We currently have two Education and Community Partnership Programs (ECPPs) operating in Bluewater:
Keystone Live-In Treatment Program (LIT) – Owen Sound
The residence provides youth in emotional distress the opportunity to work through individual crisis while living away from their familial home.
When space allows, some community day treatment students will be admitted to the program. There are two classrooms.
Bluewater Youth Centre
The community day treatment program provides youth with emotional difficulties the opportunity to work through individual issues while attending a day treatment program that includes an educational component.
Although a majority of students in Bluewater are able to benefit from attendance at a local school, there are a few students who require additional care, treatment, and/or rehabilitation services in order to be successful. CTEP classes provide this additional support:
Care
When necessary for safety or to maintain the well-being of a child, a Bruce Grey Child & Family Services (former Children’s Aid Society) may intervene and remove a child from their family home. For assessment purposes, to maintain educational success, or to support a transition to a community school, it may be necessary for a child in care to access an CTEP program.
Treatment
Statistics from the Canadian Mental Health Association show that “It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder - the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide”. In Bluewater, there are residential and community day treatment CTEP programs available to support children with mental health issues.
Information about CTEP Programs in Bluewater
The CTEP programs in Bluewater meet the needs of children age 12 to 18. Each program is designed to meet therapeutic and educational needs of individual students. The maximum enrollment for each class is eight students. Each class will have a designated teacher responsible for the development and evaluation of the educational program. In addition, the partner agency will assign a Child and Youth Worker or Family Resource Worker to the classroom to support the student’s achievement of their therapeutic goals. The Learning Services Administrator responsible for Special Education and an agency supervisor/director also support the classes.
Each child in a CTEP program will have an education plan which describes their specific, individualized educational goals. The education plan will be part of the overall service or treatment plan for the child. The service/treatment plan will outline the therapeutic goals for the child.
Admission and discharge from each CTEP program is unique. The only consistent guideline is that this process is governed and regulated by the agency partnering with Bluewater.
Students, parents, teachers and staff associated with a CTEP program have the ability to access a wide-variety of supports depending on the child’s needs. Bluewater resources can be accessed by the classroom teacher in consultation with the Learning Services Administrator responsible for Special Education. Agency resources can be accessed by the agency case manager assigned to the child.
Students in a CTEP program are not considered to be pupils of the board. Instead, they are registered on a separate roll and reported on a Ministry of Education attendance register.
Bluewater Partners in Care and Treatment Education Programs
Bluewater District School Board would like to thank their community partners in delivering necessary care and/or treatment services to children in need.
Our CTEP partners include:
Bluewater Youth and Adult Services
Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services
Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education has set the Guidelines for Approval and Provision of an Education and Community Partnership Program (ECPP) 2026-2027.
Additional information and publications for students, parents, teachers and administrators about the initiatives of the Ministry of Education can be found on their website.
Accountability
The Superintendent of Education responsible for Special Education is responsible for the overall supervision of the CTEP programs in Bluewater. However, the teachers are directly supervised by the Learning Services Administrator.
The teachers are bound by their professional duties and standards as a member of the Ontario College of Teachers. Staffing guidelines and articles outlined in the teachers’ collective agreements are applied.
The Ministry of Education audits each CTEP program regularly to ensure compliance with their Essential Elements and that data submitted with the board application for CTEP programs is accurate.
Funding for CTEP Classes
The Superintendent of Education responsible for Special Education must apply to the Ministry of Education on an annual basis for funding to operate each CTEP program. The Ministry of Education requires that a signed written agreement with each agency be submitted as part of the application process. The board can apply for funding to cover the cost of teacher salaries and benefits and an additional amount per teacher for administrative/consultative services and instructional supplies. Additional costs such as rental of space, day to day operational costs and support staffing and their supervision are not covered by the Ministry of Education.
Eligible government-approved CTEP facilities are listed in the Legislative Grants Regulation.
Contact Information
For additional information on CTEP programs in Bluewater, please contact Sara Morrow, Learning Services Administrator at 519-362-2014.