HOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES RECEIVE FUNDING INCREASE

Saskatchewan's Approved Private-Service Homes (APSH), serving people with intellectual disabilities, and Mental Health Approved Homes will receive an 11.6 per cent funding increase effective May 1, 2012.

"These funds will help ensure that our most vulnerable citizens continue to receive the services they require in the community," Social Services Minister June Draude said. "They will also help make Saskatchewan the best place to live in Canada for people with disabilities."

"This funding increase will help our approved homes to continue to provide services for the individuals we support," Saskatchewan Approved Private Homes Inc. (SAPH) President Iris Miller-Dennis said. "It will also ensure that these services continue into the future through improved recruitment and retention efforts and better membership supports."

The approved home funding enhancement includes a $1.65 million increase in 2012-13, which is a $1.75 million increase annualized in the years following, and a 1.6 per cent increase when the CBO lift is applied. SAPH, representing both Community Living and Mental Health homes, will also receive annualized funding of $150,000 in 2012-13 to ensure the delivery of enhancements to the approved home sector.

This investment builds on the government's four-year commitment to eliminate the waitlist of 440 Saskatchewan people with intellectual disabilities who require programs and services by 2012-13. By the end of 2011-12, services for 373 people - or 85 per cent of the waitlist - will be in place or in development across Saskatchewan. A further investment of $3.4 million in 2012-13 will ensure that the remaining 67 of the 440 people with intellectual disabilities who had been waiting for specialized residential and day programs will have services in place or in development by March 2013. This investment will also provide programming for 20 new clients.

Between 2007 and 2011, care rates for approved homes increased by 14.8 per cent. This year's enhancement now brings that total to 26.4 per cent.

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For more information, contact:

Andrew Dinsmore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8689
Email: andrew.dinsmore@gov.sk.ca

Iris Miller-Dennis
SAPH
Regina
Phone: 306-522-1145
Email: irisdennis@accesscomm.ca