PROVINCE MOVES TOWARD NEW FUNDING STANDARD FOR DAY PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

People with intellectual disabilities will have access to better-funded, more personalized supports that meet their needs following the announcement today of a new funding standard for the province's day programs.

The new funding standard matches day program funding with the assessed needs of people with intellectual disabilities. The old funding model was based on cost-per-space, which did not take into account individual differences in the support needs of clients.

"The piloting of a new funding standard for day programs demonstrates, once again, our commitment to provide quality supports to people with disabilities," Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said. "This proposed new funding model and standard has the potential to be one of the most significant enhancements to day program funding for people with intellectual disabilities in more than a decade."

Full province-wide implementation of the new standard across all day programs funded by the Ministry of Social Services is expected to occur in the 2010-11 fiscal year. It is expected that implementation of this new standard will provide funding to CBOs for up to 170 full- and part-time jobs.

The new standard will be tested over the next six months as part of a $588,000 pilot project involving eight community-based organizations (CBO) that deliver day program services in Lloydminster, Meadow Lake, North Battleford, Preeceville, Regina, Weyburn, Wilkie and Yorkton.

The new funding standard is the result of a $7.7 million investment from the province - part of the government's four-year, $76.9 million commitment to eliminate the waitlist of 440 people with intellectual disabilities who require residential, day and specialized programs that meet their assessed needs. The wait list initiative, announced by Harpauer in October 2008, is the largest investment in Saskatchewan history to support people with intellectural disabilities.

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For more information, contact:

Brian Miller
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0531
Email: brian.miller3@gov.sk.ca