Specialized Health Support Services in School Settings

Purpose of the Standard

To provide details of the board's specialized health support services to the ministry and to the public.

Requirements of the Standard

A board's special education plan must describe the provisions of specialized health support services for students who require them in school settings. The plan must outline specific information about each type of specialized health support service provided by Community Care Access Centers (CCACs), school board staff, or other service providers. The board must provide this information using the form supplied in Appendix C to this document.

For each type of specialized health support service described, the plan must describe the following:

The agency or the position of the person who performs the service (e.g. CCAC, board staff, parent, student)

Eligibility criteria for students to receive the service

Position of the person who determines whether a student is eligible to receive the service and what the level of the support will be

Criteria for determining when the service is no longer required

Review of appeal procedures (if any) available for parents who dispute the provision of these services, including any time limits on requesting review and appeals

Specialized Health Support Services

School Health Support Services - The St. Clair Catholic District School Board

The provision of health support services is a shared responsibility among the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
The board is responsible for the administration of oral medication where such medication has been prescribed during school hours. For physically disabled students, the school board provides such services as lifting and positioning, assistance with mobility, feeding and toileting and general maintenance exercises. The board also provides necessary speech and language therapy programs. Speech and language programs which require an educational environment and close cooperation with the educational team are delivered and/or consulted with by board speech and language pathologists.

School Health Support Services - Community Care Access Centres

School Health Support Services are provided by Community Care Access Centres. The programs provide health care services in the school setting to students who require professional intervention to improve or maintain their ability to function in the school environment. The Case Manager is the link between client, family, school and other community services. If eligible, professional and support services are fully funded by the Ministry of Health through the CCAC. Referrals for service are received from any source including the client, health care professionals, school board personnel or family/caregivers. Needs are identified and services determined according to Ministry of Health criteria. Mutual goals are established and an individual care plan is developed. The client=s needs are reassessed on a regular basis and continued eligibility is determined.

The Community Care Access Centre is responsible for assessing pupil needs and for the provision of such services as injection of medication, catheterization, manual expression of the bladder, stoma care, postural drainage, suctioning and tube feeding. The Ministry of Health is also responsible for intensive physio-occupational and speech therapy and for assisting school boards in the training and direction of school board staff performing certain other support services.

Professional services may include: Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Case Management, Physiotherapy and Speech/Language Pathology.

Admission conferences are arranged to develop and coordinate individualized service plans. Parents, teachers and students are taught to carry out treatment programs in consultation with the involved professional.

The referral process to Community Care Access Centres is developed through a collaborative process between the Board and the Community Care Access Centres. Referral forms are available in the schools and a consent form must be signed by the parent/guardian of the student being referred for service.

See Appendix C: Specialized Health Support Services

Reference: PPM 81 (1984), Interministerial Guidelines for the Provision of Speech and Language Services (1988), A Model for the Provision of Speech and Language Services (M.ED)