Intensive Support and Supervision Program (ISSP)

The Intensive Support and Supervision Program (ISSP) was developed to better meet the needs of youth in conflict with the law who have been identified with serious mental health issues. These youth are assessed as being extremely vulnerable in a secure custody setting. ISSP provides the courts with an alternative to custody that is different from other community support programs in terms of the level, type and intensity of the service.

This program functions as an intensive in-home, strength-based counseling which works with other agencies and the schools. ISSP therapists work intensively with parents, or in the case where the youth is independent of family, the therapist and will coordinate with all known support systems.

Our goal is to assist youth and their families, through capacity building, long after the ISSP Court order has expired.

What Is Our Approach?

• ISSP develops consistent rules, structured monitoring and discipline practices consistent with functional and healthy family systems
• ISSP assists youth build healthy relationships with positive peers and develops pro-social activities, life skills and autonomy to be responsible contributors to the community
• The length of the therapy intervention varies depending on the level of commitment from the parents and the level of complexity of the situation.
• Once goals have been set, measurable steps to achieve goals are documented and then achieved. The intensive therapy component ceases but the order itself may continue for up to two years

How Is A Youth Referred To The Program?
In order for youth to be ordered to the program the following must occur:

• The probation officer must complete a pre-sentence report recommending the program, and include a needs and risk assessment
• There must be a current psychiatric assessment completed within three years with a diagnosis of a mental health illness that is not limited only to oppositional defiance, conduct disorder, antisocial traits or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• If the probation officer confirms that a psychiatric assessment that is less than three years old has not been administered, the probation officer approaches the court and the Judge has the authority to order the assessment.
• While the official referral must come from a probation officer for ISSP, a parent, school principal, other professional or legal representative may have key information to begin the process and is encouraged to call