School Health Support Program

What you should know

The Toronto Community Care Access Centre offers one-stop access to health and personal support services to people of all ages living in the old City of Toronto. The School Health Support Program is one of the services offered.

The School Health Support Program focuses on children and youth with special needs and provides them with professional health care services and case management services in the schools. This Program also provides health-related education, teaching and consultation services to school staff and parents in the school setting.

The goal of the School Health Support Program is to enable children and youth with special needs: to attend school with their peers; to foster and support opportunities for ongoing learning and social skills development; and to facilitate the integration of students with special needs into the regular school system and the community.

Who does the Program serve?

The School Health Support Program is for students in Metro Toronto Public and Separate Schools who have special needs because of a temporary or permanent illness or disability. It covers students from kindergarten through OAC who are assessed as needing one or more professional health services to attend school.

The Role of the Care Coordinator
The Care Coordinator assesses the student's eligibility and needs and develops and coordinates a plan of service in cooperation with the parent, physician, school staff and service providers. Professional health care services available include physiotherapy and occupational therapy, nursing and speech therapy. The professionals in each of these specialty areas work with the family and the school staff to help them understand and, in some cases, apply the students' various treatment programs.

The Physiotherapist assesses students and provides hands-on treatment and/or consultation designed to work toward rehabilitation goals. He or she also works with school staff and family to ensure accessibility and safety in the school setting.

The Occupational Therapist provides consultation and teaching to students, parents and school staff regarding: life skills such as dressing, feeding, etc.; fine motor skills such as handwriting and sensory perceptual development, etc.; and vocational and leisure activities. He or she also consults with school staff regarding safety and accessibility of the school environment.

The Nurse provides teaching and/or direct treatment to the student. Examples where a nurse might be involved might include: wound dressings; medications by mask or injection; G-tube feedings; tracheotomy and ventilator care, etc.

The Speech-Language Pathologist assesses and provides direct treatment to students with moderate to severe communication problems related to fluency/stuttering, voice and articulation.

How to make a referral

Anyone can make a referral to the School Health Support Program by calling (416) 217-3802. The Care Coordinator will assess the student's needs following discussion with the school principal (or designate) and with the written consent of the student's parent or guardian.