RCC better connected in Christie building

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This article was published 04/07/2016 (3459 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Rehabilitation Centre for Children (RCC) has officially moved all of its programming and services to the SSCY (Specialized Services for Children and Youth) Centre at 1155 Notre Dame Ave.

RCC executive director Cheryl Susinski said they will be better able to serve the province’s children and families.

“We are moving in with a bunch of agencies that offer complementary services,” Susinski said. “It means it’s easier for families who don’t have to run all over town to get to their appointments, they can get them all in one place, and it makes it easier for the service providers to communicate with each other so that the families don’t have to keep telling their story over and over again.”

Susinski added that at SSCY, all agencies will share a reception area and electronic medical records, which will make accessing what they need an easier process for families.

“We see children from all over the province, so it’s good for a number of reasons,” she said. “It’s close to the airport and it’s on major driving routes so people from rural areas can find it easy, and it’s close to Children’s Hospital so there’s a lot of interplay… it’s got a bit of a neighbourhood feel to it, it’s right across from a school.”

The location is also near hotels which families may have to use if they are staying in the city for several days.

“It’s not really about new services, it’s more about improving the way that existing services are able to operate for the family,” Susinski said.

The timing was right for RCC’s move as well, due to structural issues with their previous location.

“The building (633 Wellington Cres.) had some problems with the banks of the river and stability and we’d need some major upgrades to stay there,” Susinski said. “And it wasn’t quite big enough to accommodate all of the agencies we want to collaborate with.” 

Now RCC is under the same roof with child development clinicians from Children’s Hospital, outreach therapy and service co-ordination from SMD (Society for Manitobans with Disabilities), a pediatric home care program, services from the department of families, autism outreach programming and community respite services, as well as a new day care program which is geared towards children with special needs.

In addition to the government funding that RCC received, they were able to raise $5.2 million to customize their space at SSCY to fit the needs of families and create a positive atmosphere.

“The new space is really wonderful,” Susinski said. “We’ve got an atrium with a waterfall in it that the kids can put their hands in and it’s got a projection system onto the floor so they can step on bubbles and hibiscus trees and a play area.

“We have a family resource centre, a family kitchen, quiet rooms, accessible showers, so if people are staying in a place where they aren’t able to bathe their child because it isn’t accessible, they can do that here.”