The Shifting Sector
Recreational Respite Inc.
Amy MacFarlane, Founder and CEO
Amy MacFarlane
Mother of 2, lover of life’s moments, passionate advocate for many,
Founder and CEO of Recreational Respite Inc.
[email protected]
Fun Changes Behaviour!
Taking something that is good for your overall social, physical, emotional and mental well
being and turning it into something engaging and fun, is crucial for everyone’s well being.
Piano Stairs
Respite Care in Canada
“Of all the carer relationships, spouses were most likely to be non-users
of respite services compared with parents, adult children, or friends”
Respite Care in Canada:
Children and Youth
Ontario’s Special Needs Strategy connects children and youth to the
services they need as early as possible and improve the service experience
of families.
1. Identifying kids’ needs earlier and connecting them to the right help
sooner
2. Coordinating service planning
3. Making the delivery of services seamless
Flexible Funding: Ontario Autism Program
A self care directed funding plan is in place reducing wait times,
providing more flexible services at a level of intensity that meets
each child’s individual needs and increasing the number of
treatment spaces available to serve more children and youth and
accommodate the rising prevalence of autism diagnoses.
Respite Care in Canada:
Young Adults 21+
Developmental Services Ontario helps adults with
developmental disabilities connect to services and
supports in their communities. There are nine agencies
across Ontario. DSO is funded by the
Ontario Ministry of Community
and Social Services.
Respite Care in Canada:
Funding for PTSD/First Responders
April 5, 2016, Ontario passed legislation recognizing post
traumatic stress disorder as work-related illness for police,
firefighters and paramedics.
•
Diagnosis of PTSD by a
psychiatrist or a psychologist,
•
Eligibility for WSIB benefits
is expedited.
Respite Care in Canada:
Senior Care
Community Care Access Centres
(CCACs) are local agencies that
provide information about care
options in your area. CCACs also
provide information about local
community support service agencies
and can link people to these agencies
to arrange services.
Support groups are evolving: care givers creating groups
Social media: Facebook support and parent groups,
Crowdfunding
Partner programs: group activities for individual to participate and family
caregiver attend activities in same location ie: YMCA, Parks and Recreation
Parent groups include bringing special needs children are pooling funding
dollars to bring in skilled staff to offer activities for child while parents meet.
Extended health care benefits to include alternative therapies, respite services
Self Directed Funding
Lack of immediate support
available and ever growing
waitlists is causing concern for
lack of accessibility to services.
Self directed funding = flexibility
to spend respite $ on various
therapies: holistic, spiritual and
complimentary therapies.
Innovative Respite
Technology
Professional
Self (PTSD, Mental Health, First Responders)
Adult child caring for aging parent
Parent of a special needs child, youth or adult
Education, Partnership,
Program Development
Education: Knowledge Transfer
International Engagement: lecture, training and support groups
Staff training: Parks and Recreation
Volunteer Training,
Family care givers workshops
Mental health initiatives in school
Partnership: Collaborative Efforts
Children’s Treatment Network,
Canadian Armed Forces,
Public School Boards,
Alzheimer’s Society,
Autism Ontario
Program Development
Community Agencies
NSERC (and Sheridan College) http://www.nserccrsng.gc.ca/index_eng.asp
Capstone Project
Trillium Foundation http://www.otf.ca/how-we-work
Children’s Treatment Network: ongoing group programs
Mental,
Emotional,
Physical,
Social,
Financial
A continued need to maximize support while
minimizing dollars through partnership, collaboration
and innovative respite solutions is critical.
Amy and Kay O’Neill, Founding family
member of Kerry’s Place for Autism Services