Save the Respite Service

Lead petitioner : Mimi Kennedy

Members: Glen Abernethy, Doug Schauerte

Status: New > Draft > Rejected > Accepted > Collecting signatures > Awaiting submission > Submitted > Pending owner response > Closed > Withdrawn

Status: Submitted

Petition

We, the undersigned, call upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to commit permanent funding for Respite Services across the Northwest Territories before the cancellation of any existing services.

Background information

Respite is an invaluable support to families that include a member with a disability. It gives us an opportunity to take an all important break to re-group, look after our own health and well being, spend quality time with other family members, or take care of things like grocery shopping which seems simple, but can actually be a monumental task for us while also taking care of our loved one with a disability.
We all need to belong and have friends, and some people need more support to accomplish this. Respite also provides opportunities for our family member with the disability to develop important social networks and participate in our communities.
Funded initially by GNWT Health and Social Services and currently by Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, Respite Service has lost its funding and will be shut down on March 31, 2011 unless we act now.
There are limited supports to families that care for a member with a disability. Families who are already stressed and undergoing challenges that the average family does not experience, are not the only ones that will have to deal with the consequences of the loss of this service. Cascading effects could include family health issues that will put extra strain on areas such as Health, Foster Care, Justice, and Income Support.

Signature Count

559