Inclusion Program Information For Facilities, Referring Professionals and Parents

The The Child Care Inclusion Program provides support to families and child care facilities to include children with diverse needs in child care programs.

The program includes the following principles:

• Families require child care services that meet their needs;
• Child care facilities need support to respond to the child care needs of families of children with diverse needs;
• Every child has the right to be included in a program that is developmentally appropriate for that child;
• Early provision of support services and program planning contributes to the optimum development of the child;
• Children benefit if families, child care professionals and referring professions work as a team;
• Parents maintain the right and the responsibility to choose the program that is right for their child.

Inclusion funding is available to the child care centres and child care homes licensed by Saskatchewan Learning who are providing child care services for a child with diverse needs.

Individual Inclusion Grant

To assist with the additional cost of supervising a child with diverse needs in an amount not to exceed $300 per month

• Level 1 - $200/month
  Support and consultation needed; minimal or no additional caregiving time; additional staff time may be needed for program preparation and to acquire knowledge, such as to attend workshops, consult with referring professionals and read resource materials.
• Level 2 - $250/month
  Support and consultation needed and short term or intermittent additional staffing needed; may mean rescheduling, rearranging or increasing staff, or reducing group size.
• Level 3 - $300/month
  Support and consultation needed and significant and/or ongoing additional staffing needed.

Enhanced Accessibility Grant

• To assist with the additional cost of supervising a child with exceptionally high diverse needs in an amount not to exceed $1,500 per month.
• Extensive or one-to-one caregiving required when the child is in attendance; grant requested must reflect actual costs of additional support.

Adapted Equipment Grant

To assist with the cost of purchasing adapted equipment required to meet the needs of a child with diverse needs in an amount not to exceed $600 in a year, or in exceptional circumstances $1,200 in a year.

Training and Resource Grant

To assist with the cost of providing training and resources for child care professionals working with children with diverse needs in an amount not to exceed $100 in a year ($200 for Enhanced Accessability).

Grant Payment

Individual Inclusion Grants are paid in the month following the eligible month (i.e. If a facility is eligible for an Individual Inclusion grant for a child for the month of January, the grant will be paid to the facility in February) and are contingent on the submission of the monthly attendance report.

Eligibility

To be eligible for grants:

• Children must require additional supervision, guidance or assistance as determined by a qualified professional
• Children must be referred by a qualified professional who:
  - is autonomous from the facility;
  - has a demonstrated knowledge of the child and in the area related to the specific needs of the child;
  - is available to provide consultation and support to the child care facility and to the family.
• For Individual Inclusion funding, children must attend the facility a minimum of 20 hours per month, except in the first month, which may be a phase-in period.
• The child's parent/guardian must consent to and be involved with the facility receiving Inclusion funding on behalf of their child.

Refer to information sheets for Enhanced Accessibility, Adapted Equipment and Training and Resources Grants for more information regarding eligibility and criteria for these grants.

Application Meeting

To apply for an Inclusion Grant, a meeting must be conducted involving the following:

1. Parent/guardian(s)
2. Referring professional(s)
3. Child care centre supervisor or director or child care home provider
4. Child Care Program Consultant
5. Individual(s) who are/will be working with the child in the child care facility (if available)

The purpose of the meeting:

• Determine the child's needs
• Develop specific supports required to meet the needs of the child, the family and the child care facility
• Identify roles of each team member
• Develop program goals
• Determine how the program and how communication between team members will be implemented
• Identify any equipment needs
• Gather necessary documentation (i.e. application, assessment, letter of support, etc.)
• Determine the level of funding needed

Role of the Parent/Guardian:

• Complete required portions of the application
• Provide guidance and direction in the child's program
• Assist in determining required equipment
• Assist in determining the level of funding*
• Complete an evaluation six months after the grant starts (form will be mailed to parent)
• Inform the child care facility of any change in employment / education status (for Enhanced Accessibility funding only)

Role of the Referring Professional:

• Complete required portions of the application
• Provide consultation and support
• Assist in determining required equipment and costs
• Assist in determining the level of funding*

Role of the Child Care Facility:

• Initiate the grant meeting
• Complete required portions of the application
• For re-applications, initiate the grant process prior to the expiry of the existing grant
• Assist in determining required equipment and costs
• Purchase approved equipment and maintain receipts for review
• Assist in determining the level of funding*
• Develop a program to meet the child's needs that reflects the information provided by the parent/guardian(s) and referring professional(s)
• Ensure ongoing communication with the parent/guardian(s), referring professional(s) and consultant
• Inform the Program Consultant of any change in employment/education status of the parent/guardian(s) (for Enhanced Accessibility funding only)
• Inform the Program Consultant when a child withdraws from the program (all grants)

Role of the Child Care Program Consultant:

• Act as a resource to parent/guardian(s) who are looking for a child care program for their child
• Provide information to facilities and the public regarding the Inclusion Program
• Ensure the requirements of the Inclusion Program are met
• May act in place of the referring professional for Individual Inclusion funding for a period of up to three months when necessary
• Notify child care facilities of re-application and expiry dates for grants
• Determine the level of funding*

  * The child care facility, referring professional, parent or consultant may request an adjustment to the funding level during the grant period as levels of support, consultation or staffing needed change.

Approval period:

• Individual Inclusion grants are approved for a maximum period of one year.
• Enhanced Accessibility grants for a maximum period of six months.
• Prior to the expiration of the grant, the program shall be reviewed and the facility must re-apply in order for funding to continue.

For more information about child care in Saskatchewan, please contact the Early Learning and Child Care Branch office nearest you:

Regina - 787-4980
Saskatoon - 933-6071
Prince Albert - 953-3612
Moose Jaw - 694-3644
Weyburn - 848-2497
Yorkton - 786-5770
Meadow Lake - 236-7692
Swift Current - 778-8531
Melfort - 752-6164