New funding formula
Province issues RFP for new funding model for NGOs
The province is looking to standardize the way it funds community organizations that provide services to Islanders with intellectual and physical disabilities.
The Department of Family and Human Services has issued a request for proposals looking for a new funding model for NGOs (non-government organizations) who provide residential and day programming services.
Mark Spidel, director of social programs for the province, says the hope is to find a standardized approach to funding these NGOs.
“We’re trying to come up with a methodology that’s fair and equitable across all of the organizations,” he said.
“Right now, we don’t have an easy way to determine what’s appropriate funding. We’re not looking to underfund, obviously, and we don’t want to overfund if we don’t need to. We want to provide an appropriate level of funding so that the NGOs are successful and delivering the services they need to deliver.”
Currently, the province has contracts with 18 NGOs that provide a range of residential and day-programming services to Islanders with physical and intellectual disabilities. These services fall within several categories, including community-based respite care, adult foster care, independent/supportive living, group home care and care for those whose needs exceed the level of care required at a group home.
Each NGO contract is renewed annually, which is determined by a proposal submitted by the NGOs based on the services they provide and what they feel their client’s needs are.
Spidel says a new model would help shift the burden of assessing the value of their services from the organizations themselves and, instead, create a formula that will ensure government funding best fits the financial needs of all non-government organizations working with Islanders with disabilities.
He added that government has been working collaboratively with NGOs in moving forward with this RFP, and that it has agreed to provide financial information to the successful bidder to help facilitate this new funding model.
“They see this really as a positive step forward to really demonstrate what the need is and to be funded at that appropriate level.”
The department hopes to have a new funding formula ready for the 2019-20 contract renewal with Island NGOs.