Education and Community Partnership Programs are voluntary collaborative partnerships between the district school board and government-approved facilities such as children’s mental health agencies, hospitals or youth justice programs. The York Region School Board provides the educational component (“Education Program”) while agencies or facilities provide the care and/or treatment or rehabilitation services.
York Region District School Board's Education and Community Partnership Programs (ECPPs) provide critical support to meet the needs of children and youth in York Region who cannot attend school due to their primary need for care, treatment and/or rehabilitation services. These programs provide intensive services that are clinical in nature and are not considered to be Special Education placements within the school board.
ECPP programs can be accessed by any child or youth who lives in York Region through a referral to York Region Central Intake. York Region District schools are able to initiate and support the referral process through YRDSB Student Services.
ECPPs are designed to provide learning environments that recognize the primary need for treatment to meet the needs of students. Educators in these programs collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to develop personalized treatment, learning, and transition plans for each student. Features of a treatment-oriented classroom may include varying combinations of academic instruction, classroom support, therapeutic intervention, and specialized consultation services. Some ECPPs use evidence-based treatment practices that incorporate specialized components that are specific to the diagnosis and/or developmental needs of the children and youth.
For the 2023-24 school year, York Region District School Board:
- Negotiated Memorandums of Understanding with six partner agencies:
- Aptus Treatment Centres
- Cedar Heights Residential Living
- Kinark Child & Family Services
- Oak Valley Health
- Southlake Regional Health Centre
- York Hills for Children, Youth, and Families
- Ensured that 102 elementary and 130 secondary students were supported in their learning, despite them being unable to attend regular classroom settings. Average service to students ranged in duration from one to two years.
- Engaged 24 certified teachers and five educational assistants in the delivery of services in atypical settings.
- Provided leadership and collaboration across Mental Health and Dual Diagnosis Community agencies including; York Region Mental Health Collaborative, Children’s Case Coordination, Local Case Resolution, School Based Services Review Team, and leadership within the provincial network of ECPP leaders.
- Lead and support the York Region Central Intake Committee.
York Region Central Intake ensures access to services and maximizes the appropriate fit between client need and service available by considering collective resources. The York Region Central Intake for Day Treatment Services Committee (comprised of representatives across York Region’s support services) meets monthly to streamline referrals and to update waitlists. This process results in timely and appropriate placements with maximum use of all available resources.
Guiding principles for the design of the York Region Central Intake System include: collaboration; user friendliness; informed choice; resource efficiency, flexibility, innovation, and continuous improvements of the system.
Work of the Central Intake Committee includes:
- Facilitating enhanced partnerships between and among the school boards and agencies toward meeting the increasingly complex needs of students;
- Barrier free, streamlined referral process;
- Establishing data collection protocol for the purpose of determining trends and gaps and conducting strategic planning; and
- Implementing a best practices framework for student transition to and from day treatment.
Updated January 2024