Text Size
A
A
A

Programs Funded through the Department of Health and Community Services

The following Programs may be accessed by Persons with Disabilities who meet program eligibility criteria and funded through the Department of Health and Community Services:

Special Child Welfare Allowance Program

This program provides assistance with the cost of services/supports to families with a child (under the age of eighteen years) who has a physical or intellectual disability living at home. The assistance is designed to enable families to purchase items and/or services which are necessary due to the child's disability. The amount of monthly assistance for each family is determined through a financial needs test.

For more information on accessing this service contact your regional health authority

^ Top of Page

Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program

The Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program provides assistance in the purchase of pharmaceuticals, and some related medical supplies to residents who qualify for benefit coverage. The focus of the program is that residents of the province should not be denied access to health care because of financial need.

^ Top of Page

Special Assistance Program – Medical equipment and supplies

The Special Assistance Program is a provincial program which provides basic medical supplies and equipment to assist with activities of daily living for individuals living in the community who meet the eligibility criteria for the program. Benefits of the program include:

  • medical supplies (such as dressings, catheters and incontinent supplies),
  • oxygen and related equipment and supplies,
  • Orthotics such as braces and burn garments, and
  • Equipment such as wheelchairs, commodes or walkers.

For more information on accessing this service contact your regional health authority

^ Top of Page

Intervention Services

Intervention Services consists of two programs – Direct Home Services Program and Community Behavioural Services Program.

  1. Direct Home Services Program: This program is a home-based early childhood intervention service available to families with children, age-birth to school-entrance, at risk or having developmental delay. The primary aim of the service is to assist families, identify and obtain information/support to promote the holistic well-being of their children. Referral to the program can be made by any interested party as long as family members agree to such action. The service is voluntary and at no cost to the family. The home visitor, called the Child Management Specialist, visits the family and assists with the identification of individualized goals and objectives. Home visits usually occur on a weekly schedule, but may be less frequent. The direction and dynamics of the intervention is determined during home visits through discussion between family members and the Child Management Specialist.

    Intensive ABA (Home Therapy) for Preschool Children Diagnosed with ASD is a component of Direct Home Services Program. The service was initiated as a pilot in 1999 and commenced regional service delivery in 2001. Preschool children, diagnosed with ASD and between 18 months up to kindergarten entry (age seven, as mandated by the Dept. of Education) are eligible for up to 30 hours per week of intensive behavioural intervention (i.e., 1-on-1 Home Therapy). Child Management Specialists, who have intensive training in Applied Behaviour Analysis and are certified as Senior Therapists, oversee the development, review, and evaluation of programming and provide training to families and Home Therapists, who will implement the programs.

  2. Community Behavioral Services: This program is a community based behavioral support program which serves individuals (school-aged and older) with diagnosed developmental disabilities and accompanying intellectual impairment, who have been identified as exhibiting behaviors which impede community integration and threaten residential, educational, and vocational placements. In two regions the service is offered in a limited way to other children under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act. The service is based on the idea that offering appropriate behavioral support to people will improve quality of life and promote community inclusion.

    Referrals are received from many sources including parents, teachers, social workers, medical personnel and other professionals as long as family members agree to such action. The service is voluntary and at no cost to the family. The Behavior Management Specialist generally visits the home setting but visits can also occur in schools, work settings or other places where people need support to display appropriate behaviors. Both clients and families need to be involved in deciding the amount and kind of help that will be provided. Home visits occur as required, usually weekly or bi-weekly. Behavioral Management Specialists, located within the Regional Health Authorities, provide service delivery throughout the province.

    Intensive ABA (Home Therapy) for Kindergarten – Aged Children

    Diagnosed with ASD is a component of Community Behavioural Services Program. The service was initiated as a pilot in 1999 and commenced regional service delivery in 2001. Children, diagnosed with ASD and enrolled in a public kindergarten program (mandated by the Dept. of Education) are eligible for up to 15 hours per week of intensive behavioural intervention (i.e., 1-on-1 Home Therapy). Behaviour Management Specialists, who have intensive training in Applied Behaviour Analysis and are certified as Senior Therapists, oversee the development, review, and evaluation of programming and provide training to families and Home Therapists, who will implement the programs

Both DHSP and CBSP are delivered through Regional Health Authorities. For further information, please contact:

Crystal Hickey

Tel: (709) 729-3193
Fax: (709) 729-6382

^ Top of Page

Provincial Home Support Program

Home support services include the provision of personal and behavioural supports, household management and respite at the minimum level to maintain individual independence. Home support services are intended to supplement, not replace, service provided by the individual=s family and/or support network. Services are non-professional in nature and are delivered by an approved home support agency or by a home support worker hired by the individual or family.

Home support services may be either purchased privately by an individual or subsidized from public funds to a maximum financial ceiling. Referral for publicly funded home support service is through the Regional Health Authority and can be initiated by anyone, including the individual who is requiring service. To be eligible for a financial subsidy, the individual must undergo a functional and financial assessment by professional staff from the regional health authority.

For more information on accessing this service contact your regional health authority

^ Top of Page

Therapeutic and Professional Services

Professional staff at the RHAs provides a range of therapeutic and professional services in a variety of settings which support persons with disabilities. Specific referrals and eligibility criteria must be met to access some services. Staff may include social workers, nurses, behavioural and child management specialists, dieticians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and laboratory technicians.

For more information on accessing this service contact your regional health authority

^ Top of Page

Residential Options

Residential options are available to adults with disabilities who meet program criteria and are unable to reside with the natural family. These include:

  1. Cooperative Apartment Program:
    This program offers a private residential setting operated by an incorporated community board of directors and staffed by a live-in supervisor and relief staff. The private residences are usually rented houses and are shared by up to three adults with intellectual disabilities. The main emphasis is on skill teaching and support to enable more independent living rather than providing a permanent residence.

  2. Alternative Family Care Home Program:
    This program offers private homes which have been approved by the Regional Health Authority for the purpose of providing room and board, supervision and personal and social support for up to two unrelated adults with intellectual disabilities in a family atmosphere. Supports and services are available as necessary. Monitoring and supervision is provided by the social worker assigned by the Regional Health Authority.

  3. Board and Lodging Supplement:
    A Board and Lodging Supplement is a funding supplement that is available, based on assessed need, to an adult with psychiatric, physical and/or intellectual disabilities, 18 years of age and older, who reside with relatives or non-relatives. These adults have identified needs and require a higher board and lodging rate to live in these arrangements than is usually allowed. The basic rate of board and lodging is available through HRLE and the supplement is available through the RHAs.

  4. Individualized Living Arrangements:
    An individualized living arrangement (ILA)is established when no other service option is available or appropriate for an adult with an intellectual disability, meeting home support criteria and unable to reside with their natural family. While this program usually supports one client per home, there may be situations approved where the living arrangements are shared by individuals who wish to reside together. The funding for basic income support is provided by the Department of Human Resources Labor and Employment with additional funding for home support and other related costs provided by the RHAs. Once established, the ILAs are managed by the individual, family, or operations committee.

  5. Shared Living Arrangements
    In some instances individuals with disabilities who require high level of home support may choose to share the cost of a living arrangement and home support staff. Funding may be provided from several sources such as the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment (HRLE)and the Regional Health Authorities (RHA). As in an individual living arrangement all benefits of income support including rent and heat and light supplements, and any other benefits available, are obtained from HRLE and supplemented as per policy by RHAs.

For more information on accessing this service contact your regional health authority

^ Top of Page

Adobe® Acrobat® Reader software can be used for viewing PDF documents. Download Acrobat® Reader for free opens new window

 
Last Updated:
This page and all contents are copyright, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, all rights reserved.