cOMMUNITY rESPITE

Funded by the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services, the Respite Program for Local Communities provides social respite service to families outside of Yellowknife who have children with special needs. The goal of a respite service is to provide safe, individualized, and flexible respite support to families and primary caregivers. It offers young people with disabilities more opportunities for inclusion in their community while respecting cultural values.

The program hires and trains local community members as Respite Workers to provide planned in-home or in-community relief for primary care-givers, families, and the children and youth with disabilities that they care for.

Currently the program is active in Deline, Ft. Smith, Aklavik, Ft. Liard, Ft. McPherson, with expansion into additional communities anticipated for the future. Families may refer themselves to the program or obtain a referral from their community health center, social worker, school staff, occupational therapist, etc.

Who will provide Respite?

Community based Respite Workers are recruited and trained by the NWT Disabilities Council. The Respite Worker is then matched to a family and can begin offering respite support both in the client’s home and community. The family may also suggest a friend or family member they wish to hire as a Respite Worker, provided they do not live with the care recipient

All Respite Workers must complete 6 training modules, and are required to have the following:

  • Satisfactory Criminal Record Check

  • Current First Aid/CPR Certification

Who is eligible?

In order to receive Respite Service support, the care recipient must:

  • Be living in the same home with their family or legal guardian.

  • Have a disability that requires on-going support that is associated with a permanent injury or condition. This may include physical, mental, cognitive, or sensory impairments that present challenges for the activities of daily living but don’t require specialized medical respite support of a health care professional.

Respite Program Brochure

Respite Referral Form

Please contact the Respite Program Coordinator for more information:

Johnelle Joseph
Manager of Community Supports and Outreach
Tel.: 1.867.873.8230
Toll Free: 1.800.491.8885
Fax: 1.867.873.4124
Email: info@nwtdc.net
Mail: Suite 116, 5102 50th Avenue
Yellowknife, NT
X1A 3S8