The overall target population for Coordinated Service Planning is families of children and youth with multiple and/or complex special needs whose need for service coordination goes beyond the scope of inter-professional collaboration to address and who would benefit from the added support provided by Coordinated Service Planning. This could be due to the breadth and cross-sectoral nature of a child/youth’s service needs and/or potential challenges in coordinating services because of factors affecting the whole family.

Children and youth under the age of 18, and young people between the ages of 18 and 21 who remain in school, are eligible for CSP. A diagnosis is not required to access Coordinated Service Planning.

Decisions around whether a family should receive Coordinated Service Planning will be made by the Coordinating Agency with input from the family, based on an assessment of whether the service will be beneficial to a child/youth and family, considering the factors below. Service Planning Coordinators and other trained staff involved in intake will work with the family to determine whether a family should receive service and at what level of intensity.footnote 2

If a child/youth and family will not receive Coordinated Service Planning and a formal Coordinated Service Plan, the Coordinating Agency should provide an explanation to the family and refer them, seamlessly through a warm referralfootnote 3, to any other appropriate supports that may be required.

The family will also be informed that if, in the future, their needs intensify, circumstances change or if new needs develop they are welcome to return to the Coordinating Agency to seek access to Coordinated Service Planning. With consent from the family, the Coordinating Agency will keep the family’s information on file so it can be updated if the family seeks to access Coordinated Service Planning later.

Factors to consider

Coordinating Agencies will consider the following child/youth and family characteristics and external factors when identifying whether or not children and youth and families should receive Coordinated Service Planning:

  • Characteristics of child/youth with multiple and/or complex special needs
    • Children and youth with multiple and/or complex special needs are a sub-set of children and youth with special needs. These children require multiple specialized services (e.g. rehabilitation services, autism services, developmental services, and/or respite supports) due to the depth and breadth of their needs. They may experience challenges related to multiple areas of their development, including their physical, communication, intellectual, emotional, social, and/or behavioural development and require services from multiple sectors and/or professionals. They are also likely to have ongoing service needs, such as severe physical and intellectual impairments requiring the use of technology.
  • Characteristics of the family
    • Families of children and youth with multiple and/or complex special needs may be experiencing challenges in one or more of the following areas which may impede their ability to coordinate services for their child/youth with multiple and/or complex special needs:
      • Coping strengths and adaptability;
      • Health and well-being of other family members;
      • Literacy and/or language barriers; and/or
      • Other family/life events which may contribute to the family’s level of distress.
  • External/environmental factors
    • Families of children and youth with multiple and/or complex special needs may also be experiencing challenges in the following areas which may impede their ability to coordinate services for their child/youth with multiple and/or complex special needs:
      • Limited social/community supports;
      • Competing demands of caregiving and employment; and/or
      • Financial instability.

For examples of children and youth and their families who may receive Coordinated Service Planning, please see Appendix A.

Footnotes