What is respite and how do I apply?
What You Need To Know
British Columbia offers two forms of respite - The At Home Program and Direct-Funded Respite.
The At Home Program: The At Home Program provides funding to purchase respite services for eligible children. Families may choose the type of respite services that best suit their needs.
Click HERE to find out more about the At Home Program.
Direct Funded Respite: Families are encouraged to contact a local CYSN Worker if they would like support in planning for respite. Not sure who that is? Click below to find yours by location:
Are you located in a Pilot location? Here's what you need to know about respite if you are located in a Pilot Family Connection Centre:
At Home Program Medical Benefits and School-Aged Extended Therapies in pilot communities
At Home Program Medical Benefits has new admissions and eligibility criteria in the four pilot areas designed to assist families to access medically necessary equipment and supplies to support their child or youth’s growth and development.
School-Aged Extended Therapies (SAET) enhances the primary Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services available through the School-Aged Therapy (SAT) program and school district Speech-Language Pathology services. In the four pilot areas Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy will be offered through family connection centers. Massage therapy and Chiropractic services will only be offered by the At Home Program through SAET benefit plan.
Families in the four pilot communities currently accessing SAET can choose to remain with their current service approach, or receive therapy services through the pilot family connection center in their community.
Children or youth newly eligible for At Home Program Medical Benefits will choose between starting a SAET benefit plan, or receive therapy services through the pilot family connection center in their community.
Eligible youth can access their existing SAET benefit plan until age 18 or access services and supports through a pilot family connection center until age 19.
At Home Program Medical Benefits has made changes to better serve children, youth, and their families across the province. Medically necessary equipment, supplies, and certain health benefits may be available to eligible children or youth with minimal cost to families.
