Page 8 - CLH Foundation - Connected - Summer 2023

the participation and activities up front and then apply Activities in the area of leisure, social and cultural interest
to be reimbursed, CLH DSS pays these costs up front on are approved expenses, as are attending live events. If it’s
behalf of the supported individual, and then bills back a ticketed event, there is a cap of $150 and a maximum
to Passport for reimbursement; the individual and their of two tickets – one for the Passport holder, and one for a
family does not have to first find the money to access the support person to attend with them. If an individual needs
opportunity. Currently, CLH provides this service for 127 two support staff, there has to be special prior approval.
individuals.
But it’s also tricky: if an individual wishes to attend a Blue
The standards and rules around what is an approved Jays game, for example, the Passport dollars for this
Passport expense, and what is not approved, are meant event cover the cost of two tickets, one for the individual
to be very clear and fair to all. And they are kept that way and one for support staff: mileage, parking, the worker’s
by being very strictly followed. paid hours, and, after a certain number of hours worked,
the worker’s meal. But Passport does NOT cover the
One area that has opened up to Passport funding in individual’s meal, game souvenirs, the raincoat they might
response to the pandemic and has been wonderful is need nor the sunscreen and sun visor. Passport cannot be
the inclusion of technology and books for eligibility for used for food or clothing; an individual would be expected
funding, and that made a particular and important to pay for their own meal out of their so-called ‘pin
difference to people’s ability to maintain a sense of money’, creating an odd imbalance where the staff meal
connection and interest when other activities had been is covered and theirs is not.
shut down.
Passport funding is to encourage sport participation,
For individuals with additional or complex health needs, and includes the purchase of sport equipment. We’ve
Passport funding can serve to provide extra staffing for shared the story in the past of the bathing suit that was
morning support. For families supporting an adult at not covered by Passport as it was considered clothing
home, Passport can be accessed to provide care and not essential equipment for swimming, and CLHF’s
respite for the caregivers.
Foundation for Success initiative paying that cost.
Recently two individuals applied for funding, one for
bowling shoes, the other for baseball cleats. The bowling
shoes were approved, the baseball cleats were not.
What’s interesting here is that there is no way of getting
an explanation or a ‘re-consideration’. Decisions by
PassportONE are final.

You will often see on our Facebook and Instagram stories,
groups of three, four or five CLH-supported individuals
together at the museum or the concert or the game. In a
Supported Living Home where the residents share many
of the same interests and are able to experience activities
and events with equal enjoyment, it means that their
Passport dollars can go further through shared mileage,
shared staff, and shared costs, and it gives them many
more opportunities to do what Passport intends, increase
community participation, and social connection.

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