Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

 

How will I know if ICDSP is the right service for my child?
What if my child has been referred to another service?
What is the cost of service?
How long is the wait for service?
What is the role of the Infant and Child Development Professional?
How will my child's development be assessed?
Which areas of my child's development will be assessed?
Will you keep a record of my child's development?
What is the electronic Child Health Network record (eCHN)?
What is "Circle of Care"?
Will you share information about my child with people outside the circle of care?
Are there any exceptions when it comes to sharing my child's information?
What is a Family Service Plan (FSP)?
When will my child be discharged from ICDSP?

 

 

How will I know if ICDSP is the right service for my child?
When you receive a call from our intake coordinator, they will speak with you about your child's needs to determine if ICDSP is the right service for your child. If the referral is more appropriate for another service, the intake coordinator will provide you with the contact information for the service that is most appropriate for your child. 

 

What if my child has been referred to another service?
Let us know if your child has been referred to or is involved with another agency. ICDSP will work together with the other agency to determine which service will best meet the needs of your child.

 

What is the cost of service?
Service is funded through the Ontario Tax Base, so there is no direct fee for service. Occasionally there may be small charges for material or resources.

 

How long is the wait for service?
The wait for service can vary. ICDSP will contact you as soon as possible, but understand wait-times are extremely difficult to predict. If you have any additional information about your child please contact us with an update at any time.

 

What is the role of the Infant and Child Development Professional?
Your Infant and Child Development Professional will speak with you about your child's development and will explain the ways we can help. They will ask about your child's daily routines and activities and will talk with you about things you can do to help your child grow and learn.

 

How will my child's development be assessed?
Your Infant and Child Development Professional will assess your child's development in your home, at our office, or at a community program. During the assessment, they will engage your child in specific activities such as games and play to assess their development. They will spend time watching your child, and may ask you to play with your child while they observe. They will ask what your child can do now and what your child can't do yet. Sometimes, they will use a questionnaire to gather information about your child's skills and abilities.

 

Which areas of my child's development will be assessed? 
Infant and Child Development Professionals will assess all of the areas listed below: 

• Cognitive development: How your child uses the senses of smell, taste, hearing and vision to learn about the world and to solve problems. It includes knowledge memory and reasoning.
• Fine motor (small muscle) development: This includes strength and control of the arms and hands, and eye-hand coordination.
• Gross motor (large muscle) development: this includes balance, strength and body awareness through movement.
• Social-Emotional development: How well your child understands and expresses feelings and whether they seem to feel safe and secure. it includes sharing, taking turns and cooperating with others.
• Self Help: How much your child participates, or takes responsibility, in daily activities such as eating and getting dressed.
• Speech, language and communication: How well your child understands others and expresses themselves using signs, sounds, words and gestures.
  
  

Will you keep a record of my child's development?
Yes, we open a file to keep records about your child as soon as you come to us.This file is our property, but as a parent or legal guardian, you have the right to read the information in your child's file. You will receive copies of reports written by our staff. When your child leaves our services, we close the file, but we do not destroy the file until your child is 28 years old. The information we keep in the file includes: 

• General information you give us at each visit
• Assessment reports
• Summary and contact notes
• Videotaped sessions
• Reports from doctors and other professionals who have seen your child

 

What is the electronic Child Health Network (eCHN)?
The electronic Child Health Network (eCHN) is a network of secure electronic health records.  It allows health care providers such as your pediatrician or Infant and Child Development Professional to access medical reports about your child. For more information about eCHN you can access the website at www.echn.ca 

 

What is "Circle of Care"?
Your personal health care information is gathered by health care organizations to make healthcare delivery easier. As employees of Trillium Health Partners we are considered members of your child's healthcare team and Circle of Care. We can read and print copies of reports in your child's electronic health record on eCHN if we think that information will help us meet your child's needs. Examples of reports that we might read are lab reports, hospital discharge reports and clinic notes. We can also share information about your child's development with other health care organizations. We will talk to you first before we share any information.

 

Will you share information about my child with people outside the Circle of Care?
Ontario has a law that protects your child's health information. We are required to keep information about your child safe and secure. You can tell us not to use or give out some or all of your child's health information. We will ask for your consent before we share information with anyone who is not a part of your child's healthcare team or Circle of Care. Your consent may be spoken or written.

 

Are there any exceptions when it comes to sharing my child's information?
There is only one exception. If we suspect any child abuse or neglect, the law says that we must report it to the Children's Aid Society. We can do this without your consent.

 

What is a Family Service Plan (FSP)?
A FSP is a realistic plan that you and your Infant and Child Development Professional will create together. The plan lists shared goals that you will jointly work on together to acheive and update as your child grows and changes.

 

When will my child be discharged from ICDSP?
Children are discharged from Infant and Child Development Services Peel when:

• They are progressing typically and no longer need our service
• They need some other service which we cannot offer
• They are receiving a similar service from another agency
• You decide that you no longer want service
• You and your family move away from Peel Region
• We are no longer able to reach you by telephone or mail
• Your child reaches enters school