Lanark County Services and Programs

The Lanark County Adult Protective Services (A.P.S.) Program provides short and long term supports through a voluntary relationship, to help people with developmental disabilities live and work in the community and move towards a desirable future.  This is achieved through advocacy, person centered planning, and support.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 267-4200 x2201

Email: aps@county.lanark.on.ca OR ss@county.lanark.on.ca

The Canadian Hearing Society is the leading provider of services, products, and information that remove barriers to communication, advance hearing health and promote equity for people who are culturally deaf, oral deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing.  Our Brockville office offers a Hearing Care Counseling Program for individuals 55+ with hearing loss, as well as Outreach support and counseling for individuals, family members and service providers dealing with hearing loss.  We also offer Hearing Help Classes for adults 55 and over, with acquired hearing loss.  The goal of the classes is to improve communication within families and between friends, and to decrease the frustrations associated with hearing loss.  We provide Interpreting Services as well as After-Hours Emergency Interpreting Services for medical and mental health emergencies.  Technical devices and hearing aid batteries are also provided.

Hours of Service: 9:00am-4:30pm Monday to Thursday

Phone (Brockville office): (613) 498-3933

Phone (Ottawa office): (613) 521-0509

Phone (Toll-free Ottawa): 1-800-855-0511

TTY (Brockville): (613) 498-0363

TTY (Ottawa): (613) 521-0634

Email: office@brockville.chs.ca OR OIS@answerplus.ca

Community Home Support – Lanark County is a volunteer based agency for seniors, adults with physical disabilities, and people of all ages who are living with life-threatening illness, dying, or bereaved.  We strive to provide programs and services that help our clients continue to reside in their own homes and remain a part of their community.  Our services include Meals on Wheels, Diners Club, Transportation, Foot Care Clinics, Home Help, Home Maintenance, Income Tax Clinics for low income individuals(free), Security/Reassurance(free), Friendly Visiting (free), and a Volunteer Hospice Visiting Service (free).  Anyone may refer to these services.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-4:00pm Monday to Thursday, 8:30am-3:30pm Friday

Phone (Perth and Administration): (613) 267-6400

Phone (Smiths Falls and Area): (613) 283-6745

Phone (Lanark and Area): (613) 259-5412

Phone (Carleton Place and Area): (613) 253-0733

Phone (Pakenham and Area): (613) 624-5647

Connections is a prevention/early intervention program that supports families with young children who may be living in conditions of risk, including low income, single mothers, single fathers, limited supports and transportation, and living in difficult life circumstances.  All programs are free of charge, voluntary and self referrals are encouraged.  Programs throughout Lanark County include the Good Food for Healthy Babies group program, Birth Companion Program, home visiting for families with young children (0-6 years) and various parent/playgroups.  Connections includes the Community Action Program for Children and the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-4:00pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 257-2779

Phone (Toll-free): 1-888-284-2204

The Crown Attorney prosecutes criminal offences on behalf of the public, thereby promoting the public interest in the administration of justice.  The Crown Attorney will make him/herself reasonably available to the victim to obtain information necessary for effective prosecution, and ensure that the victim is prepared for trial.  Appointments are necessary.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-5:00pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 264-1900

The Distress Centre offers a confidential crisis telephone service to women, men and children of all ages.  Telephone support is offered by well-trained volunteers who are there to listen.  All types of calls are accepted for any issue.

Hours of Service: 8:00am-4:00pm Monday to Friday (main office), 5:00pm-12:00am 365 days/year (Crisis Line)

Phone (Office): (613) 345-1290

Phone (Toll-free): 1-866-544-5614

Phone (Crisis Line): 1-800-465-4442

Please note that the Family and Children Services of Leeds and Grenville and theChildren’s Aid Society of the County of Lanark and the Town of Smiths Falls officially amalgamated on August 2, 2011.  This resource will be updated as more information becomes available.  The Children’s Aid Society is mandated by the Child and Family Services Act to protect the children and strengthen the families of Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville in cooperation with the community.  To this end, the Society investigates reports that children in our community are in need of protection and offers intervention services accordingly, ranging from voluntary services provided by social workers and child and youth workers, to removal of children from their homes in exceptional circumstances and the provision of care for these children in alternate settings.  Please note that emergency after-hours service is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 264-9991

Phone (Toll-free): 1-866-664-9991

Lanark County Interval House offers the following services:

•  a shelter that provides emergency short-term accommodation for women (age 16 and over) and their children who are victims of abuse;
•  a Crisis Phone Line for counselling women on issues related to abuse;
•  Community Support programs that provide individual and group counselling to women in the community on issues related to abuse;
•  a Transitional Support program that provides individual support to women who access shelter services;
•  a Sexual Assault program that provides individual and group counselling to women in the community on issues of recent or historical sexual assault;
•  and a Child and Youth program that provides individual and group counselling to children and youth who have witnessed abuse.

Hours of Service: Shelter and Crisis Line 24hrs/7 days a week, all other programs 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday

Phone (24hr Crisis Line): (613) 257-5960

Phone (Toll-free 24hr Crisis Line): 1-800-267-7946

Phone (Business Line): (613) 257-3469

Email: info@lcih.com

Lanark County Mental Health  provides streamlined access to a range of crisis response, assessment, treatment, psychiatry consultation, court diversion, and intensive community support services for adults experiencing severe or moderate mental illness.  Counseling and other clinical services are available to support adult victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

Hours of Service: 8:00am-8:00pm Monday to Thursday, 8:00am-5:00pm Friday

Phone: (613) 283-2170

Phone (After Hours Distress Centre): 1-800-465-4442

The Lanark County Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Program, a program of the Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital, provides emergency response to all victims (women, men, and children) of sexual assault/abuse and domestic violence.  Services include emergency medical and nursing care, crisis intervention, forensic evidence collection, medical follow-up, and counseling.  Visit your local hospital’s emergency department, or contact the program directly at the numbers below.

Hours of Service: Medical services available 24/7 at emergency departments; the program manager is available during regular office hours

Phone: (613) 283-2330 x1258

Phone (Smiths Falls Emergency Department): (613) 283-2330 x1101

Phone (Perth Emergency Department): (613) 267-1500 x4233

Phone (Almonte Emergency Department): (613) 256-2500

Phone (Carleton Place Emergency Department): (613) 257-2200

Eligible recipients of Ontario Works can visit Lanark County Social Services to access income support, employment support, community and employment placement.  Other services include the Learning, Earning and Parenting program (LEAP) for parents 21 years and under who have not completed high school, the Family Support and Fraud units, as well as subsidized Housing and Childcare.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 267-4200

Phone (Toll-free): 1-888-952-6275

The Lanark, Leeds & Grenville District Health Unit provides public health information, programming, and referral services.  Victims of domestic violence may access Health Unit services by self-referral.  Our relevant services are listed below.

• Prenatal services: Clients in the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program may receive home visiting from a Public Health Nurse and Family Home Visitor as well as assessment, health teaching, and referral to appropriate services.
• Families with children 6 and under: Clients in the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program may receive home visiting from a Public Health Nurse and Family Home Visitor as well as assessment, health teaching, and referral to appropriate services
• Sexual Health Clinics at all Health Unit offices provide STI testing and free treatment, low cost birth control and emergency contraception, counseling, health teaching, and referrals as necessary.
• Dental Health Clinics and coverage for treatment are available for children in families who do not have dental insurance coverage and some assistance may be available for adults in need of dental treatment.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 345-5685

Phone (Toll-free): 1-800-660-5853

The Lanark, Leeds & Grenville Legal Clinic office provides free legal services to qualifying clients in areas of clinic law with a focus on Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Benefits, Canada Pension Disability Benefits, Landlord and Tenant law (focus on eviction prevention), and Employment Insurance and Substitute Decisions.  Staff will provide representation, subject to merit review, at first and appellate tribunals.  The Clinic also provides a summary advice service to general public residents.

The Clinic staff is also involved in community development with other agencies or groups involved in pursuing additional resources of benefit to the low-income community. There are no fees for those who meet Income and Asset Guidelines.  Upon request, the clinic also provides public legal education to individual members of the general public or to groups.  Contact the clinic by telephone.  An appointment will be scheduled when necessary.

Hours of Service: 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:30pm Monday to Thursday, 9:00am-12:00pm Friday

Phone: (613) 264-8888

Phone (Perth): 1-800-597-4529

Phone (Brockville): (613) 498-1888

The Language Interpretation Service is a FREE confidential service provided to agencies serving non-English speaking women who are victims/survivors of violence.  This service is financially supported by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and is provided in over 60 languages and dialects.  The types of interpretation are: face to face, telephone interpretation, group interpretation, and message relay.  An orientation on “How To Work With An Interpreter” is offered free of charge to service providers.  Please note that interpretation for generic issues, such as interpreting for a non-victim of violence, and interpretation for participants in the Partner Assault Response (PAR) Program are provided for a very reasonable fee.  For a copy of the fee schedule, please contact IWSO.  We also offer certified and non-certified translation in select languages.

Hours of Service: 24hrs/7 days a week

Phone: (613) 729-3145 x226 or x235

Phone (Toll-free): 1-866-859-8182

Email: infomail@immigrantwomenservices.com

Leeds and Grenville Rehabilitation and Counseling Services includes Community Adult Mental Health services for individuals challenged with severe and persistent effects of a mental illness, as well as the PAR (Partner Assault Response Program) for the TRI-counties.  The PAR services focus on group re-education for men and women who are abusive to their partners.  Please note that our PAR services include partner contact.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday (program times vary)

Phone (Lanark County PAR program): (613) 326-0628

Legal Aid Ontario provides eligible clients with a certificate that covers the cost of hiring a lawyer to deal with serious types of criminal or civil cases such as indictable offences, help in some cases of divorce, child custody, access, support, etc.  Lawyers may or many not accept Legal Aid certificates.

Appointments are necessary, and they are open to those who meet established legal and financial criteria.  Legal Aid also provides Criminal and Family Duty Counsel Services at the Perth Courthouse.

Phone (Perth Duty Counsel Office): 1-800-668-8258

Merrickville District Health and Community Services encompasses three organizations: Merrickville Community Health Centre, Smiths Falls Community Health Centre, and Rideau Valley Diabetes Services.

The two community health centres provide a broad range of health and health-related services and programs including primary care, chronic disease prevention and management, and health promotion.  The centres offer a number of community programs including men’s cooking groups, Get W.I.T.H. It walking program, the Good Food Box (with the Smiths Falls Lions Club), support groups, the Living Well program for coping with chronic conditions, an emergency food cupboard, an early years program including breastfeeding support, heart health and weight management groups, and information sessions on a variety of health related topics.  Meeting rooms are available to community groups and services.

Rideau Valley Diabetes Services provides education and support for those with diabetes, their families, and for health care professionals through a wide range of programs.  Services are available for residents throughout Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Counties.  All programs and services are free of charge and no doctor referral is required.

Appointments are necessary for primary care.  Some programs are drop-in – see the website for more info.

Hours of Service: Merrickville CHC: 8:30am-8:00pm Mon and Wed, 8:30am-4:30pm Tue and Thu, 8:30am-4:00pm Fri; Smiths Falls CHC: 8:30am-4:30pm Mon, Tue, and Thu, 8:30am-7:30pm Wed, 8:30am-12:30pm Fri; Rideau Valley Diabetes Services: 8:30am-4:30pm Mon to Fri

Phone (MCHC): (613) 269-3400

Phone (SFCHC): (613) 283-1952

Phone (RVDS): (613) 284-2558

Phone (RVDS Toll-free): 1-877-321-4500

Email: info@mdchc.on.ca

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services provides services to youth (aged 12 to 17 at the time of their offence) who are charged with or convicted of criminal or provincial offences.  Probation Officers, together with partner agencies, provide community supervision, treatment and program referrals, and related services for youth involved with the criminal justice system.  Probation Officers prepare reports for the Court prior to sentencing and also provide Progress Reports as required during the period of custody and/or supervision in the community.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-5:00pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 498-1427 x110

Phone (After Hours Provincial Director Pager): 1-888-480-2189

The North Lanark County Community Health Centre, a part of Lanark Health and Community Services, provides a broad range of health and health-related services and programs including primary care, illness prevention, and health promotion to the area of north Lanark County.  An urgent care clinic is available to residents of north Lanark every weekday from 9:00am to 10:00am on a first-come, first-served basis.  The centre offers a number of community programs including adult fitness classes, men’s cooking groups, diabetes programs, support groups, recreation subsidy programs, a quit smoking program, and information sessions on a variety of health-related topics.

Hours of Service: 8:00am-7:00pm Monday to Wednesday, 8:00am-4:30pm Thursday and Friday

Phone: (613) 259-2182

Email: info@northlanarkchc.on.ca

The Ontario Early Years Centre in Lanark County serves parents of children aged 0 to 6 in Lanark County and the Town of Smiths Falls, regardless of income, culture, or special needs.  The centre provides advice on parenting, information on developmental milestones, and organized programs and activities for children, parents, and caregivers.

Children’s Resources on Wheels offers licensed home childcare in Lanark County for children from infants to age 12 while ensuring the standards of the Day Nurseries Act are met.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-4:00pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 283-0095

Phone (Toll-free): 1-800-267-9252

Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth is a children’s mental health agency serving children and youth (0-18) and their families, living in Lanark County.  The mission of Open Doors is to make it possible for Lanark children and youth with mental health needs to live, learn, and thrive.  Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth is funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services as a children’s mental health centre and as the access point to all child and youth mental health services in Lanark County.  Open Doors advances its mission by providing a spectrum of high quality mental health services and seeks to change the long term outcomes for children and youth (0-17) who are at risk or are experiencing mental health issues in Lanark County.

Hours of Service: Smiths Falls: 8:30am-8:00pm Mondays, 8:30am-4:30pm Tuesday to Friday; Carleton Place: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:30am-8:00pm Wednesdays; Perth: 1:00pm-4:30pm Monday to Friday

Phone (Smiths Falls): (613) 283-8260

Phone (Carleton Place): (613) 257-8260

Phone (Perth): (613) 264-1415

PAR is a re-education program, offering men’s and women’s groups for those who are physically and/or emotionally abusive toward their partners. The program operates with the belief that men and women abuse their partners to gain power and have control over them.

The program consists of 12 weekly group sessions.  As part of participation in the program, current (and where applicable, previous) partners of the participant will be contacted to discuss and review safety.  All contacts would typically be made by someone other than the leaders of the group.  Self referrals are not served through partner contact.

Hours of Service: Monday to Friday flexible, plus evening hours

Lanark County  P.A.R. office:  60 Lombard Street, Smiths Falls, ON.
Phone: (613) 284-8445

Lanark County is Policed by the O.P.P. with the exception of the Town of Smiths Falls which is policed by the Smiths Falls Police Service.

Hours of Service: Lanark County O.P.P.: Emergency Services 24/7, office hours are 8:00am-4:30pm Monday to Friday;
Smiths Falls Police Service: Emergency Services 24/7

Phone (Lanark County O.P.P.): (613) 267-2626

Phone (Lanark County O.P.P.): (613) 257-5610

Phone (Smiths Falls Police Service): (613) 283-0357

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Probation and Parole Services division, protects the public through effective supervision of parolees, probationers, and offenders on conditional sentence orders.  Probation and Parole also assists in crime prevention by offering offenders the opportunity to reorient themselves to prosocial values and behaviours through referrals to programs, treatment, and services.  Officers also prepare reports to assist the court with sentencing and the Ontario Parole and Earned Remission Board with release decisions.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-5:00pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 283-5663

RNJ Youth Services Inc. is a charitable, non-profit organization funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and The Ministry of the Attorney General to provide services to youth aged 12-17 that have been or are at risk of becoming in conflict with the law.

Generally, referrals are made to our programs (Extrajudicial Measures, Extrajudicial Sanctions, Youth Justice Committee (Leeds and Grenville only), and Community Service Order Program) by the police (pre-charge), Crown (post charge), and Probation (post conviction).  These programs involve youth making amends for their actions through completion of diversion programs or court-ordered community service hours.

Rebound, an 8 week social skills program for youth, is open to youth aged 12-17 and is offered in Brockville and Smiths Falls or other communities within Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, as needed.  A.B.L.E. is a program in partnership with local school boards for youth in grades 7-12 who have been involved in frequent or longer term difficulties at school.  Students are referred by Special Service Counselors/Crisis Workers.

Our agency also provides Court Diversion for adults in Lanark County as referred by the Federal or Provincial Crown.  This program is funded through donations.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-4:00pm Monday to Friday (or by appointment)

Phone: (613) 284-8304

Email: rnjyouth@cogeco.net

The Rose Garden Family Support Centre provides a supervised access program for custodial parents, non-custodial parents, and children to have visits with the non-custodial parent or a significant other (grandparent etc.) in a safe, secure centre.  Exchanges are also provided for parents in a neutral setting.  Referrals are required.

Hours of Service: 10:00am-6:00pm Friday to Monday

Phone: (613) 284-1900

Phone (Toll-free): 1-877-284-1947

Email: therosegarden@bellnet.ca

The Men’s Project is a vehicle for supporting men in a process of change with integrity.  We are a team of multi-disciplinary professionals offering a range of services that address men’s psychological, physical, and spiritual needs within a community-based framework.

The services that we provide include: individual and couple counseling, group treatment services (Men and Healing program for male survivors of abuse), Anger Management, Emotional Intelligence, Fathering, workshops, training, and consultation.  Most services are covered by private insurance.  Day and evening appointments are available.  Services are available in Ottawa and Nepean.

Hours of Service: 9:00am-5:00pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 230-6179

Phone (Toll-free): 1-877-677-6532

TriCounty Addiction Services (TRICAS) provides prevention and health promotion services to residents of the tri-county area.  In addition, direct addiction counselling services are provided to individuals, couples, families, and small groups for persons who are troubled by issues related to alcohol or other drugs, problem gambling, and/or concurrent mental health and addiction problems.

TriCAS offers assessment for persons to put into perspective the nature, scope, and severity of the problems they are experiencing, on-going counseling to help resolve those problems, and referral to other sources of assistance when needed.  Persons making use of TriCAS’ services may be experiencing problems as a consequence of their own difficulties with alcohol or other drugs, problem gambling, or mental illness.  As well, they may be experiencing difficulties because others in their families are troubled directly by such issues.

Besides addressing addiction problems, counseling at TriCAS also assists persons who are troubled by physical and/or sexual abuse, by eating disorders, by difficulties in managing emotions such as anger, by marital and family problems, and by being overwhelmed by different stresses in their lives.

Prevention and Health Promotion and Education and Awareness services at TriCAS are provided for community groups who might benefit from increasing knowledge and awareness among their members about alcohol or other drugs, about problem gambling and its prevention in our communities, and about the impact of 38 concurrent mental health and addiction problems on individuals and families.

Clients may self-refer.  There is no charge for services.

Hours of Service: Smiths Falls: 9:00am-5:00pm Monday to Friday; Brockville: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 283-7723

Phone (Toll-free): 1-800-361-6948

Victim Services – Lanark County is a non-profit, non-investigative community based agency, funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General.  Staff and volunteers assist victims of crime, tragic circumstances, and disaster, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.

During office hours, members of staff are on hand to guide victims to appropriate community programs and services.  Two distinct programs are offered to victims in addition to the regular services.  These are the Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Services Program (VCARS) and the Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP).  Any victim who resides in or visits Lanark County who is affected by any crime or tragic circumstance, who is not charged in the incident, is eligible to benefit from the services provided.  Victims from outside Lanark County will be connected with services in their home jurisdiction if they wish.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-4:00pm Monday to Thursday, 8:30am-3:00pm Friday (note that after hours, services can be accessed by Police and Fire personnel in accordance with established protocols)

Phone: (613) 284-8380

Phone (Toll-free): 1-866-575-0067

Email: lanarkvcars@bellnet.ca

The mandate of the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) is to provide information, assistance, and support to victims and witnesses of crime in order to increase their understanding of, and participation in, the criminal justice process.  VWAP services include needs assessment, referrals to community agencies, emotional support, case specific information (court dates, bail hearings), and court preparation and orientation.  These services are available to adult and child victims and witnesses of crime, after charges have been laid.  The Bail Safety Project and Domestic Violence Court Initiative are also available to victims of Domestic Violence.

Hours of Service: 8:30am-5:00pm Monday to Friday

Phone: (613) 264-8387

Phone (Toll-free): 1-866-296-0166

TTY: 1-866-611-5233