Family Supports

Family Supports

Family supports reduce stress encountered by families, and help address the unique needs of the family and of the child who has a disability. Family supports will depend on the needs of the child, the supports extended family provides, and the situation of the family. Family supports can change over time as the needs of the child and family change. Having discussions with your family service worker, community service worker, and/or Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) coordinator will ensure that your family and child are receiving the supports they need.

These are the type of supports that your family may have:

Support Groups

Manitoba support groups offer family supports to families and individuals who have autism spectrum disorder. Click HERE to view our resource database of Manitoba support groups to get contact information. It is important to contact and look into different support groups as each organization offers their own types of family support.

General Support

General supports include things like:

  • Family counseling
  • Information about programs and services available
  • Referrals to programs and services

The family service worker, community service worker, physicians, or developmental clinicians for your family would be the individuals who provide general support. If you have any questions regarding general supports for your child, speak with one of these individuals.

Respite Care

Respite is a short-term period of time set aside for parents to take a break from caregiving their child with a disability. It can be provided inside or outside of the home. Respite helps provide balance in the life of parents. Through respite, children have the opportunity to experience new relationships and try new activities that can be beneficial to their development.

Depending upon their circumstances and eligibility for supports, families can choose from a number of respite options. These include:

  • Office-administered respite: families receive funding (either through Children’s disABILITY Services or Community Living disABILITY Services) a respite agency hires staff and matches available staff to family needs;
  • Self-administered respite: families receive funding (either through Children’s disABILITY Services or Community Living disABILITY Services) and choose their own respite staff;
  • Facility-based respite: families can work with a service provider that has a designated apartment or room where the child or adult can stay with a respite worker while the family takes a break;
  • Informal supports: when the family hires their own respite worker privately. These people may include friends, extended family, neighbours or privately hired individuals that will provide respite services to their child.

In Manitoba, there are various organizations that can provide respite:

Children’s disABILITY Services

If your family receives support from this service, you may be eligible to receive respite. To contact the office in your area, visit:

Community Living disABILITY Services

If your adult child receives services from this organization, you may be eligible to receive respite care. To contact the office in your area, visit:

Community Respite Services

Community Respite Service provides respite to families and participants for adults and children with intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Service is funded by the Community Living disABILITY Services Program and Children’s disABILITY Services Program. Family service workers from these programs can access services for their families by contacting one of these addresses:

Or Contact one of their offices:

Winnipeg Office
825 Sherbrook Street
Winnipeg, MB R3A 1M5
Phone: 204-953-2400
Email: comresp@mts.net

Brandon Office
710 – 3rd Street
Brandon, MB R7A 3C8
Phone: 204-727-4910
Email: crsbdn@mts.net

You can find more information and services from Community Respite Services by visiting their website at: http://www.communityrespiteservice.ca/wp/

Community Venture (The Salvation Army)

Community Venture (CV) is located in Winnipeg and is a part of The Salvation Army. The program provides developmental day programming, residential, transportation, outreach, and respite services to adults living with intellectual disabilities. The program is funded by Community Living disABILITY Services. Families must be in the Family Services system to receive funding.

For more information, please contact:

Community Venture
1100 Fife Street
Winnipeg, MB
R2M 3A5 Canada
Phone: 204-946-9418
Website: http://www.communityventure.mb.ca/outreach.htm

Child Development

Families are offered opportunities to develop skills to care for their children in their home and in the community. This type of family support is an early intervention program done by trained child development workers to help children reach average development stages. Child development workers work with parents to identify their child’s strengths and goals. Together they find ways to assist the child to develop and learn new skills. Services can be offered in the child’s home or in other settings, such as their child care facility. Once your child is a part of Children’s disABILITY Services, their Family Services worker can refer you to this type of family support.

If your child is not registered with Children’s disABILITY Services and they have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you should contact the Family Services office in your area.

Please visit the following websites for contact information:

Therapy Services

Therapy services your family may receive support for are:

  • Speech-Language Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Behavioural or developmental therapy

For children: Family services workers can refer families who have a child with a disability to the Provincial Outreach Therapy for Children (POTC) program or the Children’s Therapy Initiative (CTI) to receive therapy services.

For adults: Community service workers can refer families who have an adult with an intellectual disability to their support services that may allow them to receive clinical therapy services.

For more information on therapy services:

Go to the ‘Navigating Social Services’ page to learn more about the Provincial Outreach Therapy for Children (POTC) program or the Children’s Therapy Initiative (CTI).

Or go to the ‘Services and Supports Available in Adulthood’ to learn more about support services provided by Community Living disABILITY Services.

Or go to the ‘Therapy Options’ page to get more information on these therapy services and private clinics available in Manitoba.

Supplies and Equipment

Special supplies and equipment can cover items that go beyond the usual cost of raising a child because a child has a disability. For example, adaptive equipment, a bath lift, seizure helmets, lifts for vehicles would be covered in this category as they are necessary for the child as a result of their disability. Recommendations for equipment are usually done by one of the therapy services listed above.

For children: Your family services worker from Children’s disABILITY Services can refer your child to a therapy service that would make recommendations for supplies and equipment. If supplies and equipment were deemed necessary for the child, Children’s disABILITY Services may fund the supplies.

For adults: Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) may cover medical equipment and supplies that are necessary for an adult’s health and safety as a result of their disability. A therapy service would have to make recommendations for supplies and equipment in order for EIA to consider funding it. For more information speak with your community service worker or EIA case coordinator.

Home modifications

If your child needs modifications to their home as a result of their disability, funds may be available for family support. For example, modifications like railings, lifts, widened doorframes or ramps may be covered under this family support. Recommendations for home modifications are usually done by occupational therapists.

For children: Your family services worker from Children’s disABILITY Services would refer your child to a therapy service that would make recommendations for home modifications. If the home modifications were deemed necessary for the child, Children’s disABILITY Services may fund the supplies

For adults: Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) may cover home modifications that are necessary for an adult’s health and safety as a result of their disability. A therapy service would make recommendations for home modifications in order for EIA to consider funding it. For more information speak with your community service worker or EIA case coordinator.

Transportation

There is assistance available for families who are faced with extraordinary costs associated with transportation to and from medical appointments and special services for their child with a disability. This service is mainly offered to individuals living in rural Manitoba.

For children: Your child may be eligible through Children’s disABILITY Services to have the cost of transportation to and from medical appointments covered. For more information about this family support speak with your family service worker.

For adults:

  • Your adult child may be eligible through EIA to have the cost of transportation to and from medical appointments covered. Contact your EIA case coordinator to get more information on this family support.
  • Your adult child may be eligible through Community Living disABILITY Services to have public or special service transportation to and from their adult day service program. Speak with your adult child’s community service worker for more information.

Training

There may be opportunities for you to attend special training with regards to medical practices your child needs, educational, or therapy training. Offered at no charge, these sessions will assist you in your parenting skills.

Speak with your physician or family service worker about training workshops or information sessions that you may be able to attend. Many autism support groups offer sessions that educate parents on autism spectrum disorder. Go to our ‘Support Groups’ page to view autism support groups available in Manitoba.

Family Dynamics

Family Dynamics offers supports, services, and programs to any family in Winnipeg. The programs focuses on what the family member needs. The center offers many services, such as parent counseling, in-home family support, parent coaching, family resources, and support groups. The center consists of 160 staff members that have education and training in family services, such as social work, counseling, and family therapy.

For more information on Family Dynamics, contact:
Family Dynamics
401-393 Portage Avenue (Portage Place)
Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6
Phone: 204-947-1401
Email: info@familydynamics.ca
Website: http://www.familydynamics.ca

Faith Based Support

Hope Centre Ministries (HCM) is a church that strives to promote inclusion for people with disabilities in all faith communities. HCM provides support to individuals with a disability, families, members in the community, and other churches. They hold a conference every year called “IN” that focuses on inclusion in faith communities. Any member from the community can attend this weekend conference to learn more about inclusive environments and the importance of having inclusion in faith communities.

This is not the only church in Manitoba that is known for supporting inclusion for individuals with a disability. If you are affiliated with a church in your community, they may provide support to families who have a child with a disability. It is important to speak with your church leader and other members to see what types of family support are available.

For more information on Hope Centre Ministries, contact:
Hope Centre Ministries
83 Henderson Hwy
Winnipeg, MB   R2L 1L2
Phone: (204) 479-4893
Email: info@hopecentreministries.org
Website: http://hopecentreministries.org

Additional Resources

For more information on family supports available to your family visit the following websites: