Funding Options for Families

All PDD funding to support individuals is based on seven key principles

• Individualized Services
• Choice
• Equitability and Portability
• Flexibility
• Effectiveness
• Efficiency
• Accountability

There are two primary funding options:

1. Direct Funding: In this arrangement PDD would provide funding directly to you. To receive funding directly, PDD will ask you to enter into a Funds Administrator Agreement. This is a type of contract. Once the agreement is made with you, you can then choose to:

• Receive a cheque directly and then hire and pay your own staff
• Receive a cheque directly and then pay an approved service provider for the staffing they provide to you

If you choose to hire and pay your own staff, you will be considered as an employer and subject to all the associated federal, provincial, and municipal regulations and requirements.

Some of the areas you will need to be responsible for include:

• Signing a Funds Administrator agreement with PDD,
• Recruiting and Hiring of staff
• Becoming knowledgeable regarding Employment Standards,
• Keeping payroll and accounting records
• Meeting modified CET standards and the requirements of the Abuse Protocol

There are many other details related to the Direct Funding option that a Community Supports Coordinator can talk to you about.

2. Service Funding: In this arrangement PDD provides funding directly to a community service provider, based on a service provider agreement. The agreement can be of two types:

• Individual Funding
• Contract Funding

Individual Funding provides a specific amount of money for a specific individual. Contract Funding provides an amount of money based on the number of people they are supporting and their individual support requirements.

Under a Service Funding arrangement, Community Service Providers receive quarterly payments and use the funds to provide the individualized supports agreed to for each person. Families opting for the Service Funding option have no direct involvement in paying staff, banking, accounting, or other aspects associated with being an employer. Families do however, continue to have involvement in determining desired outcomes and in ensuring that they are receiving what best supports their son or daughter.

All agencies who receive PDD funding to provide supports or services must be evaluated through the AARC Creating Excellence Together (CET) Standards at least once every three years and maintain certification.

For more information about Funding Options contact a Community Supports Coordinator or read through the Funding Options Guide.