C.A.R.E. Program

The Town of Essex strives to be a safe, fun, and welcoming place for all participants.

If you or your child requires extra support to participate in a Town of Essex program, you may be able to register for our Coordinator Assisted Recreation Experience (C.A.R.E) Program.

Through C.A.R.E a dedicated staff member of the Culture and Recreation Program team will support you or your child for the duration of the program.
If you already have an external support person/facilitator and want them to attend a program at any of our facilities, you are welcome to do so. The support person/facilitator will not be charged any additional fees.

You or your child may require a facilitator if you:

• Have a physical, visual, hearing, developmental or intellectual disability.
• Have attention or behaviour challenges.
• Receive support or special education services at school or from a community agency.

You can find more information below regarding our services that are designed for children, youth, adults or seniors living with disabilities or additional needs who would benefit from our C.A.R.E program!

All participants who require additional support, adaptations, or are attending a program with a Town of Essex 1:1 C.A.R.E Facilitator are required to fill out the Participant Intake Form.

Staff need to ensure we have an C.A.R.E Facilitator available for you or your child. Once the form has been completed, a supervisor will be in touch with you in regard to next steps. Please be aware that due to the 1:1 nature of our support, you will not lose your spot in the programming while the form is being reviewed.

The Participant Intake Form is confidential and will only be provided to the C.A.R.E. staff and/or volunteers working directly with a participant.

Once received, our staff review the intake form to ensure our C.A.R.E facilitators have the appropriate training and skills to support the participant.

If for any reason the participant requires assistance outside of our scope, we work with the family to try find an alternate arrangement.

Inclusion Guidelines

View the C.A.R.E Program Guide here.

Behaviour Policy

All Town of Essex Recreation and Culture program participants are expected to behave and act respectfully and appropriately towards all other participants and staff for the duration of their time at camp. Behavior that directly inhibits staff or participants' safety during a Town of Essex program will be dealt with promptly by staff. View our Behaviour Policy here.

What if I have my own support?

Individuals may attend any of our programs or facilities with their own external support person or personal mediator that is arranged by the participant. The Town of Essex does not arrange external support workers. The support person/facilitator will not be charged any additional fees.

External Support Persons must provide:

A recent Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (within 12 months of attending the program) if they are directly working with vulnerable populations other than the person they are there to support.

Mediator Support Form prior to participant starting in a program. You can find the Mediator Support Form here.