Introduction:
The North Eastern Ontario Advocacy Program serves the geographic area of North-Eastern Ontario to individuals living with acquired brain injury, and those with co-occurring diagnoses of addictions and/or mental health, including many who are frequently involved with the justice system. The program also supports caregivers who are burnt out from years of caring for their loved ones with limited or no support.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been 270 people who have accessed services and received support from the North Eastern Ontario Advocacy Program. These individuals have come from various socioeconomic statuses and areas and have had a vast array of services and supports they required. More often than not, clients have had very complex needs and, unfortunately, due to the misconceptions around acquired brain injury (ABI) or lack of knowledge, these individuals have fallen through the cracks and are in desperate need of services.
A major component of the North Eastern Ontario Advocacy Program is to help brain injury survivors and their caregivers feel less alone and find strength and support while trying to achieve their personal and rehabilitative goals. The support, though intended to be short-term, often leads to long-term or repeated support as individuals often find themselves unable to access services, programs, or collaborative support in their region. Typically, this is due to the complexity of their needs.
The remainder of this report will examine what specific cities in North Eastern Ontario the program serves, organizations that have referred our program, and what type of services the program serves. It will also discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on supporting individuals with an ABI, as well as professional development to ensure we are serving our clients to the best of our ability. Lastly, this report will share two case studies that demonstrate the need and efficacy of the North Eastern Ontario Advocacy Program.
Funding for the North Eastern Ontario Advocacy program is generously funded by:
on behalf of the Andrée Rhéaume
and Robert Fitzhenry Family Foundation