Family Support Options offers a range of supports to families who are caring for a family member with a developmental or physical disability at home. The service is for children with a physical disability under the age of 18, and people of any age who have a developmental disability and are living at home or in some cases are living on their own in the community with no other supports.

Special Services At Home

The Special Services at Home (SSAH) program is funded by the Ministry of Community & Social Services and Ministry of Children & Youth Services.

Family Support Options (FSO) Coordinators assist families to apply for SSAH funding which provides one-to-one support in the home or in the person's community to meet personal development and growth goals.  SSAH provides funding for parent relief and related supports to help the family meet their identified needs.

The FSO Program has two options for utilizing the funding. Option A is the Independent Model, where the family contracts with a provider of their choice. Option B is the Employee Model where Trellis recruits, hires, and supervises workers. We recommend the Independent Model as the primary option to families. The Employee Model is recommended for families who would need support. We also provide support to all families to make use of the flexibilities attached to SSAH funding to provide sibling care, camp costs, recreation, and/or routine homemaking.

Respiteservices.com

Trellis manages the CHAP worker database part of the respiteservices.com website.

Community Helpers for Active Participation (CHAP) is a database for families who would like to contract with an Independent Provider. The CHAP Coordinator screens individuals who are interested in supporting people with developmental or physical disabilities.  Families who utilize the Independent Model can register and place classified ads so that they can be matched with individuals who are interested in providing support. FSO Coordinators search the database for families and send profiles of potential independent providers to registered families.

Support for children who are medically fragile / technology dependent (MFTD)

FSO Coordinators also manage "MFTD" supports which are geared towards providing individualized respite options for children who are medically fragile and technology dependent. This extra support is intended to provide them with opportunities to participate in programs and activities that will enhance their socialization, learning, and enjoyment of seasonal recreation, as well as to provide their parents with needed respite from caregiving.

Seasonal supports

Seasonal supports may be available to assist families to pay for one-to-one supports and fees to help a person with a disability to participate in camps and other recreational activities. FSO Coordinators will inform families if and when funding becomes available.

Passport funding

People who receive Passport funding can contract with Family Support Options to manage the funds and hire a support worker.

Supporting Kids in Camp

Camp is a great opportunity to have new experiences and make new friends!  Supporting Kids in Camp (SKIC) offers children with physical or developmental needs the opportunity to fully participate in the Wellington County based program of their choice - be it art camp, sports camp, computer camp…the possibilities are endless!  This participation comes from the paid, trained, one-on-one Supporting Kids in Camp staff (called Support Counsellors) available through the program, all of whom have experience working in camps and with children with special needs, as well as strong support for inclusion programs in community camps through training for camp staff and consultation.  All Support Counsellors participate in comprehensive training including sessions on working with children with physical needs, positive approaches to managing challenging behaviours, modifying camp programs and more.   Applications for the program are processed on a first-come, first-served basis and are available in the "Family Information" section. 

For more information, contact the Project Coordinator at (519) 821 8089 ext. 205.  For more information about recreation programs available in Wellington County, please see the "Inclusive Recreation Directory", also found in the "Family Information" section.