 Passport Initiative |
| A new Funding for young adults who have a developmental disability.
The Ministry of Community and Social Services is committed to supporting young adults who have a developmental disability as they make the transition from school to life as an adult in the community. For more information click on the link below: As of June 21, 2010 two plain language guides for the Passport program, are now available on the MCSS website. One of the guides is for families and caregivers and one is for individuals with a developmental disability. The links for these guides in French and English are: www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/publications/developmentalServices/developmentalServices www.mcss.gov.on.ca/fr/mcss/publications/developmentalServices/developmentalServices
What are Some Differences Between Choosing Agency Services and Direct Funding?
Looking for Services or Supports for an Adult with a Developmental Disability?
Person Directed Planning – Why it’s Important and How you Can do it?
Passport Mentoring Initiative
Within the city of Toronto, the Passport Initiative is administered through Family Service Toronto. To view Family Service Toronto’s Passport website, please click here: www.familyservicetoronto.com/programs/passport To view Family Service Toronto’s main website, click here: www.familyservicetoronto.org To view other DSTO services and supports including those offered at Family Service Toronto, please click here: www.dsto.com/programs Frequently Asked Questions from Applicants for Passport to Community Living (Developmental Services Toronto)
What is the Passport Initiative?
Note: An individual who is still in school may apply for Passport; however, the application will not be processed until the individual leaves school. What are some things to think about in terms of whether to apply for Passport? Passport is not an entitlement program; it is a funding stream that allows individuals with developmental disabilities to enhance their participation in their communities. There are limits on the amount of funding available through Passport, and the allowable amount may not be sufficient to fund everything an applicant might like, or to purchase more than what they are currently receiving. Passport also may have an impact on the amount received under the Special Services At Home program. Anyone having questions about the potential impact of Passport on SSAH funding should check with their SSAH local office. It is also worth noting that those receiving day supports through a Ministry-funded developmental services agency will need to give them up if they accept Passport funding. If I’m eligible, will I automatically receive funding? No. The Ministry provides Toronto Region with a funding allotment to provide support for a specified number of individuals. In the most recent round of funding, for example, Toronto received funding to support 33 individuals. However, more than 400 applicants met the eligibility criteria for Passport. Is approval for funding based upon greatest need? Yes and no. The process works like this. There are four categories of funding based upon level of need. The Passport Team determines the appropriate category for an applicant, using the information acquired through the application process. This information is forwarded to a committee of service providers using unique identifiers to protect confidentiality; they then determine the priority of applicants within each of the four categories, and recommend the number of applicants to be funded from each category. This means that there may well be applicants approved for each of the levels of need. Within each category, however, the priority for funding is based upon greatest need. What is the difference between the “agency services” and “direct funding” options? The Passport Initiative is intended to increase the choice that individuals and families have in obtaining community participation supports. With the “agency services” option, the approved participant negotiates the services and supports they want from a Ministry-funded developmental services agency, and the agency is provided with the funding from the Ministry. With the “direct funding” option, the participant receives and manages funds directly, and may purchase existing or new services from a developmental services agency or from the broader community. In either option the participant is allocated a specific amount of funding and retains the right to choose the services and supports they want, and to change those services and supports if they want. What are some things to think about in choosing a funding option? The Passport application form requires applicants to indicate the type of funding for which they are applying: agency services or direct funding. If they choose to receive and manage the funds directly there will be financial reporting requirements and there may be implications for employing workers. If they choose to have the funds managed and administered through a Transfer Payment agency, there may be a cost of up to 10% of their total approved allocation. |
