Live-In FamilyHome Provider

FamilyHome Provider

Volunteer Position

(Cost Recovery Subsidy available)
Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region (EAFWR)

Do you have a passion for people, relationships, inclusion and belonging? Do you want to work towards a community that welcomes and accepts everyone?

So do we!

Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region (EAFWR) was founded on the values of working with people with disabilities to grow their social relationships and be seen and valued as full contributing citizens in our community.

If this sounds exciting to you, join our dynamic team to help bring these values to life in our community.

What is the FamilyHome Program?

FamilyHome provides the opportunity to welcome an individual into your home, providing support as needed, as they become a member of your family. No two families are the same and that’s the way we like it. The diversity of families is what makes FamilyHome thrive.

The foundational elements of FamilyHome are to provide a caring, stable home environment that promotes acceptance while honouring and promoting the dignity of the individual supported. FamilyHome (FH) Providers make an impact, but it’s never just a one-way relationship. The mutual benefits are life changing.

Who will you support?

We’re looking for a kind, caring, and dependable individual or family to home share and provide support to a wonderful 46-year-old woman. She has a cheerful disposition and enjoys building meaningful relationships with the people in her life. Once she’s comfortable with someone, she is very affectionate and enjoys expressing her love through warm hugs and spending time together.

She enjoys spending time with her providers and friends and especially loves getting out into the community and enjoying the outdoors. Some of her favourite activities include:

• Going for walks and car rides
• Swimming and visiting community pools
• Visiting places such as African Lion Safari
• Listening to music, singing, and dancing
• Participating in choir, where she enjoys spending time with her friends
• Spending quality time with the people she knows and trusts

People who know her describe her as a joy to be around. She brings warmth and positivity to those around her and enjoys sharing experiences with others both at home and in the community.

There will be multiple opportunities for potential providers to meet her, spend time together, and get to know one another before making a final commitment. This allows everyone to determine whether the match is a good fit and supports the development of a positive and lasting relationship.

Specific Needs of the Person Supported
This individual requires ongoing support in her daily life due to support needs related to mobility. She is able to walk independently within her home; however, she requires one-to-one support when out in the community to help her navigate her environment safely. For longer outings, she uses a companion chair to support her comfort and participation in activities.

She requires support with all aspects of personal care, including bathing and other daily hygiene routines. She also requires support with meal planning and preparation. She enjoys a variety of foods - particularly anything spicy and she eats independently.

The individual supported works with a Direct Support Professional (DSP) during the daytime, Monday through Friday. Daytime support arrangements can be flexible and tailored to accommodate the provider's work schedule and availability, helping to create a sustainable and successful living arrangement for everyone involved.

Housing Model Options:

Due to the individual’s mobility needs, we have 3 potential housing options available, based on her needs as well as the needs of the providers. The options are as follows:

1. Providers may welcome the individual into their home, as long as all amenities that she would need to access (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, etc.) are accessible to her

2. Possibility of supporting the individual in their home, living and homesharing in her current accommodations

3. The providers may secure a rental property independently that meets the individual’s support needs (with prior approval from the FamilyHome Team, EAFWR may agree to provide a monthly housing stipend)

What You Bring:

• A dedication to Extend-A-Family’s values of belonging, community, relationships, and equity
• Reliable form of transportation
• Ability to navigate challenges, problem solving, and working through unexpected situations/schedule changes as needed
• Direct experience working with people with developmental disabilities, and their families or other networks is an asset
• A minimum commitment of one year, with the hope of developing an ongoing and meaningful relationship that extends beyond the initial one-year commitment

Best serving our community requires greater diversity of background and personal experiences. Potential Volunteers with lived experiences with mental health, disability, or who identify as BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+ are encouraged to apply. We also encourage applicants to seek accommodations as required to support their candidacy.

What You Will Do:

FH Providers are responsible for meeting the day-to-day support needs of the individual. They will work in partnership with the FamilyHome Coordinator and the Direct Support Person, to share the tasks of ongoing support. This may include assisting the person with mobility challenges, meal preparation and personal care.

FamilyHome Providers are encouraged to foster social opportunities, build meaningful relationships with the person you support, and increase their community involvement.

How Will EAFWR Support You?

• A cost-recovery per diem, paid bi-weekly
• Accessible housing options, including the possibility of a housing/rental stipend
• A Coordinator will provide ongoing support to both the provider and person supported
• EAFWR will work with providers to arrange respite opportunities, ensuring planned breaks are available while maintaining continuity of support for the person supported
• EAFWR will support the ongoing coordination and oversight of DSP supports, including scheduling, communication, and ongoing collaboration with providers

We welcome applications from all interested providers; however, given the personal nature of the support required, preference will be given to a home where at least one female caregiver is present.

About You:

The following questions will guide the work of every FamilyHome volunteer who provides support:

• Flexibility – How can I provide what the situation needs?
• Self-Control – How do I demonstrate poise under pressure?
• Self-Development – How do I continually improve my skills and knowledge?
• Service Orientation – How have I given the best service with the best options that I can?
• Values and Ethics – How am I an authentic ambassador of my organization’s values and principles?

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Kyla Segin at [email protected] or call 519-741-0190 x243. When reaching out to Kyla via email, please cc Michelle Boismier, at [email protected].

If interested, please apply to this posting, and we look forward to working with you!