The Ministry of Children and Youth Services funds two programs that can give families a break (or "respite") from the day-to-day care of their child with special needs.

Out-of-Home Respite

Families of children with multiple special needs can receive up to seven days of respite per year, provided in a location other than their own home.

Who is eligible for this program?

The child must:

• be under 18 years of age
• have multiple special needs because of a physical or developmental disability
• live at home and need care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

and, without respite out-of-home respite, there's a real possibility that

• the child would require long-term residential placement
• the child's family is at risk of breakdown, or
• there's a risk that the child could harm himself or others.

Enhanced respite funding

This grant is paid to families who are caring for a child who is medically fragile and/or depends on a technological device needing care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is paid in addition to other respite services.

Families may be eligible for up to $3,500 per child, per year.

Examples are children who:

• rely on medical and technological equipment, such as mechanical ventilators, apnea monitors, renal dialysis, urinary catheters, colostomy bags
• take drugs intravenously
• rely on tracheotomy tube care, suctioning, oxygen support or tube feeding.

Who is eligible?

The child:

• is under 18 years of age
• lives at home
• needs intensive care and constant monitoring on a 24-hour basis.

How to apply

Contact the ministry's regional office nearest you.

Learn more

• Funding for respite care may also be available under the ministry's Special Services at Home program.
• Visit respiteservices.com to find services in your area.