Our Vision for a transformed system in Ontario includes the following:
Individualized Funding that is based on the following VALUES:
Citizenship
Inclusion
Self Determination
Community
Supports for a whole life, a look at the whole person
Individualized Funding that is based on the following PRINCIPLES:
The person’s voice is honoured through a supported decision making process (with assistance from trusted and significant others: chosen loved ones, family, support circles, etc.)
Participation and contribution in community is a given – community as a first resource
Dreams of the person and strengths of the person, (along with trusted others/family/support circles), guide the process
Facilitation and planning is a separate function and is funded to ensure sustainability. (Ideally, this function would have with no strings or ties to direct service provision, access and application centers, holders of funding.)
Relationship building and networks of support are key
Funding is fully portable (Funding can be moved within an area to a different agency, to another part of the province, from agency base budgets to direct, whatever is needed)
Individualized Funding that has structures in place – essential features/supports for people to experience success. This includes:
Independent Facilitation and Planning
Other essential features/supports especially designed for individualized funding as follows:
Invoicing/financial accounting and accountability
Human resource support
Capacity building, i.e. training for individuals, families, trusted others, support workers
Independent Facilitation and Planning that is:
separate from direct service provision – no strings attached, (autonomous)
separate from access centres (single point of access/assessment, DSO’s)
separate from funding allocation
an infrastructure/feature to support Individualized Funding
in relationship with a provincial community of practice that holds the values and offers shared learning
Individualized Funding Coalition for Ontario 