. Box 130
Stephenville Crossing, NL A0N 2C0
Telephone: 646-3633