The Ministry of Children and Youth Services funds two programs that can give families a break (or "respite") from the day-to-day care of their child with special needs.
Families of children with multiple special needs can receive up to seven days of respite per year, provided in a location other than their own home.
Who is eligible for this program?
The child must:
- be under 18 years of age
- have multiple special needs because of a physical or developmental disability
- live at home and need care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
and, without out-of-home respite, there's a real possibility that
- the child would require long-term residential placement
- the child's family is at risk of breakdown, or
- there's a risk that the child could harm himself or others.
This grant is paid to families who are caring for a child who is medically fragile and/or depends on a technological device needing care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is paid in addition to other respite services. Families may be eligible for up to $3,500 per child, per year.
Examples are children who:
- rely on medical and technological equipment, such as mechanical ventilators, apnea monitors, renal dialysis, urinary catheters, colostomy bags
- take drugs intravenously
- rely on tracheotomy tube care, suctioning, oxygen support or tube feeding.
Who is eligible?
The child:
- is under 18 years of age
- lives at home
- needs intensive care and constant monitoring on a 24-hour basis.
How to apply:
Contact the ministry's regional office nearest you.
