In alignment with the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Policy/Program Memorandum No. 161 – Supporting Children and Students with Prevalent Medical Conditions (PPM 161), Ontario schools are required to have individual Plans of Care in place for students with each of the following prevalent medical conditions:
- Anaphylaxis;
- Asthma;
- Diabetes; and,
- Epilepsy.
Each Plan of Care contains individualized information on the student’s prevalent medical condition. This includes preventative strategies to reduce the risk of medical emergencies, daily routine management procedures, emergency response procedures, and emergency contact information. The Plan of Care assists staff in supporting the student’s health, safety, and well‑being while at school.
PPM 161 directs that Plans of Care are to be created, reviewed, and/or updated by parents/guardians in consultation with the principal or vice-principal during the first thirty school days of each school year and, as appropriate, throughout the school year when a student is newly diagnosed with a prevalent medical condition.
If your child has been diagnosed with anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, and/or epilepsy, please complete the following steps by October 1st to ensure the required Plan(s) of Care are established for your child.
STEPS FOR PLAN OF CARE DEVELOPMENT
STEP 1: Inform the school.
Inform the school if your child has been diagnosed with a prevalent medical condition.
STEP 2: Initiate, complete and submit the required Plan(s) of Care for your child using the Board’s Aspen Parent/Family Portal.
Once your child’s medical condition(s) are on file at the school, initiate the required condition-specific Plan(s) of Care and complete and submit the following online forms for each Plan of Care:
i) the Annual Request and Consent for Administration of Interventions & Emergency Medication Digital Form; and;
ii) the Plan of Care Digital Form.
Need Help?
The following resources provide information and guidance for completing and submitting a Plan of Care through the Board’s Aspen Parent/Family Portal:
STEP 3: Submit required Physician/Nurse Practitioner Authorization for the Administration of Emergency Medication Form(s) to the school’s main office.
Arrange to have your child’s physician or nurse practitioner complete the appropriate Physician/Nurse Practitioner Authorization for the Administration of Emergency Medication Form(s) for your child’s prevalent medical condition(s) and submit the completed form(s) to the school’s main office when:
i) the school is first informed of your child’s prevalent medical condition; and,
ii) there are changes to your child’s condition and/or medication.
Links to the authorization forms are provided below:
NOTE: Existing Physician/Nurse Practitioner Authorization for the Administration of Emergency Medication Form(s) on file at the school will remain valid unless your child’s condition and/or medication has changed.
STEP 4: Provide medication(s) and supplies for use at school.
Parents/guardians are responsible for providing all required emergency medication(s) and medical supplies for use at school. Please bring required medication(s) and medical supplies to the main office.
For additional information regarding roles and responsibilities related to prevalent medical conditions within the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, please visit the condition-specific areas of the Board website linked below.
Please contact the school should you have any questions or concerns.