Building the Path to Home

Support Services

This section gives you information about the services you will need to access to put the support plan into action.

Introduction

In the last section, we talked about developing support and crisis plans. This section talks about the services you will need to put the plans into action. People with a dual diagnosis want the same thing each of us wants: a home, a job and a friend. Many people with a dual diagnosis say that they don't belong anywhere. Certain types of supports seem to work better for certain people.

Waiting lists

Although a range of services provide continued support for people with developmental disabilities, mental health problems or both, the system lacks the capacity to meet existing needs. Waiting lists are common. Make your needs known. You or one of the professionals you work with should make the referral to the preferred service despite the wait ahead. If the situation is urgent and you are worried about the wait time, ask about the criteria the agency uses to determine client priority on the waiting list.

You can also ask about the agency's limitations and the demands on their services. Look for ways to partner with the agency to develop creative solutions. Make sure the managers and supervisors understand your situation.

If you can't find a solution, contact the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care or the regional office of the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Short-term options

Crisis response services and outreach teams can provide services to people in urgent circumstances (e.g., who are homeless, are appearing before the courts, have serious medical concerns) while they wait for long-term services.

If you need to make short- and/or medium-term plans while waiting for services, here are some options:

• day programs
• case management programs
• friends
• informal community supports, such as recreation centres
• faith communities
• drop-in centres
• community health centres
• shelters that partner with the Griffin Community Support Network.

Other resources

• Making Choices: CRCT's 2006 Guide to Adult Mental Health Services and Supports in Toronto
• Supports & Services Resource Handbook
• Supports and Services for Persons with a Dual Diagnosis: A Resource Manual for York Region Families
• 211Toronto (an online directory of over 20,000 community, social, health and government services in Toronto)
• 211Ontario.ca (an online resource to find information centres in Ontario; see "Contact an information centre near you" on the left side of the home page)

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