Resources
Additional Services offered through the Cleft Lip and Palate Program
You can find out more information about these services by contacting the member of our team listed below
Parent Information and Support Groups are held at SickKids four times a year to parents of a child with a craniofacial condition or with a cleft lip and/or palate. Information, support and opportunities to meet with other parents in similar situations are the highlights of these group meetings. If you are interested in joining or want to know about upcoming topics, please contact the program social worker at (416) 813-5887.
Family Day is held each year at The Hospital for Sick Children and is co-hosted by AboutFace, Bloorview McMillan Centre and the Cleft Lip and Palate Program and Centre for Craniofacial Care and Research programs at SickKids. It is a one-day conference for kids with facial differences and their families. Family Day is an annual event (usually held in October) and is a time for sharing information, learning new ideas, meeting new people and re-connecting with old friends. Although we endeavour to mail out information to each family who is registered in our program, please call the program social worker if you are interested in finding out more about Family Day or if you have not received any information in the mail about this event.
Girls Stuff is a group for girls’ ages 8-12 years who have a facial difference. This group meets every other month on a Saturday at SickKids. The group provides the opportunity for girls to meet other girls who also have a facial difference and to talk about living with a facial difference in a fun, non-threatening atmosphere. Other issues explored include friendships, peer pressure, teasing, and body image. The group is facilitated by Kim Tiemens and Heather Beveridge, Social Workers with the Craniofacial and Cleft Lip and Palate Programs along with Colleen Wheatley, a volunteer who has a facial difference. For further information, please contact Kim Tiemens at 416-813-5887 or Heather Beveridge at 416-813-6795.
The Disability Team through Psychiatry offers a Life Skills and Parent Group for teenagers 12-16 with a visible difference, physical disability or chronic illness. The Group focuses on handling being different and teasing, friendship and social skills, independence and advocacy. We also run this group for 9-11 year olds. For further details or to make a referral, please contact Faye Minuk at 416-813-6600.
School Age and Pre-Adolescent Speech and Language/Social Skills Improvisational Groups
The "Improv Group" is a social and communication skills training program, which uses improvisational acting to help children with facial differences, improve their speech and language skills, social competence and self-confidence. The group is an exciting and fun program that also provides children with an opportunity to meet other children with a facial difference. The Improv Group was originally developed in the Cleft Lip and Palate Program at The Hospital for Sick Children. Simone Fischbach, Speech Language Pathologist and Heather Beveridge, Social Worker at v together with Michael Stark-Williams, an Improvisational Actor, run it. Members of the Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Teams determine eligibility for participation in the Improv Group. For further information, please contact Simone at 416-813-6108 or Heather at 416-813-6795.
Other Resources
Family Journal. Many families find that it is helpful to keep an ongoing record of their child's care plan, appointments, team members that they can share with their family doctor or other specialists or hospitals. The Hospital for Sick Children has developed the Family Journal, which can be used for this purpose. Click Here download it from the hospital's website.
Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities
This government-funded program may help parents pay the extra costs for children who have a disability. The purpose of the benefit is to help children who have disabilities live as normal a life as possible at home in the community. There are financial and medical criteria to qualify for this program. For more information contact The Ministry of Community and Social Services Toronto Area Office at 416-325-5553.
Interpreter Services
For families who speak a language other than English or who have a child who is hearing impaired the hospital does provide well trained interpreters who are available to attend clinic visits or hospital stays to help explain your child's medical information to you. Please ask one of your team members to ask to have an interpreter available for you at your next appointment.