Our Mission ... We are a coalition of individuals, families, organizations, associations and agencies dedicated to ensuring that families in Ontario receive the meaningful support they require through 
the Special Services at Home Program and the Passport Funding Program.

Past Initiatives and History of SSAHPC from 1982 - 2009

1982:

§        Phase I & II of SSAH Initiated

1987:

§        More requests than funding available

1989:

§        Liberal Minister John Sweeney announced expansion of the program to adults with a Developmental Disability and to children with a Physical Disability and added $10 million  

1989:

§        Provincial Coalition on SSAH formed to advocate for “Sweeney’s Promise” (January)  

§        6000 families using $14 million (January)  

§        Liberal Minister Charles Beer released new Program Guidelines and implements “Sweeney’s Promise”, the $10 million is to be phased in over 3 years (July)  

§        Process and content of new Guidelines completely unacceptable to the Provincial Coalition on SSAH  

1990:

§        NDP elected. SSAH Provincial Reference Group established by MCSS with 3 sub groups to study guidelines, monitor the program and look at future issues.

§        SSAH PC presented Position Statement focused on 5 Main Issues

1.     That the Special Services At Home Program be considered a primary home support option for individuals and families in Ontario.

2.     That the funding base of the Special Services At Home Program be expanded.

3.     That an option for longer-term annualized commitments of home supports be provided.

4.     That the Special Services At Home Program be expanded to cover other people with disabilities who have home and community support needs similar to those provided through the SSAH.

5.     That the Special Services At Home Program ensure that families or Individuals be given the option of controlling the funds allocated under this Program for services to them.

1991:

§      New Guidelines released, a collaborative effort

1992:

§       MCSS commissioned an external evaluation of SSAH

1993:

§       Ministry receives 26 recommendations (best practices) to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and to enhance the consistency of delivery of the program from the MCSS Reference Group/Stakeholders Group and are accepted by the Operations Branch of MCSS (May) (not implemented)

  §    Results of external evaluation of SSAH provided (March)

  §     MCSS Stakeholder Group tables a report on the future of SSAH for the consideration by MCSS Senior Management (October)

  §    SSAH Family Alliance formed to lobby to double the amount of SSAH funding from $26 million to $52 million (November)

  §    SSAH Family Alliance holds successful Fax Campaign throughout the province for lobby effort to increase funds to SSAH

  §     NDP Minister Tony Silipo announced $2 million additional funding, and excluded SSAH from the expenditure control plan

  §      $28 million SSAH for over 9000 families

1994:

§        MCSS SSAH Reference for SSAH Group (made of stakeholders) met with new Director of Developmental Services, Brian Lowe to discuss implementation of the October 1993 Report on the future of SSAH

  §      Ministry disbanded the MCSS Reference Group.  (To date, no action)

  §      SSAH Family Alliance presents two briefs to MCSS:

-“9000 Families Can’t Be Wrong” (April)

-“Families Do It Better” (July)

  §         Families meet with Minister Silipo (July 7,1994)

1995:

§       Minister Tony Silipo announced $6 million more to SSAH; the program already served 10,000 families with $31 million (press release MCSS January 31, 1995) which meant the total SSAH budget $37 million

  §    MCSS responded to recommendations with improvements – portability to move from one community to another within Ontario, a review and revision of appeal process to ensure fairness & equity along with a timely decision and allowed families administer their own contracts

  §     MCSS provides breakdown of Special Needs Program Funding which included:

       SSAH Phase I      1995/96 Total Allocation   $ 36,764 million

                                                           Expenditure $ 36,911 million

                                    1996/97          Allocation  $  35,837 million

  §     PC government elected (September)

§        Ministry Directive June 12, 1996 - reapplications will not be guaranteed at the level of support previously approved. - SSAH will be time limited as it was originally intended. Family Alliance raised concern over these issues at the Minister’s Advisory Committee

1997:

§        SSAH Strategy Sessions held at FAO annual conference April 26/97

  §     $36 million for 13,000 families receiving SSAH according to research from the Government Estimates Book (Winter 1997)

1998:

§       MCSS had not met with SSAH PC since 1995. SSAH PC participates in reviewing draft of new SSAH application; changes made to language, form structure, eliminated the need for supplementary information requests which families found very tedious. (December)

1999:

§        MCSS under spent SSAH budget by $905,600 for fiscal year 1997/98

  §     Appeal to the Freedom of Information Commissioner, article The Compass, FAO newsletter  (Spring 1999)

2000:

§         SSAH PC Met With Minister John Baird (December) presented

§         Position Statement focused on 5 Main Issues

1.     That the Special Services At Home Program be considered a primary home support option for individuals and families in Ontario.

2.     That the funding base of the Special Services At Home Program be expanded.

3.     That an option for longer-term annualized commitments of home supports be provided.

4.     That the Special Services At Home Program be expanded to cover other people with disabilities who have home and community support needs similar to those provided through the SSAH.

5.     That the Special Services At Home Program ensure that families or Individuals be given the option of controlling the funds allocated under this Program for services to them.

2001:

§        SSAH program statistics received by SSAH PC. $56.4 million for 16,900 individuals Total Allocation  $59.1 for 2000/01.  (Oct 2001)

     Session At OACL Conference in Ottawa by SSAH PC, sharing stories, information and best practices. (May)

  §     Changes in Administration: SSAH divested from Southwestern Regional Center in the Southwest region. Local Community Group takes on the administration only of the SSAH program. Ministry retains approvals and allocation functions. (Oct. 2001)

  §      SSAH PC takes part in “A Statement from Ontario Disability Organizations” asking the Ministry to allocate 25% of any new funding directly toward Individualized Funding arrangements.

  §     MCFCS Minister announces new monies to SSAH along with announcement, agency/service revitalization dollars. Exact amount to the SSAH program is unknown as it is part of monies to day programming, and out-of-home respite care. (September)

  §      $4.8 million added to SSAH (2001/2002)

2002:

§       SSAH PC makes Presentation to Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs highlighting the fact that there was $ 25 million more requested than funded (March 6)

  §    Postcard Campaign to the Premier to increase the funding by at least $25 million to SSAH and to make it a First Choice option. (Spring/Summer)

  §     SSAH Actual 2001/02 year $61M for 18,500 individuals 

2003:

§       Families from Windsor Essex Family Network  met with Peter Steckenreiter SW Director at the government’s request to share what families want and need from SSAH (January)

  §           Letter to SSAH PC from Cynthia Lees, A.D.M. for MCFCS ( February 27 )

                     + Total SSAH funds $66M for 17,200 individuals

                     + That there are 1032 families/individuals on waiting list 

§        Families from Thunder Bay Family Network present petitions to Michel Gravelle, their local M.P.P. for presentation in the legislature (May)

§         SSAH PC meeting with ADM Andrea Maurice & Myra Wiener, Director of Developmental Disabilities and present Position Statement focused on 5 Main Issues ( May 26)

1.     A First Choice Program: That the Special Services At Home Program be considered a primary home support option for individuals and families in Ontario

2.     Enhanced Funding $25 million more: That the funding base of the Special Services At Home Program be expanded

3.     Refinement and Streamlining Application Process: That an option for longer-term annualized commitments of home supports be provided; move to a 3-5 year application process; change from deficit language

4.     Disabilities are Lifelong: Funding mobility – when individuals move out of the family home; SSAH transition to IF; that SSAH be expanded to cover other people with disabilities who have home and community support needs similar to those provided through the SSAH

5.     It’s time for a substantive review of the SSAH Program: It’s time for the Ministry to do a substantive review of the SSAH Program – and time for a broad based stakeholder consultation process – hearing other voices from families and individuals, beyond the ones normally heard through regional offices.  Make sure that the ministry acts on recommendations – not like the inaction of 1993

      §        Families from Sarnia-Lambton Family Network hold information meeting re: Father's Day Fax Campaign and SSAH cutbacks to local families (June)

  §        Families all over Ontario send faxes and letters of support to SSAH PC

  §        Father’s Day Fax campaign to Minister Brenda Elliott (June10-15)

OFFICIAL launch of SSAHPC web site Sept 15, 2003. The SSAH program serves 18,500 individuals and families