Access for Parents and Children in Ontario - North York, Ontario

Alex C.

BEWARE. One star is way too many. Absolutely TERRIBLE SERVICE. They act as if because it’s a subsidized program that it’s not a SERVICE that is still being PAID for. They treat the visiting parents with no respect at all and are the furthest thing from accommodating. If you can afford a private provider , please save yourself the headache in the long run and spend the money. It’s by “calendar year” so once you pay, weather you’ve received a full year of service or not you will not get a refund if your are unhappy and want to switch providers. They’re are many other providers that will accommodate your case individually instead of a one size fits all set of rules , because every situation is different. Other providers will treat you like a paying customer and not as if they are doing you some sort of favour. It’s unfortunate to be in a situation where you need a service like this and the management here will take full advantage of the fact that you do. They will go above and beyond to report anything that can reflect negatively on your case and put absolutely zero effort to report anything positive. They will actually go out of their way to ignore anything that will reflect positively on your case or help you move past needing their service because they know that you have no choice but to keep quiet and accept it, or else they can use the fact that you spoke up against you and make you seem unreasonable or uncooperative. I had a situation where the staff member taking notes on my very first visit blatantly ignored the fact that my daughter was extremely excited to see me, recognized me, and said “hi dada” as soon as she saw me. Now this is very important because my ex partner was trying to say that I was never an active father and my child would not be familiar with me. When I asked the staff member if she was going to add that into the notes she said that it never happened. Luckily the manager was in the room when it happened so at the end of my visit I very politely asked the manager in front of that staff member if she recalled the baby recognizing me and saying “hi dada” she said yes, I then asked the staff member if she could please make sure that was in the notes and she reluctantly said she would. The way she added it into the notes emphasized more on the fact that I called her out instead of that positive moment I had with my daughter. When I brought this to managements attention after seeing the notes, they said that the particular staff member I was referring to is one of they’re senior staff members and has been with them for a very long time and knows what’s she’s doing. This is just one examples of a few different similar situations I found myself in while dealing with APCO. Fortunately I won my case and no longer need them but this is after having to pay for two years of service and only receiving less then 10 months of service because it goes by “calendar year” I understand that using another provider can cost a fair amount of money which is why I had no choice but to continue on with APCO, but after doing some due diligence I found out that it actually isn’t that much more then what APCO is charging. if you can get the funds together in order to go with a different provider please do yourself a favour and spend the money.

Michael A.

The centre cannot adequately handle the volume of cases they have leaving you with no option but to wait weeks/months before even getting visitation. With visitation being only 1 hour ever 2 weeks, which is not enough to develop and foster a relationship with your child. The justice system assumes you're guilty and treats you as such while the child suffers the most.

M P.

Two/three weeks ago, I talked to a lady in APCO HO on Sheppard Ave. East Toronto, over the phone. The receptionist was a white female of around 30. I explained to her my problem, and my possible return date to see my children, as per my doctor’s advice.

From my bitter experience with them, I tried to ensure that the lady (who received my phone call) understood what I said. When I asked her, she told me she did understand indeed what I said.

Generally, the clients call the APCO HO because other local centers remain closed over the week days, therefore, I couldn’t call my center in O’Conor to share this information/updates.

Today, Saturday, I got a call from local center APCO O’Conor Office that I was absent and didn’t call them that I was absent. Her name is Kirthy. I explained to her in detail about the conversation between me and the lady in the HO two/three weeks ago. Kirthy said yes, yes, but when I probed her, she told me just a different story than what I told her. And it happened twice within a few minutes of time, on the same call. Seemed to me she is disadvantaged for this job.

This is the third time that I communicated my updates with someone in the HO but my message wasn’t sent to the O’Cononr office. Only exception is Ms. Nishani. All others in the HO are craps, they’re not able and efficient simply to relay their clients’ messages/updates/information to other centers. This communication failure creates confusion among all parties, and customer irritants.

And this frustrating experience continues, nobody in this organization cares for their low quality job and diminished due diligence. Their management is blind, and incompetent.

Who you’re going to complain to for this ongoing bad experience? Ontario Human Rights Commission is half blind, Ontario Ombudsmen works on prejudice and perception, provincial fatsos are busy with their fat personal portfolios and re-election.

So, APCO - Access for Parents and Children in Ontario - remains unaccountable for, and through their greed, shamelessness, and incompetence, this NPO has become a Gestapo House or a torture chamber for some clients.

Terrence A.

I would avoid this place at all costs. Staff for the most part were friendly however the organization itself is very corrupt at the top. It is also not a charity and I challenge that statement. It is basically a organization fueled and funded by high conflict family law issues and APCO in turn flips a very handsome profit off of the destruction of the family. I do hate to say that because there are some very good staff who made that living hell somewhat bearable for me. Parents please do everything to avoid this place or if your in it do everything to get out.

jcargullo

This centre is the most useless program for any parents. They do not step into issues for any parties even thought there are wrong doings for either parties such as visits. Our tax dollars are going to this useless program and should look into getting better run centres. This is not recommended for anyone who is looking into visiting their child as they are run by non qualified people. This is useless and should be taken away for a better resolution centres.

Adam P.

No one wants to use an access centre, but this is an essential service and should really be rolled into the MAG or Office of the Children's Lawyer.

My one complaint is that they have moved their locations out of the downtown core which poses are real challenge for those who live downtown but suffer through high conflict separations and divorce.

Jonathan H.

Goodluck i been calling since 9:30 AM i have left 5 voicemails and had called more then 14 times no one has answered the reason i said goodluck is because i got a hold of them 2 days ago and sent them the family court order for virtual access and have never got a call so yes the 1 star reviews about this place are still the same as they were years ago.

Vince V.

Intake process is almost a fascist questioning they want to know evrything about you including your banking info income info if police have been involved if children aid have been involved the car you drive your martial status to much personal information this sounds very racist profiling by this business