Description

Respite care is temporary, short-term care of children with disabilities. Its purpose is to provide rest and relief to you, the parent.

Benefit Amount

• Amount may vary

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility:

• you’re a Yukon resident;

• your child is under 19 years of age;

• your child was diagnosed with a disability or identified as possibly having a disability by a qualified health care professional; and

• You’ve accessed other resources, such as private insurance or employee benefits, before contacting Children’s Disability Services.

Application Process

You hire a respite caregiver of your choice. Then, you and your social worker assess how many hours or days a month you will need respite. This depends on your child’s assessed level of needs up to a maximum number of hours.

1. Someone working with your child, such as a doctor or teacher, can make a referral with your permission.

2. To determine if you’re eligible for our services, you (or the person referring) must provide:

o the child’s full name;

o date of birth;

o type of disability, if known;

o caregiver names; and

o any relevant reports.

3. A social worker will arrange a meeting to discuss your family’s needs. Visits can take place at your home, the Children’s Disability Services office or elsewhere.

4. This meeting will be about 1 hour long. A follow-up meeting may be needed. At this initial meeting, the social worker will:

o gather information about your child’s needs;

o review consent and confidentiality forms;

o discuss alternate supports and services; and

o share information on the supports and services we offer.

5. We’ll need a report or assessment to identify how your child’s disability significantly limits their ability to function in daily life.

6. The social worker will contact you to follow up.

7. If your child and family are eligible for funding or services, it may take 4 to 6 weeks to set up the funding.