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SmartStart Hub

SmartStart Hub
Young girl looking disengaged from activity

SmartStart Hub

Connecting families with child & youth development services

SmartStart Hub at Niagara Children’s Centre is a one-stop shop to help families find the help their child may require.

A clear point of entry to child development services, SmartStart Hub is for parents and legal guardians who have concerns about their child’s development, are unsure of their child’s development support needs, what services to seek and/or how to access them.

Parents and guardians may have concerns with their child’s ability to:

  • Understand others
  • Communicate
  • Play
  • Interact/get along with others
  • Participate in group settings and community outings
  • Engage in age-appropriate behaviours
  • Feed/eat
  • Participate in self-care
  • Develop physical skills such as movement and using hands/arms

Program Overview

What to expect

We recognize that each family’s life and experience is unique and that families are experts on their child’s abilities and needs. Services and programs are informed by evidence and best practices and focus on the child’s and family’s strengths in a friendly, supportive and culturally safe environment.

SmartStart Hub appointments are typically about 30 minutes in length. They can be held in person, virtually, or by phone. Booking an appointment in advance may not be necessary, dependent on our volume of calls each day.

Eligibility

Children are eligible from birth to age 19, or 21 if they are in school and live in Ontario. No diagnosis is required.

Our approach

The SmartStart Hub Intake Coordinators will:
  • Speak with parents/guardians about their child’s development, strengths, and needs
  • Make referrals and/or recommendations for referrals to appropriate services at Niagara Children’s Centre and within the community
  • Provide immediate access to appropriate Family Education and Support resources

Getting Started

Parents/Legal Guardians

Parents/legal guardians can connect with the SmartStart Hub at Niagara Children’s Centre by:

  • Calling our Intake Coordinators at 905-688-1890, ext. 110
  • Using our secure, online SmartStart Hub Referral Portal to provide information about your child/family and book an appointment

Physicians/Primary Care/Healthcare Providers

Physicians/Primary Care/Healthcare Providers can refer parents/guardians to the SmartStart Hub by:

  • Using the Niagara Children’s Centre/Smart Start Hub Physician/Primary Care/Healthcare Providers Referral Portal
  • Faxing a completed Niagara Children’s Centre/Smart Start Hub Physician/Primary Care/Healthcare Providers Referral Form to (905) 688-9181.

Local Community Partners

Community Partners can refer parents/guardians to the SmartStart Hub by:
  • Using our secure, online SmartStart Hub Referral Portal
    • If a SmartStart Hub referral is requested in addition to a specific Niagara Children’s Centre referral, please use the Niagara Children’s Centre Referral Portal for Community Partners