Children's Respite Flexible Funding and Family Directed Respite: Which Name to Use, Who to Call, and When to Apply
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Published and verified: September 28, 2026
A parent in Durham Region recently spent an evening calling three organizations about respite funding. The first person mentioned Children’s Respite Flexible Funding. The second referred to a ministry-funded respite program. The third said the family should ask about Family Directed Respite.
After hearing three different names, the parent assumed the funding was not available in their community.
That conclusion is common, and often wrong.
The main problem is usually naming and regional routing, not the complete absence of support. Ontario uses the provincial umbrella term Ministry-Funded Caregiver Respite Services and Supports, but related funding is distributed through local networks. Each region may use a different program name, intake process, eligibility pathway, and administering organization.
Using the right local term can help your family reach the correct intake office faster.
Important: Funding names, application windows, eligibility rules, and reimbursement procedures can change each year. Confirm current details with the administering organization before applying.
First, understand the difference between respite funding and SSAH
Families often search for “funding for respite care Ontario” without realizing that two different types of support may be involved.
Flexible respite funding
Regional flexible respite programs are generally designed for children with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. They are commonly lottery-based and may help families pay for eligible camps, recreational programs, respite programs, or support workers.
These programs are usually:
Applied for during a defined annual intake window
Limited by the available ministry allocation
Selected through a random draw rather than first-come, first-served processing
Reimbursement-based, meaning families pay upfront and submit receipts
Managed regionally under different names
SSAH funding
Special Services at Home (SSAH) is the broader Ontario program for children under 18 with a physical and/or developmental disability. It may support:
Respite and temporary caregiver relief
One-to-one support at home or in the community
Personal development and daily living activities
Camp and recreational participation
Support related to the child’s functional needs
SSAH is separate from regional lottery-based flexible respite funding. It is not limited to autism diagnoses, although the child must meet the program’s eligibility rules and require additional support because of a physical and/or developmental disability.
The distinction matters:
Respite care provides temporary relief for the parent or primary caregiver.
Disability support assists the child with independence, daily activities, skill development, and community participation.
For children approaching adulthood, families may also need to explore Passport funding and adult developmental services. Passport is not a replacement for SSAH or children’s respite funding; it is part of transition planning for eligible adults.
Regional guide: which name to use and who to call
1. Durham Region: Children’s Respite Flexible Funding
For families in Durham Region, use the term:
Children’s Respite Flexible Funding
The program is administered by Kerry’s Place Autism Services. Kerry’s Place lists Durham Region among the eligible areas for its 2026 program for children under 18 with an official autism diagnosis.
The 2026 application period is closed. Kerry’s Place states that the application is normally made available on the first Monday of January, so families should monitor the official program page in January 2027.
The current Kerry’s Place information states that:
Applications are entered into a lottery
Families are notified after the selection process
The funding year runs from April 1 to March 31
Families pay for eligible services upfront
Reimbursement follows submission of the required invoice and paid-in-full receipts
For program questions, consult the Kerry’s Place Children’s Respite Flexible Funding page or contact intake@kerrysplace.org. Kerry’s Place also lists its intake line as 1-833-775-3779.
Do not rely on older phone numbers or third-party program summaries when the official page provides updated contact information.
2. Guelph and Wellington County: Children’s Respite Flexible Funding and SSAH
For Guelph and Wellington County, Kerry’s Place also uses the term:
Children’s Respite Flexible Funding
Kerry’s current eligibility information specifically lists Wellington County. Families should confirm that their home address is within the program’s eligible service area before applying.
Guelph and Wellington families should also review SSAH funding through CMHA Waterloo Wellington’s Family Support Options.
CMHA Waterloo Wellington supports families caring for children under 18 with physical or developmental disabilities. Its Family Support Options program can assist with SSAH-related supports, including:
One-to-one support
Parent relief
Camp and recreation expenses
Other eligible respite options
Agency-managed or self-administered funding pathways
Families with questions about existing SSAH or Family Support Options funding can contact their coordinator or email SSAHreferrals@cmhaww.ca. Invoices and receipts for agency-managed funding can be submitted according to CMHA Waterloo Wellington’s current instructions.
3. Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge: verify the home address before applying
Families often group Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph together as the KWCG region. However, Kerry’s 2026 program page lists Wellington County specifically and does not name Waterloo Region, Kitchener, or Cambridge in the same eligibility list.
That means families in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge should not assume they qualify under the same intake route as Wellington County.
When contacting Kerry’s Place, ask:
Is my home address included in the current Children’s Respite Flexible Funding service area?
Should I use the Kerry’s Place application portal?
Is there another local respite administrator for my municipality?
Should I apply through a local SSAH pathway instead?
For eligible families in the broader Waterloo Wellington service area, CMHA Waterloo Wellington remains an important contact for SSAH information.
4. Toronto: Family Directed Respite / Flex Funding
In Toronto, use the term:
Family Directed Respite (FDR) / Flex Funding
The program is administered by the Geneva Centre for Autism on behalf of the Toronto Respite Network.
For the 2026–2027 funding year, Geneva Centre listed the application window as February 13 to March 6, 2026. That window is closed. A future application period has not been confirmed on the current program page, so families should monitor the Geneva Centre Family Directed Respite page for the next opening.
Geneva Centre’s current information states that FDR is intended for eligible Toronto children ages 2 to 17 with an autism diagnosis who are not already connected to a ministry-funded respite or camp program.
The program is reimbursement-based. Eligible applicants are placed into a pool and selected by lottery. The 2026 process uses an online portal for applications and receipt submissions.
For questions, Geneva Centre lists:
Email:FDRFunding@autism.net
Phone: 416-322-7877
Required documents may include confirmation of autism diagnosis, proof of the child’s status in Canada, and proof of a Toronto address beginning with the letter “M.” Always confirm the current document list before submitting.
5. Ottawa: do not use the FDR name
Ottawa does not use Family Directed Respite as the local program name.
The relevant term is:
ASD Respite Funding through Service Coordination Support
Service Coordination Support (SCS) manages the application and allocation process for Ottawa’s ASD respite funding. Families must generally be registered with SCS before applying.
The verified SCS intake number is:
613-748-1788
CHEO’s current Ottawa resource guide identifies SCS as the service coordination organization that manages ASD respite funding. Older SCS materials describe annual online applications and random selection when demand exceeds available funding. Because application dates and allocation amounts can change, contact SCS directly for the current cycle rather than relying on an older deadline.
Ottawa families may also need to ask about:
Ministry-supported respite programs
Camp-related supports
Programs coordinated through the CHEO Access Team
The Ottawa Rotary Home Children’s Respite Program for eligible children with physical disabilities
The Ottawa Rotary Home provides planned overnight respite for children and youth with physical disabilities. It is a different pathway from SCS ASD Respite Funding, so families should describe the child’s diagnosis and support needs when making an inquiry.
Rules that generally apply across flexible respite programs
Although local names differ, these rules are common:
The funding year follows the provincial fiscal calendar
Most programs operate on a funding year from April 1 to March 31. Application windows often reopen after the winter holidays, commonly in January or February, but the exact dates vary by region.
Selection is not first-come, first-served
Where the regional program operates a lottery, submitting an application enters the family into a random selection draw. Applying earlier in the open window does not necessarily improve the chance of selection.
Reimbursement happens after the family pays upfront
Flexible respite funding is generally a reimbursement-based grant. The family must:
Arrange an eligible service
Pay the provider or program upfront
Complete the service
Keep the invoice and proof of payment
Submit the required documents through the correct portal or intake process
Reimbursement is issued up to the approved amount and within the program’s rules. Approval does not mean every expense will be covered.
Existing ministry-funded support may affect eligibility
Families are generally ineligible for flexible respite funding if the child is already receiving significant direct ministry-funded respite or residential allocations during the same funding cycle. The exact interpretation can vary, so ask the administering organization before applying.
How to prepare before applications open
Start gathering documents before January or February. Useful records may include:
Autism diagnostic confirmation, where required
Documentation of physical or developmental disability for SSAH
Proof of the child’s age
Proof of Ontario residence
Proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, or other eligible status
Current school or medical records describing functional support needs
Caregiver contact information
Receipts, invoices, payment confirmations, and service dates
For SSAH applications, Ontario requires documentation from a regulated health professional describing the child’s functional limitations and need for additional support.
Keep receipts organized by child, date, provider, service, and payment status. A receipt without proof that the expense was paid may delay reimbursement or make the expense ineligible.
How Relieve-Me Home Support Services can help
Relieve-Me Home Support Services is a registered service agency supporting families across Durham Region, Ottawa, the KWCG Region, and Toronto & York Suburbs.
Inquire about adjacent-neighbourhood availability.
Once a family understands its funding pathway, Relieve-Me can help arrange:
Respite care for temporary caregiver relief
Disability support focused on independence and participation
After-school and summer support
Community participation
Life skills support
Support worker staffing for events and activities
Families can use a Custom Matching & Vetting Process to identify a suitable support worker. For ongoing needs, a Consistent Weekly Service Plan can be built around a 10-hour weekly baseline, with visits planned for at least four hours per visit.
Because reimbursement programs require families to pay upfront, reimbursement delays can create immediate financial pressure. Relieve-Me Home Support Services may provide a financial bridge of up to $1,500 while a family waits for eligible reimbursement, subject to applicable terms and approval.
Relieve-Me also offers paid workshops for organizations supporting children, youth, adults, and caregivers. Schools, agencies, and community organizations can request sessions related to autism support strategies, caregiver burnout, disability support, and practical inclusion.
Final takeaway: the name is half the navigation
A family in Durham should ask about Children’s Respite Flexible Funding.
A Toronto family should ask about Family Directed Respite / Flex Funding.
An Ottawa family should ask about ASD Respite Funding through Service Coordination Support, not FDR.
A Guelph or Wellington family should check both Kerry’s Place flexible funding and SSAH through CMHA Waterloo Wellington. Families in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge should verify their address and local intake route rather than assuming the Wellington pathway applies.
The funding landscape is complicated because the same provincial umbrella is delivered through different regional systems. Knowing the correct local term, administrator, contact, and application cycle can prevent weeks of misdirected calls, especially during the busy school-year period, when families are balancing work, transportation, after-school care, and rising household costs.
Organizations can explore workshop options with our training team. Families can contact Relieve-Me Home Support Services to discuss respite care, disability support, or ongoing weekly and biweekly service planning.
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