MEMBER SUPPORT

Funding may be available for supports and services that are underfunded, only partly funded, or otherwise difficult to access.

Examples of supports that may be considered include the following:

Education and Learning Supports

Funding to support educational services, learning tools, skill-building opportunities, and inclusive supports that help children and youth reach their full potential, participate meaningfully in school and community learning environments, and strengthen long-term educational growth and development.

Examples may include:

• Tutoring and literacy support
• Examples may include reading support, math tutoring, school transition planning, assistive software, or land-based learning opportunities.
• Educational and psychoeducational assessments
• Specialized learning supports
• School readiness and transition support
• Adaptive learning tools and assistive resources
• Technology that supports learning needs
• Skill-building programs that strengthen confidence, independence, and participation

Developmental and Clinical Supports

Supportive clinical services and developmental opportunities that help children and youth strengthen communication, learning, emotional well-being, self regulation, life skills, and overall daily functioning in ways that support their individual growth and success.

Examples may include:

• Speech and language services
• Occupational therapy supports
• Supports and guidance that help children and youth build self-regulation, communication, socialemotional, and daily living skills in ways that reflect their individual strengths and needs.
  • Behavioural consultation and supports
• Developmental screenings and assessments
• Early childhood intervention services
• Sensory regulation and developmental supports
• Therapeutic activities that support social, emotional, or behavioural development

Health, Mental Health, and Wellness Supports

Compassionate services, supports, and wellness activities that nurture physical health, emotional well-being, healing, belonging, and connection for children, youth, and families, while supporting healthy growth, resilience, and overall quality of life.

Examples may include:

• Counselling and mental wellness services
• Trauma-informed therapeutic supports
• Medical, dental, vision, or hearing-related costs not otherwise covered
• Wellness programming that supports developmental or emotional outcomes
• Recreation and movement-based activities connected to wellness goals
• Traditional wellness, cultural healing, or holistic support opportunities, where appropriate

Family and Community Supports

Support services, programs, and activities that strengthen families and caregivers, encourage inclusion and connection, and help children and youth participate fully and meaningfully in family, cultural, recreational, and community life.

Examples may include:

• Parent and caregiver education opportunities
• Unfunded or underfunded, transportation and meal assistance related to approved supports or appointments (ie: off island appointments at BC children’s hospital)
• Youth leadership, mentorship, and engagement opportunities

Adaptive Equipment and Supportive Resources

Support adaptive tools, assistive resources, supplies, and short-term supports that enhance accessibility, participation, communication, learning, comfort, independence, and everyday well-being for children and youth.

Examples may include:

• Communication and accessibility supports
• Sensory materials and adaptive resources
• Safety-related developmental aids
• Short-term supportive items that improve participation, inclusion, or accessibility
• Supplies or resources that strengthen learning, regulation, or developmental success

This fund is intended to support children, youth, and families who may be experiencing barriers to accessing services, programs, and supports that promote learning, development, participation, belonging, wellness, and overall quality of life. Applications are reviewed with care and consideration for each family’s unique circumstances, strengths, and support needs.

Applicants may include:

• Parents, guardians, and caregivers of registered SȾÁUTW̱ children and youth ages 0–21.
• Children and youth who may benefit from additional developmental, educational, wellness, accessibility, or learning supports.
• Families experiencing barriers or challenges in accessing services, programs, or system navigation supports.
• Youth requiring supports that strengthen inclusion, participation, wellness, connection, skill development, or healthy growth and development.

• Families, caregivers, or youth may submit a request for support.
• Supporting documents to support review of request include:
  • quotes, invoices, assessments, referrals, or other relevant information, depending on the type of support being requested.
• Requests are reviewed with consideration of individual circumstances, level of need, urgency, available funding, and potential benefit to the child, youth, or family.
• To help ensure fair access for all families, funding is generally available once per calendar year and may be provided as a one-time or short-term support based on circumstances and available resources.
• Applicants may be contacted if additional information is needed to support the review process.
• Applicants are encouraged to complete a consent to share information section on application form, which allows SȾÁUTW̱ programs and services to collaborate where appropriate and help coordinate supports to best access available funding and resources.
• Funding decisions are made with fairness, transparency, and responsiveness to the needs of families and the community.
• Please note that SȾÁUTW̱ programs and services may require up to 10 business days to complete the review process.

The Youth Wellness & Development Support Fund is supported through annual funding provided to SȾÁUTW̱ on a fiscal-year basis.

• This means funding is available throughout the year until the annual allocation has been fully committed.
• Funding is limited per fiscal year, with a maximum of $3,500 available for each registered youth.
  • Funding limits will be reviewed regularly based on available funding and identified needs.
• Applications are welcomed and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Approval is based on available funding at the time of review.
• When the annual funding allocation has been fully committed, new applications may be paused and placed in a queue for consideration once additional funding becomes available.
• Applications received during this time remain active and will be revisited as soon as funding is restored or a new fiscal allocation is received.
• Families and applicants will be informed in a timely and respectful way if their request is affected by funding availability.
• Where possible, priority consideration may continue to be given to urgent or time-sensitive needs

• Complete an application form or submit a request for support.
• Include any available supporting information such as quotes, invoices, referrals, assessments, or other relevant documents.
• Complete a consent to share information form.
• Submit your request to the Child and Family Support Services Program.
• Program staff may follow up if additional information is needed to support the review process.

Applicants are asked to provide:

• A quote, estimate, invoice, or cost breakdown
• Referrals or supporting documentation from schools, educational professionals, support workers, health or dental providers, or community support workers
• An assessment, report, or professional recommendation, where available
• Information on other funding sources that have been explored, including copies of any denial letters or emails (e.g., FNHA, Blue Cross, Jordan’s Principle)
• Any additional information that helps describe the need for support

Not every application will require all of the above. The information requested will depend on the type of support being requested and individual circumstances

• Whether the request supports the child’s, youth’s, or family’s development, learning, wellness, participation, inclusion, or overall well-being.
• Whether there is a demonstrated need for support and whether other funding options have been explored or are limited/unavailable.
• The urgency of the request and the potential benefit of timely support.
• Whether the request aligns with the purpose, principles, and intent of the fund.
• The availability of program funding and the need to distribute resources fairly across applicants.
• Whether previous funding has been received from SȾÁUTW̱ programs and services, and how that relates to current needs and overall support provided.

The fund is intended to support direct needs related to child, youth, and family development, learning, inclusion, and wellness. The following types of expenses are not eligible:

• Services or expenses that are already fully covered by another funding source or offered by SȾÁUTW̱Programs and Employees.
• Construction, major structural renovations, or significant capital or infrastructure purchases
• Entertainment, hobby or interest only non-developmental, education or health related expenses
• Competitive sports training, elite team registrations, or related travel costs
• Private school tuition or private school fees
• Retroactive reimbursements for expenses incurred prior to approval
• Requests that are not clearly connected to child, youth, family, educational, developmental, accessibility, or wellness outcomes
• Long-term or ongoing operational expenses not directly tied to individual supports or services
• Debt repayment, penalties, fines, or legal fees
• Gifts, fundraising costs, or donations
• Expenses related to commercial ventures or income-generating activities
• Alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, or other restricted substances
• General household living expenses (e.g., rent, utilities, groceries) unless directly linked to an approved support plan or exception

Applications to SȾÁUTW̱ are welcomed at any time and will be actively reviewed on an ongoing basis. Review and decision-making are supported collaboratively across relevant departments to ensure coordinated, fair, and well-informed use of available resources.

Community members are encouraged to submit applications by:

• Completing the designated application form (online or paper-based, where available)
• Submitting supporting documentation, if applicable (e.g., quotes, referrals, assessments, or invoices)

Sending applications through one of the following avenues:

1. In-person drop-off at SȾÁUTW̱ offices:
   • Administration, Education and Health Programs – 7728 Tetayut Road, Saanichton B.C
   • Child and Family Support Services – 7725 Tetayut Road, Saanichton BC
   • Or directly to program staff or support workers assisting with application
2. Email Submission to:
   • Education Director – Erin Glasgow – eglasgow@stautw.ca
   • Health Director – Bonnie Seward – healthdirector@stautw.ca
   • Child and Family Supports Prevention Manager – Shezell-Rae Sam – shsam@stautw.ca
   • Director of Programs & Services – Shelley Green – sgreen@stautw.ca
3. Apply Online

Applications are received in a supportive and low-barrier manner, and staff are available to assist applicants who may need help completing the form or gathering information.

Applicants are kindly requested to submit only one application per request; multiple submissions to multiple people and departments may delay the review and processing of your application