Update to Special Needs Strategy – Integrated Delivery of Rehabilitation Services
An update has been posted (April 11, 2017) to the Special Needs Strategy website which clarifies the following direction for ongoing development/implementation of the Integrated Delivery of Rehabilitation Services;
- newly-formed Steering Committees composed of decision-makers from Children’s Treatment Centres (CTCs), Preschool Speech and Language (PSL) Lead Agencies, district school boards (DSBs), and CCACs/LHINs in each community will work with the Ministry to build on their initial regional proposals to move toward final proposals and develop local implementation plans.
- It is an expectation that in order for all partners to effectively participate in the final proposal development and implementation planning process, Steering Committees will engage in consultations with all local partners, including front-line service providers such as those currently sub-contracted through CCACs, as well as teacher federations/ education workers’ unions (as defined in PPM 159) and other stakeholders as they develop final proposals for approval by the ministries.
The purpose of this engagement is to allow for meaningful collaboration, to explore opportunities and interest for involvement, and leverage existing service capacity within the community as Steering Committees develop final proposals for approval by the ministries. This engagement will help Steering Committees understand the legislative, regulatory and collective agreement elements that must be addressed in final proposal development and implementation planning.
- Final proposals will require the approval of decision-makers from CTCs, PSL Lead Agencies, DSBs and LHINs for submission to the ministries. It is expected that final proposals will be delivered to the Ministries not later than fall 2017
- Depending on the readiness of each Service Delivery Area, and with approval by the ministries, implementation of new service delivery models is expected to begin as early as fall 2018. The ministries are aware, however, that timelines for completing the final proposal and implementation plan may vary locally and that SDAs will be at varying stages of readiness to implement changes
- As part of integrated rehabilitation service implementation, the following funding will be transferred from MOHLTC to MCYS on April 1, 2017:
- Funding for hospital-based preschool speech and language services in hospital budgets; and
- CCAC funding for the provision of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology in publicly funded schools through the School Health Professional Services (SHPS) program
- For School Health Professional Services, MOHLTC will continue to flow funding to, and maintain accountability with LHINs/CCACs for these services for the first six months (April – September 2017). Thereafter, MCYS will assume the accountability relationship with LHINs. From October 2017 until fall 2018, service provider contracts will not change during the planning phase, to maintain stability. Additional information will follow about the funding transfer once new service delivery models are approved by the ministries.
Implications for Occupational Therapists
Members are advised to;
- visit the Special Needs Strategy website for additional information and to sign up to receive regular updates. The site is public but one is required to register without charge.
- Keep abreast of information and developments in your Service Delivery Area
- Connect with your service provider agency to ensure that there is consultation with the local Steering Committee
- Familiarize yourself with the Tiered Service Delivery Framework proposed in the DRAFT Program Guidelines for the Integrated Delivery of Rehabilitation Services (which are currently being revised). This model is based on the Partnering for Change Service Delivery Model. View an informative webinar, Partnering for Change: An Innovative Service for Integrated Service Delivery presented by Dr. Wenonah Campbell and Dr. Cheryl Missiuna on behalf of the P4C Team.
- Take time to view Ontario Special Needs Strategy webinar “The F-Words in Childhood Disability: A strengths based approach to children’s health and development”, delivered by Dr. Peter Rosenbaum, Co-Founder CanChild Center for Childhood Research, Professor of Pediatrics, McMaster University