When should a profile be completed on a child or youth?
All children who are on an ISSP because they are receiving support services from one or more providers, should be profiled by the team manager. As well, service providers are able to profile children/youth who are deemed to be at risk. It is acknowledged, that for many agencies, this term requires an expanded definition. However, at the very least, at risk does imply: the referring person, for whatever reason is unable to supply the service needed, that the risk is not transient, and that more than likely an ISSP will need to be in place for the child/youth. Regional Teams can facilitate the profiling process by setting guidelines/priorities around this population.

Who should have a copy of the profile information?
There are only three people who will need a copy of the profile form. They are the ISSP manager/referring person, parent/guardian and the Regional Child Health Coordinator. If the profile is submitted electronically by a service provider there is no need for a copy to be sent to the Regional Child Health Coordinator.

How can be ensure parents provide informed consent before the profile form is completed?
It is the responsibility of the manager/referring person to fully explain the purpose of profiling to parents/guardians prior to completing the form. Parents have the right to ask questions and to know which areas are to be profiled. An information sheet called What is Informed Consent? is presently being developed and which should be very useful to help clarify this whole process for parents/guardians and service providers.

Why is it necessary to use the child's name as an identifier when completing a profile?
The child's name is used on the profile form for a number of reasons. The single most important reason is that profile data will be entered into the Client Referral Management System (CRMS) and that system uses the child's name as the main identifier when accessing the system. It should be noted that when the system produces reports for the Regional and Provincial Teams they will not be child specific as in children's names will not appear on reports presented to either team.

What security is in place to protect the profile information?
Once the profile has been completed by the ISSM (manager), or by a referring service provider it is sent to the Regional Child Health Coordinator. The profile information is then entered into the CRMS by either the coordinator or a support staff worker. The service provider also has the option to submit the profile electronically, directly into the CRMS. The system has strict security access which, in this case, will be limited to the Child Health Coordinator and a support staff worker or the service provider submitting the profile.

Can we proceed with the ISSP process and not do profiling?
Profiling is an essential component of the Model for Coordination of Services to Children and Youth, and as such, should be completed on all children who are receiving the services of one or more service providers and are on an ISSP.

What about information that needs to be profiled but is not included on the form?
If the form does not include a specific need that, in the judgement of the professional, should be profiled then it can be added as a write in under other. It is expected that when the form is revised this new information will be considered prior to any changes. As well, the CRMS program has been designed to accommodate write in information.

How will changes be made to the profile form or to the whole process?
Any recommendations for changes to the profile form or to the whole process should be made to the Regional Child Health Coordinator. Suggestions will be forwarded to the Provincial Integrated Services Management Team for consideration.