OPEN NOW
From January 1, 2025 to February 11, 2025
The Children’s Respite Flexible Funding Application Is For Families Living In York Region, Simcoe County, Durham Region, Peel, Dufferin, Wellington, And Haliburton, Kawartha & Pine Ridge (HKPR).
The Children’s Respite Flexible Funding is from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to serve as an enhancement for families to access respite services in their community. Families can only apply for these funds once a year and there is no guarantee of the availability of these funds in future years. The purpose of the Children’s Respite Flexible Fund is to help caregivers get the flexible and individualized support their family needs in order for them to take intervals of time off from their caregiving duties.
PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS WILL BE SELECTED BY A LOTTERY SYSTEM
For more information about our Lottery Selection Process, please contact
Sue Townsend at respitefunding@kerrysplace.org or call 905-713-6808 Ext.90360.
Eligibility
- Children that are up to the age of 18 years (after their 18th birthday they no longer qualify)
- Children must have an official diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (proof of diagnosis is required)
- Children must live in York Region, Simcoe County, Durham Region and Haliburton, Kawartha & Pine Ridge (HKPR), Dufferin, Peel and Wellington
The funds will cover
- Respite worker / mediator
- Respite worker / mediator at a camp or group
- Camp fees
- Social groups, recreational groups
- Specialized classes, lessons (guitar, swimming, karate, etc)
The funds will NOT cover
- Any type of therapy
(speech and language, ABA, IBI, music therapy, etc) - Transportation costs, mileage, parking fees
- Activity costs (admission fees, costumes, snacks, sport equipment, musical instruments, etc)
- Home care and cleaning costs
- Education fees, assistive devices, computer software, equipment
Important Information about Children’s Respite Flexible Funding:
- There is a limited amount of funding per year to serve many families. It will be a lottery selection.
- This is an enhancement to your respite plan. These funds will not cover all of your yearly respite costs.
- This is a reimbursement funding process. Your costs will be reimbursed once you have submitted valid receipt of payment (program or service must be completed).
- If any portion of the application is missing, it will not be processed.
- Decisions will not be made until after the application deadline has passed.
- The application covers a 1 year period – April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026. Families are encouraged to apply yearly.
The Application Process
- Complete the application online and submit.
- Please note that the Referral Type must be ‘Children’s Respite (REFF) Referral’. Do not switch Referral Type.
Changing this will prevent your application from being added to the lottery. - Lottery Draw Selection
- All applicants will receive a notification by April 30, 2025
- Selected applicants will receive an approval package with further information by email.
For more information on the Children’s Respite Flexible Funding contact: Sue Townsend at respitefunding@kerrysplace.org or call 905-713-6808 Ext.90360.
- Please select your location/county – (Dufferin, Peel, Wellington, York, Simcoe, Durham or HKPR)
- For Referral Source, please choose “Kerry’s Place Autism Services”
- For Reason, please add “Respite Funding”
All families will be notified of results by email. Email must be included on referral form. Those chosen from the lottery will receive child’s name and funding amount by postal mail.
