Component: Children's DS Community Support Services

Legislation: Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA), 2017

Service objectives

  • To provide temporary personal support services to children with a developmental disability in a residential setting other than their family/associate family home
  • To provide temporary relief to primary caregivers of children with a developmental disability
  • To support the development of a personal plan of care based on the principles of person-centered planning, self-determination and choice and to provide services that are reflective of this plan

Service description

People served

  • Children and youth with a developmental disability children and youth – under the age of 18 years
  • Living in their family home
  • In need of respite assistance in order to provide the usual caregiver temporary relief

Program/service features

The program/services contracted by the ministry will reflect the following features

  • Temporary 'out of home' respite
  • Services provided in either a group setting in a family home other than his/her own
  • Planned or emergency day or over night
  • Creative, flexible, and responsive to the diverse individual needs of the child and

the family within existing resources

  • As integrated as possible in the community
  • Offered in the child's home community, if possible

Individual planning and goal setting

Each child will have a current plan of care that reflects an assessment of his/ her needs and preferences. The plan of care will identify the specific services/ supports received by the child, the expected outcomes and be based on the principles of person-centred planning, self-determination and choice.

Program goals

To provide temporary relief for primary caregivers while also providing services and supports to children and youth with a developmental disability.

Services will be

  • Reflective and responsive to child, family and community strengths and needs
  • Accountable to the child, family and community
  • Sensitive to the social, linguistic and cultural diversity of families and Indigenous communities
  • Provided by individuals with the appropriate range of skills and abilities necessary to respond effectively to the needs of children and families
  • Based on the child's and youth's assessed needs, preferences and available individual, agency, community and contracted ministry resources

Ministry expectations

Service agencies will comply with all relevant legislation, regulations, policy directives, program guidelines, funding agreement(s), accountability and reporting requirements.

Reporting requirements

The following service data will be reported on at an Interim and Final stage. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets.

Service Data Name Definition

# of Respite Days: Respite Out-of- Home

The number of 24 hour periods (or portions of 24 hour periods) for which people were provided respite care.

Respite Out-of- Home: Ministry- funded Agency Expenditures

Total ministry-funded expenses for the Transfer Payment Recipient to administer and/or deliver this service in the reporting year (cumulative).

# of Individuals Served: Respite Out-of-Home

The number of young persons who are the recipients of the approved service for both secure custody and detention programs during the fiscal year (April 1st – March 31st).

A young person will be counted as follows: One program start and completion in a fiscal year:

A young person is counted once in a fiscal year where the service is completed.

Multiple services/one service provider: Where a young person is receiving multiple services from one service provider, that young person is counted in each program.

Multiple admissions in-year – same service/same program: A young person is counted once if there is a break in service in the fiscal year and the young person re-enters the same program, with the same service provider
Same service is defined as a program delivered to a youth addressing one (original) charge

Multiple admissions in-year – new service/same program: A young person is counted each time, where a service is completed in the fiscal year and the young person is the recipient of the same service, under a new charge
New service is defined as a program delivered to a youth to address a new charge

Fiscal Year overlap: A young person is counted once in each fiscal year where the service being provided begins in one fiscal year and continues into a new fiscal year.

Where a young person is receiving multiple services from one service provider, that young person is counted in each program.