Unified Referral and Intake System (URIS)

Background

The number of children with special health care needs has increased dramatically over the last 50 years. Through numerous advances in medicine and technology, most of these children live at home and participate fully in everyday community life. Consequently, community programs have become responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of these children while in their care.

Societal attitudes towards children with special health care needs and disabilities have also changed over time. These attitudes are reflected in The Manitoba Human Rights Code (2013), which states that one cannot discriminate based on physical or mental disability or related characteristics or circumstances, including reliance on a service animal, a wheelchair, or any other remedial appliance or device.

The Appropriate Educational Programming in Manitoba: Standards for Student Services (2006) state that school divisions are required to provide each resident and enrolled student with adequate accommodation, and are required to provide access to appropriate educational programming for all students within their schools.

URIS has been in operation since 1995, with oversight from an inter-departmental committee from Health, Seniors and Active Living, Families and Education and Training. Its mandate is to support community programs to develop safe and supportive environments for children with special health care needs.

Principles

URIS reflects the principles of inclusion and independence. From a practical standpoint, these principles mean:

  • accepting all children into community programs, regardless of health status;
  • supporting children in the usual activities and rhythms of community life; and
  • promoting increased self-sufficiency and independence.

These principles profoundly affect the nature of service and the manner in which it is delivered. Staff members of community programs are encouraged to embrace these principles and determine how they can best be applied to children in their setting. To assist community programs in this regard, URIS is guided by the following:

  • A child with special health care needs is foremost a child within a family, a childcare facility, classroom or respite program. The child is not defined by their special needs.
  • Interventions change the environment to support the child, not change the child to suit the environment.
  • Parents, guardian agencies and children have rights and responsibilities and are encouraged to actively participate in decision making.
  • Services are as non-intrusive as possible and delivered in a manner that respects the normal routines and patterns of the community program setting
  • Service providers work with children to foster independence and promote self-sufficiency. Interventions are provided in a way that emphasizes carrying out procedures “with” rather than “for” the child.