The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are designed to support the
completion of the funding application.
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) is focused on
improving outcomes for children, youth and adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder (FASD) or possible FASD and their families. It has long been acknowledged
that individuals and families who are experiencing FASD have limited access to
relevant support programs and services. The Government of Ontario is
demonstrating its commitment to building capacity and improving outcomes for
those with FASD by offering small subsidies to support and expand FASD Support
Groups for individuals, families, and caregivers. See Application Guidelines for details
regarding the purpose of the funding and what the money can and cannot be used
for. Funding for FASD Support Groups is being provided by the Government of
Ontario.
Health Nexus is a bilingual health promotion organization that works with diverse
partners to build healthy, equitable and thriving communities. Health Nexus
supports service providers who work in preconception health, prenatal health, and
early child development. Health Nexus oversees several provincial initiatives related
to FASD: the FASD provincial website, FASDinfoTSAF.ca, where you can find recent
and up-to-date information about what’s happening, learn more about resources
and tools, and find out services available in your local community. We also allocate
subsidies every year to 40+ support groups for individuals with FASD and their
families and provide virtual trainings to group leaders and FASD Coordinators to
enhance support group services and to reduce barriers. Additionally, we host a
minimum of 4 expert led webinars every year, to facilitate community mobilization
among FASD support group leaders, FASD workers/coordinators and stakeholders
including individuals with FASD and caregivers. Health Nexus has also designed an
online training for service providers from various sectors, including health care and
nursing, education, mental health and addictions, justice and corrections, and
community and social work (www.training.fasdinfotsaf.ca). For more information
about Health Nexus, please visit www.healthnexus.ca.
Funding of up to $4,500 will be available for successful applicants for 2024-25. We
remain committed to supporting existing groups and the ongoing growth and
development of new opportunities for communities that have gaps and limited
FASD support services. Application acceptance is based on merit and not on amount
requested.
Yes. An individual or collaborative can submit applications for more than one FASD
support group, as long as activities are being provided to different groups of people,
(such as parents of children, parents of adolescents, adults living with FASD) or in
different geographic locations.
Yes. We encourage applicants to apply for all cycles of funding to increase
opportunities for support within your community. During the new cycle, the
applicant can apply to provide entirely new activities or continue with current
activities that are already having a positive impact for families/caregivers of
individuals with FASD.
2024-25 timeline:
Groups must be Ontario-based. The following groups/representatives can apply for
funding:
The applicant must include a name for the FASD Support Group in the application. If
the applicant does not have a name yet, please make one up that sets the FASD
Support Group apart from others. For example, the name could be {town/city} {any
special population} FASD Support Group. Health Nexus must be informed of any
name change that might occur.
To receive funding, applications must show the impact that their group will have and their plans to increase access to FASD-specific family and caregiver supports within their communities. This can involve building upon existing work, and/or creating new support activities for families, caregivers and individuals with FASD.
Additionally, activities must support one or more of the following audiences:
FASD Support Groups in the same communities will be encouraged to work
together if possible. FASD Support Groups in the same area who support different
populations i.e., Francophone, newcomers, different age groups, members of
Indigenous groups, etc. will be considered for separate funding projects. Priority will
be given to communities who have fewer or no services available in their region.
Funding is expected to be used for activities such as, but not limited to:
Yes, in-person activities may be funded. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we strongly suggest that you prepare a back-up plan to make activities happen virtually or spend the funding differently if necessary.
Outcomes will vary depending on the activities. However, all project groups are
expected to measure how many people have been supported. It is the intent to have
FASD Support Groups demonstrate improved outcomes for individuals and families
through positive participant feedback.
Some examples are:
All applications will be scored using the following metrics:
We will also consider:
Population being served (General, Newcomer, Francophone, Indigenous)
Primary populations (Caregivers, Youth, Adults with FASD, etc.)
If the application is successful, the applicant will be notified on June 14, 2024. The
successful applicant will need to sign a legal agreement and submit it to us by
Friday June 28, 2024. Funds will be made available to the successful applicant after
the agreement is signed.
We have moved to electronic payments: therefore, groups will need to be able
to receive an electronic transfer of funds. If you are not in the position to receive
an electronic payment, please contact Health Nexus to discuss alternate
arrangements.
Unfortunately, there is a limited number of subsidies available, and we may not be
able to fund all FASD Support Groups. The applicant will be notified of the decision
within the two weeks following the application deadline.
In addition to signing a legal agreement, these are the other requirements for
successful applicants:
You may adjust up to 10% of the planned budget by your own accord, but only within
a single budget section. (For an example, up to 10% of funds allocated under an
activity for Group/Event Facilitation can be adjusted to another activity under
Group/Event Facilitation). Any adjustments beyond this limit require submission of a
budget amendment request for approval by Health Nexus.
We highly recommend planning to have all your activities completed by March 1 to
allow for flexibility in case you need to make adjustments or changes to your plans.
Funded groups are required to promptly communicate any issues related to
spending funds or incomplete activities to Health Nexus. This allows us to assist in
ensuring that funds are used appropriately, and activities are completed by the
deadline. Failure to spend all allocated funds as per the approved budget and failure
to communicate may impact your eligibility for future funding.
The applicant is responsible for making sure the project activities are finished. Health Nexus can help the applicant in different ways:
