The purpose of the Provincial Outreach Therapy for Children (POTC) program is to provide Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services to children and their families in their natural environments.

To accomplish this, therapy is provided using a consultative/collaborative model. Therapists participate as team members along with - parents, siblings, childcare providers, case manager and others. The child and family are at the center of the team, with their goals and needs being the focus of the program plans.

Principal Functions

• Assessment
  
• Program planning
  
• Report writing
  
• Teaching and coaching parents or child care providers
  
• Evaluating progress based on established goals
  
• Assist with transition planning as the child moves through the system of services
  
• Maintaining accurate statistics re: services provided
  
• Providing professional development opportunities to the community

Source of Referrals
Referrals are received from a variety of sources, (Doctor, therapist, family member, case manager) but eligibility must be approved by the Children's Special Services regional; supervisor before service is instituted.

Admission Criteria
Any pre-school child, 5 years of age or under, who is eligible for Children's Special Services (Manitoba Government Program), can access therapy though the Provincial Outreach Therapy for Children program. If a child's school entry is postponed, service can continue until the child reaches the age of 7.

One of the following diagnostic categories must be met for eligibility:

• Cognitive disability
  
• Physical disability
  
• Developmental delay resulting from assessed disability
  
• Autism spectrum disorder
  
• Lifelong, complex medical need resulting in the child's dependence on medical technology

Geography
Service is delivered within all regional health districts except Churchill. Service is not delivered to children on Treaty Lands. Children with treaty status may receive service in a neighboring community away from reserve land.

Priority of Service
Referrals are added to the caseload for each region and service is delivered at the soonest opportunity, considering travel schedules and client availability. Some children may be placed on a waiting list in some regions depending on caseload demands.

Evaluation
Evaluation information is gathered through:

• Interview with child, family, care providers and other professionals on the team
  
• Documentation from community agencies, referral sources, doctors
  
• Clinical observations
  
• Use of standardized assessment tools
  
• Use of non-standardized assessment test measures

Areas of development typically assessed would include one or more of the following:

• Postural control, motor control and mobility
  
• Seating and positioning equipment
  
• Accessibility evaluation of home and community environments
  
• Self-care skills
  
• Oral motor skills and feeding
  
• Visual-motor and fine motor skills
  
• Adaptive and perceptual skills
  
• Psychosocial development

Planning
Therapists work closely with parents, child and caregivers in developing therapeutic activities to accomplish the goals set by the team. Therapy activities are designed to optimize and facilitate the development of new skills within the child's everyday activities. The child's family and other caregivers are encouraged to assume primary responsibility to carry out the therapeutic activities within the child's daily routine. The plan and activities are reviewed and revised on a regular basis to meet the changing needs of the child.

Consultation/Communication
Communication, both written and verbal, is done in clear, concise manner using terminology that is readily understood.

Written information is provided on each visit and may take the form of:

• A typed report
  
• Goals and recommendations sheet filled out at the visit
  
• Program activity instruction sent to the family following the visit to augment verbal information provided at the visit

Verbal communication occurs:

• At visits
  
• Via telephone
  
• At team meetings or case conferences

Reports are provided to the family, case manager, physician and others as identified and authorized by the parents.

Referral for Additional Services
Referrals to other services are made when deemed necessary, in order to ensure that all of the client's needs are addressed fully.

Evaluation of Clinical Interventions
The therapeutic program is evaluated on an ongoing basis and modified as determined through: reassessment, family request, report of change in function of the child.

Discharge Criteria
Clients are discharged from the Provincial Outreach Therapy for Children program when:

• Child begins attending school
  
• Child no longer requires therapy intervention
  
• Child moves to a region that is not served, or is served by another provider
  
• Family chooses a different service delivery agency

Program Planning and Continual Quality Improvement
The Provincial Outreach Therapy for Children program strives to maintain quality service to its clients through:

• Informal feedback from clients and community
  
• Satisfaction surveys done periodically
  
• Collection and evaluation of service based statistics

Staff is encouraged and supported in attending professional development workshops and conferences wherever possible in order to maintain their level of clinical knowledge and methods of practice. Staff meetings are held bi-monthly and provide opportunity for peer support.