|
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)
|
|
|
§ 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
1996/97 Allocation $
35,837 million
§ PC
government elected (September)
|
| 1996:
|
§ 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
|
|
|
§ 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)
|
|
|
§ 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)
|
|
|
§ 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)
|
|
|
§
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.
|
|
|
§ 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)
|
|
|
§ 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
|
|
|
§ 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
|
|
2004:
|
- Developed
the Bill of Rights for Families who use SSAH in consultation with
Family Alliance Ontario
|
|
2005:
|
- Received
a grant from the Regal Foundation /CACL to carry out "Kitchen
Table Talks in London, Toronto and Ottawa
- Over
2000 Families on the waitlist for SSAH Support
|
|
2006:
|
- $ 12 M funding added to SSAH . Many families who have long waited
finally have received some SSAH support.
|
|
2007:
|
- Co Chair and 2 members of the SSAHPC working committee met with
Minister Meilleur .
- The Co Chairs, Beth French and Alison Ouellette received the Family
Alliance Ontario Leadership Awards at
the Family Alliance Ontario's annual conference April 28, 2007.
- May 2007 $3 M added to the SSAH program
|
|
|
2008:
|
SSAHPC releases Position Paper, “
Keep it Simple, Keep it Flexible; 27,000 Families Deserve the Best”
January 17, 2008
|
|
2009:
|
- $99 M serves 28,637 families with SSAH support
|
Copyright SSAH Provincial Coalition