Brantwood Community Services has partnered with four other organizations in an ‘Abilities Hub’ at their location at 25 Bell Lane, Brantford.

Brantford’s Town Crier, David McKee joined the heads of the partnering groups at announce the opening of the new Abilities Centre

Left to right: Rita-Marie Hadley, Executive Director-Lansdowne; Jo-Anne Flood, Executive Director-Brantwood; Mary Burnett, Executive Director-Alzheimer Society; Mila Ray Daniels CEO-Brain Injuries Services; David McKee, Town Crier

The newly named Abilities Centre reflects the commitment of the community hub partners to enrich the lives of people of all abilities and ages. “The strategy is to bring people, organizations and resources together to deliver social, health, counselling, recreation and respite programs in partnership with others, to deliver expanded supports and programs in an environment where the government has not been able to keep up with the growing and complex needs of our community.” -Jo-Anne Flood 

Lansdowne Children’s Centre, Alzheimer Society of Brant, Brain Injury Services and Twin Lakes Clinical Services will co-locate with Brantwood Community Services sharing facility features, services and an economy of scale with common back-end administrative assistance.

Jo-Anne Flood, Brantwood’s Executive Director, states,

“For over 100 years Brantwood has been committed to delivering health, counselling, residential and recreational services. The Abilities Centre is a great evolution of Brantwood.” The clients find easier access to a variety of services and the organizations form formal and informal linkages for cost-savings and enhanced service delivery.

Brantwood Community Services is recognized as a leader in providing developmental services to transitional aged youth, adults and families. Brantwood operates a full range of supports including group homes, supported independent living, intensive supports, shared care, a variety of respite supports, employment supports, a recreation centre that offers a variety of general interest and leisure programs and a seating clinic that develops and produces customized wheelchairs. As a shared service for all partners, Brantwood has a part-time Kinesiologist on staff.

Tracy Humphrey-Manager of Brantwood Residential Services and Marianne Armstrong-Administrative Assistant ‘The Abilities Centre’

Lansdowne Children’s Centre operates Kids Country Inn on the Brantwood property with four beds for children not older than 18, in order to give some weekend respite for families, who daily meet their child’s needs at home. Up to 12 professional staff care 24-hour duty for the children’s medical developmental and social needs over a weekend in a safe and organized location.

Bettina Oulton-Respite Supervisor-Kids Country Inn and Rita-Marie Hadley-E.D. Lansdowne

Brain Injury Services Case Manager Todd Stewart manages the environment for referral services, counselling, and daily activities to support skill building for individuals living with the consequences of trauma related injuries.

Mila Ray Daniels-CEO Brain Injury Services

Alzheimer Society Brant has moved from its previous location at the John Noble Home and serves individuals coping with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer symptoms as well as the needs of the patient themselves. Activities and use of sensory rooms and pool augment a quality of life environment and a larger capacity for balancing physical and complex medical needs.

Kerri Emberlin-Alzheimer Society Brant (second from left) with some of her clients

Twin Lakes Clinical Services provides services for adults with special needs. Services include: specialized assessments such as psychiatric, psychological, social work, communication, and swallowing; treatment interventions such as psychiatric and mental health care; treatment of a variety of traumas, swallowing/feeding interventions and communication supports; education and training

It is this kind of innovative collaboration between non-profit health care providers for persons with disabilities that gives maximum service delivery in a cost effective manner for the benefit of the clients.

Staff from Brantwood with individuals George and John.

Once again Brantford is an innovator and caring ambassador over a cross discipline environment.

Bravo to all those with the foresight and those implementing the caring.