Direct Family Support

This Direct Family Support (DFS) program provides supports and services to both children and adults with disabilities who live at home with their families. The intent of the program is to support and provide funding to eligible families to enable them to support their family member with a disability at home.

The purpose of the program is:

• to enable individuals with disabilities to live at home
• to maximize family supports and community participation
• to prevent and/or delay the need for an out of home placement
• to establish a smooth and seamless transition between children's and adult's supports and services.

Read more in the Direct Family Support Policy (PDF).

Eligibility for Children

To be eligible for the DFSC Program the application and/or assessment process must identify and determine that the child/family meet the following criteria:

• The family and child are permanent residents of Nova Scotia.
• The child is under 19 years of age.
• The child is living in the home of a family member/guardian of the child.
• The child has been diagnosed by an approved clinician as having a mild or moderate intellectual disability with a significant behavioural challenge that has been documented within the last two years.
• The child has been diagnosed by an approved clinician as having a severe intellectual disability that has been documented within the last two years.
• The child has a significant physical disability with ongoing functional limitations that are a result of the disability and which seriously limits their capacity to perform age appropriate activities of daily living as determined by an approved clinician.
• The family meets the DFSC Program income guidelines.
• The family agrees to participate in the assessment process.

Eligibility for Adults

To be eligible for the DFSA Program the application and/or assessment process must identify and determine that the applicant/individual and their family meet the following criteria:

• The applicant and their family are permanent residents of Nova Scotia.
• The applicant is 19 years or over.
• The applicant is residing in the home of a family member or guardian.
• The applicant has a medical diagnosis of one or more of the following: intellectual disability, long term mental illness, or physical disability.
• The applicant and family have unmet needs as identified through the assessment process.
• The applicant meets the financial eligibility criteria as outlined in SPD policy and procedures.
• The applicant and their family agree to participate in the assessment process as outlined in SPD policy and procedures.

Next steps

For more information on the program, or how to apply, contact the nearest office of the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services.

Related information

• The Direct Family Support Policy (PDF)