About Us
The Rotary Club of Ottawa first opened our respite home in 1982 with funds raised by club members as well as funds received from the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. The Board of Directors who governs the organization is composed of deeply committed volunteers from various Rotary Clubs in the Ottawa area, with the majority from the Rotary Club of Ottawa which in located downtown. History Timeline>>
Our respite home is open 7 days a week, 356 days a year (we are closed over the Christmas Break).
Children and youth up to their twenty-first birthday, who have a neuromuscular
or musculoskeletal disability generally restricting their mobility, or have a
complex medical need, are eligible for admission to our respite program.
We have over 275 families
registered with our respite home, and see approx 160 of those families on a regular basis.
We are a family centered organization and believe that no family should face the
daily challenges of caring for a child with a disability alone.
Why is respite so important>>
When caring for individuals, parents and families are our guide. We strive to create a home-like environment that makes families feel confident that their child or young adult will be well cared for. And lets not forget...it has to be fun!! Our philosophy of care>>
Funding
The
respite care programs at The Ottawa Rotary Home are provincially funded in four
ways:
- The Ministry of Community and Social Services and Ministry of Children & Youth Services provide 97% of our operational budget for all respite programs,
- Parents are asked to contribute $10.00 per day which makes up the remaining 3% of our budget,
- The Rotary Club of Ottawa provides funds for special items that are not funded by the Ministry, and
- The Ottawa Rotary Foundation does fundraising in order to provide for any shortfall as well as fundraising for the New Home Project.