Facilitating Integration of Rehabilitation Services through Training (FIRST) Program Development 2016-2019

Implementation of the tiered Partnering for Change (P4C) model showed that transition to a new service delivery model in schools is complex and that education is necessary to enact and sustain change. Projects partially funded by the Ontario government enabled the research team to develop three online resources to help support speech language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) with the transition to a tiered model of school-based rehabilitation service.

The FIRST Resources include:

  • a free online course, the FIRST Course that was developed in collaboration with the Division of e-Learning Innovation (DeLI) at McMaster University. The FIRST Course consists of six learning modules that include profession specific interactive case studies, videos, and activities to enable learning about service delivery in schools using a three-tier service delivery model.
  • a ready to use implementation toolkit, the FIRST KIT, for SLPs, OTs, and PTs interested in providing tiered services in schools. The toolkit was developed by establishing a working group of school board SLP managers who reviewed and informed the format and content. The FIRST KIT contains selected evidence-based materials for use “in the moment”, resources, infographics, and practical strategies to support implementation of a tiered service model.
  • Frequently Asked Questions, FIRST FAQs, was also developed and includes 25 commonly asked questions and responses about school-based tiered services.  

All three resources are available for free upon registration at http://first.machealth.ca/.  

Missiuna C (co-PI), Levinson A (co-PI), Campbell W, Pollock N, Gaines R, Bennett S, Hecimovich C. (2016). Health Professional Online Training: Development of Educational Materials to Facilitate Provision of Integrated Rehabilitation Services. Grant, Ontario Ministry of Education and Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Research.

Campbell W (co-PI), Missiuna C (co-PI), Pollock N, Bennett S, Kyte C, Rivard L, Specht J, McCauley D. (2017-2019). Synthesizing knowledge and developing an implementation toolkit to support delivery of integrated rehabilitation services. Grant, Ontario Ministry of Education, Research.

FIRST Team


Go back