The 2011 National Lifespan Respite Conference

Setting the Stage

Respite services in Ontario. Many families who have children and adults with

disabilities have individualized funding known as Special Services at Home or Passport. They develop their own flexible respite supports with these funds. Respite agencies assist them to recruit people to provide the support.

There is also special funding to provide respite support for children with autism, complex medical needs and mental health challenges.

Supporting Families

There are also many agencies across Ontario that coordinate respite supports to families.

These supports include:

Center based respite (often weekend/over night) In home respite (a few hours per week) Out of home respite (associate/host family model) Community based (e.g. supports in community recreation

programs)

Support also includes:

assistance with recruitment, screening and training of respite providers, administration of funds and coordination with other kinds of services that the family

may be receiving.

Respite Services

Parents can arrange their own flexible support with the funding that they receive

or Parents can utilize services of agencies in arranging

respite._______________________

There are 9 regions within the province of Ontario and each has designated funding for respite care for children.

Demand for service often exceeds the funding that is available.

Communities of Practice

An “Ideal Model” was created for Respite/Short Break Care in some areas of Ontario that outlined the blueprint for respite services.

The vision is to provide flexible, responsive, planned respite support for families.

As this model was developed, two key components were identified:

Best and Promising of Practice developing communities of practice so that agencies

could share best and promising practices with one another.

Training developing training supports for respite providers so

that families could have the kind of support that they need.

How the Training Partnership Evolved

The South Western Region holds Communities of Practice meetings to determine common issues, needs and ways to share resources and share best/promising practices.

Training was identified as a priority for the respite providers. While “in person” training continues, it was the goal of the group to develop on line training so that there would be a consistent message, ease of access and a well developed training package.

Meanwhile the government had approached Safeguards Training to see if it would produce classroom style respite training.

The Training Partnership

Family Respite Services Windsor Essex

Safeguards Training for Children and Adult Services

Funding from the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services

Family Respite Services (Windsor Essex)

Family Respite Services is an community agency that provides support to families who have children (0-18) with disabilities, including developmental, physical, and mental health challenges.

Services are flexible. There is a range of services including in home, center based and community based options.

FRS supports approximately 900 children in a community.

Windsor is located across the river from Detroit Michigan.

FRS has about 400 active respite providers.

The agency screens more than 100 respite providers each year.

FRS was anxious to develop a training course that would assist in the screening process, would communicate key values and would provide a consistent training process.

Safeguards Training For Children and Adult Services

Safeguards is a non profit, training partnership of 5 provincial associations serving over 350 agencies

and20,000 staff.

Safeguards Partners:

Association of Native Child and Family Services Agencies of Ontario Children’s Mental Health Ontario Community Living Ontario Ontchild/YPRO Ontario Association of Residences Treating Youth

The service sectors involved include:

Disability (Lifespan) Respite Children’s mental health Native Child and Family Services/Child Welfare Foster care, Treatment group homes Young Offenders - Open Custody Young Parent Resource Centres Street Youth Abuse/Trauma Treatment

Our Mission

To enhance the capacity of services through evidence-informed training for staff serving children, youth, families and adults.

Types of Training

Live training Online Learning Webinars Videoconference Customized and In-service Training Online Resource Portal (Virtual Library of journals, data, books) Trainers Bureau/Consulting

Considerations in developing Training Model for the SW Region

The Southwest Region of Ontario is a very diverse and large area.

It includes rural areas, small towns, midsize and larger size cities.

Agencies reported high drop-out rates and large investment up-front in orientations and trainings.

Agencies identified that they wanted training that was easy to access and was easy for them to administer.

Caregivers had differing schedules and it was hard to find a common times for training.

Consistency

Agencies wanted training that:

was consistent across the region provided a basic level of training provided an orientation to

candidates interested in being a caregiver.

Input from Families

Families reported that it was important to them to be able to contract with people who have adequate training to care for their son or daughter with a disability.

Potential Uses for the Training

Screening of potential candidates.

Orientation and training.

Tool for parents who are screening their own workers.

Requiring people to take the course as a part of screening allows the agencies to:

provide orientation about a common philosophy,

discuss the importance of inclusion, review and train about the actual duties

and role of someone providing the support Determine a potential caregivers

commitment.

Emphasizing Values

Why Online Training for Respite?

Consistency Each participant receives the same training. 

Cost-effectiveReduces the number of orientation sessions and drop-out rates. Cost-effective to create as a training tool.

QualityParticipants must pass course requirements to receive a certificate.   

Reduced WaitingCertificates emailed directly upon successful completion.  

AffordableThe administrative fee is only $25

Anywhere/AnytimeTraining is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Respite Services Training Certificate

Defining Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, Caregivers will be able to:

Support a person in a “meaningful life”

Define clear boundaries, expectations

Have active listening skills

Create a positive environment to handle situations

Implement good health and safety practices

Recognize signs of abuse and response procedures

Properly bring closure to a respite relationship

Developing a Course Outline

Module 1: The World of Respite Support: An OverviewModule 2: People You Will Support Module 3: How to Support a Person in a Meaningful LifeModule 4: CommunicationModule 5: BoundariesModule 6: Personal CareModule 7: Creating a Positive EnvironmentModule 8: ConfidentialityModule 9: Health and SafetyModule 10: AbuseModule 11: ClosureModule 12: Quiz and Summary

Course Features

Glossary and Resources

Addressing Learning Styles

Engaging Carers in Discussion

Interactive Pre and Post Activities

Encouraging on-going learning

The Respite Learning Portal

The Respite Learning Portal is now the gateway to: Online training Webinars Resources Links to agencies Articles Polls Network with others through Discussion Boards. Over 3,500 people have now taken Respite courses and webinars.

Respite Care for People with Autism

Course Outline:

Module 1: Your Roles as a Respite WorkerModule 2: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder Module 3: CommunicationModule 4: Social Interaction and PlayModule 5: The Unique World of ASDModule 6: Strategies for Positive and Enriching Respite Care

Video Streaming

Quizzes with added learning value

Interactivity and Coaching

Respite Workers, Autism and Your Child: A Parent's Guide

1. Your Child's Unique Personality2. Recruiting and Interviewing a Respite Care Provider3. Orientation with Your Respite Provider4. Keeping Things Safe5. Training Your Worker to Communicate with Your

Child6. Keeping the Relationship Going7. Modifying Activities for Your Child8. Helpful Resources9. Summary

Increasing Retention

Templates and Tools

Guided Reflection

The French Language Portal

Next Steps

We see the respite portal as having the potential to

have an ongoing discussion board for respite providers

Provide written resources for respite providers and families

Share stories that encourage people to consider providing service

Be a central site to add additional courses and webinars to enhance topic specific training.

Contact Information

Leslie AtkinsonSafeguards Training for Children and Adult Services leslie@safeguards-training.net

www.safeguards-training.netwww.respitecourse.ca

Thanks!

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