Abstract
Leaders in Ontario’s district school boards (DSBs) and children’s treatment centers (CTC’s) share responsibility for rehabilitation therapy services in inclusive schools. Children with or at risk of disability rely on these services to enable their participation in learning and social environments. The aim of this study was to explore how leaders in DSBs, CTCs and the community envision effective collaboration in rehabilitation therapy services to advance collaboration in service of children with or at risk of disability and their families. Seven 90-minute online semi-structured focus groups were conducted involving a total of 36 education, community and health leaders and data were analyzed thematically. An eighth focus group comprised of representatives from the seven previous groups was conducted to validate the findings and develop recommendations. Three themes were established: collaboration is a relational and intentional process, forging a path forward to serve children with rehabilitation therapy needs, and leaders’ attributes needed to effect change. The participants recommended the following next steps: clarifying provincial standards for services including roles of all partners, knowledge building within schools, and utilizing existing evidence-based tools. A shared vision of rehabilitation therapy services is needed for effective collaboration between health and education sectors. Future research should involve leaders from health and education sectors, with parents, children and other partners in co-designing, implementing, and evaluating rehabilitation services in schools.
Highlights
The three themes tell the story of how leaders of Children’s Treatment Centres (CTCs) and district school boards (DSBs) as well as SEAC representatives envision effective collaboration, what their aspirations are for the future of services, and what attributes leaders may leverage to accomplish the work ahead
Participants emphasized the advantages this co-location of health and education services would provide to families: We really focused on the needs of the family to access services and get supports that they require in their own neighborhoods... resulting in the development of community hubs and many of them inside the walls of schools, with clinical rooms, with drop-in sites. (PCTC7)
Participants shared varying opinions on what actions should be taken by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and MCCSS within the provincial government: More higher alignment at the ministry level between, um, MCSS and Ministry of Education in terms of some of those higher overarching policies... we do a lot of great work but unless we address policy alignment we’re still gonna, I think, have those barriers in place. (PCTC6)
Summary
Challenges to collaboration between regulated health professionals and educators regarding rehabilitation services in Canadian schools (i.e., occupational therapy [OT], physical therapy [PT], and speech and language therapy [SLP]) have been well documented over the last twenty-five years (DeLoach et al, 2012; Deloitte & Touche, 2010; Hernandez, 2013; Hillier et al, 2010; Shasby & Schneck, 2011; Villeneuve, 2009; Wintle et al, 2017). Educators, therapists, and program administrators agreed upon goals and developed understanding and respect for each other’s roles and expertise (Campbell et al, 2016; Missiuna & Hecimovich, 2015; Missiuna et al, 2012; Phoenix et al, 2021; Villeneuve & Shulha, 2012) The authors of these studies employed rigorous methodology and demonstrated positive results in advancing evidence-based occupational therapy service delivery models and inter-professional team support in schools within the complex political and regulatory framework which governs health and education services in the Canadian province of Ontario. The report identified challenges related to increasing service demands due to the growing complexity of students’ health support needs and the potential for differing interpretations of the mandate for health services in schools (Deloitte & Touche, 2010)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
