Following the closure of Health Nexus on March 31, 2026, Partners for Planning (P4P) will be managing and updating this website and the FASD Family & Caregiver Support Group Grants. We are dedicated to ensuring a seamless experience and appreciate your continued patience during this transition.
The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are designed to support the
completion of the funding application.
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) is focused on
improving outcomes for children, youth and adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder (FASD) or possible FASD and their families. It has long been acknowledged
that individuals and families who are experiencing FASD have limited access to
relevant support programs and services. The Government of Ontario is
demonstrating its commitment to building capacity and improving outcomes for
those with FASD by offering small subsidies to support and expand FASD Support
Groups for individuals, families, and caregivers. See Application Guidelines for details
regarding the purpose of the funding and what the money can and cannot be used
for. Funding for FASD Support Groups is being provided by the Government of
Ontario.
Partners for Planning is dedicated to empowering families by providing the tools,
resources, and networks needed to plan for a secure and thriving future for people
with disabilities. Through collaborative planning and community engagement,
Partners for Planning supports diverse networks, service providers, and families
across various life stages, including early childhood development and lifelong
support. Partners for Planning oversees several provincial initiatives related to FASD:
the FASD provincial website, FASDinfoTSAF.ca, where you can find recent and up-to-
date information about what’s happening, learn more about resources and tools,
and find out services available in your local community. We also allocate subsidies
every year to 40+ support groups for individuals with FASD and their families and
provide virtual trainings to group leaders and FASD Coordinators to enhance
support group services and to reduce barriers. Additionally, we host a minimum of 4
expert led webinars every year, to facilitate community mobilization among FASD
support group leaders, FASD workers / coordinators and stakeholders including
individuals with FASD and caregivers. Partners for Planning also hosts an online
training program for service providers from various sectors, including health care
and nursing, education, mental health and addictions, justice and corrections, and
community and social work (training.fasdinfotsaf.ca). For more information about
Partners for Planning, please visit planningnetwork.ca.
Funding of up to $5000 will be available for successful applicants for 2026-27, an
increase from last year. We remain committed to supporting existing groups and
the ongoing growth and development of new opportunities for communities that have gaps and limited FASD support services. Application acceptance is based on
merit and not on amount requested.
Yes. An individual or collaborative can submit up to a maximum of 3 applications
provided activities are being provided to different groups of people, (such as parents
of children, parents of adolescents, adults living with FASD) or in different
geographic locations.
Yes. We encourage applicants to apply for all cycles of funding to increase
opportunities for support within your community. During the new cycle, the
applicant can apply to provide entirely new activities or continue with current
activities that are already having a positive impact for families/caregivers of
individuals with FASD.
2026-27 timeline:
Groups must be Ontario-based. The following groups/representatives can apply for
funding:
To apply for funding, the applicant needs to:
See Application Guidelines and Application Form for details.
The applicant must include a name for the FASD Support Group in the application. If the applicant does not have a name yet, please create one that sets the FASD
Support Group apart from others. For example, the name could be {town/city} {any special population} FASD Support Group. Partners for Planning must be informed of any name change that might occur.
To receive funding, applications must show the impact that their group will have and their plans to increase access to FASD-specific family and caregiver supports within their communities. This can involve building upon existing work, and/or creating new support activities for families, caregivers and individuals with FASD.
Additionally, activities must support one or more of the following audiences:
FASD Support Groups in the same communities will be encouraged to work together if possible. FASD Support Groups in the same area who support different populations such as Francophone, newcomers, different age groups, members of Indigenous groups, etc. will be considered for separate funding projects. Priority will be given to communities who have fewer or no services available in their region.
Funding is expected to be used for activities such as, but not limited to:
Gift Cards:
Transportation and Food:
Yes, in-person activities may be funded. We strongly suggest that you prepare a
back-up plan allowing for activities to be delivered virtually or spend the funding
differently if necessary.
Outcomes will vary depending on the activities. However, all project groups are expected to measure how many people have been supported. It is the intent to have FASD Support Groups demonstrate improved outcomes for individuals and families through positive participant feedback. Some examples are:
All applications will be scored using the following metrics:
The following will be rated on a scale of 1-5 (1-weak 3-moderate 5-excellent):
We will also consider:
If the application is successful, the applicant will be notified on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. The successful applicant will need to sign a legal agreement and submit it to us by Tuesday, July 31, 2026. Funds will be made available to the successful applicant after the agreement is signed.
We have moved to electronic payments: therefore, groups will need to be able to receive an electronic transfer of funds. If you are not in the position to receive
an electronic payment, please contact Partners for Planning to discuss alternate arrangements.
Unfortunately, there is a limited number of subsidies available, and we may not be
able to fund all FASD Support Groups. The applicant will be notified of the decision
within two weeks following the application deadline.
In addition to signing a legal agreement, these are the other requirements for
successful applicants:
You may adjust up to 10% of the planned budget by your own accord, but only within a single budget section. (For an example, up to 10% of funds allocated under an activity for Group/Event Facilitation can be adjusted to another activity under Group/Event Facilitation). Any adjustments beyond this limit require submission of a budget amendment request for approval by Partners for Planning.
We highly recommend planning to have all your activities completed by March 1 to allow for flexibility in case you need to make adjustments or changes to your plans.
Funded groups are required to promptly communicate any issues related to
spending funds or incomplete activities to Partners for Planning. This allows us to assist in ensuring that funds are used appropriately, and activities are completed by the deadline. Failure to spend all allocated funds as per the approved budget and failure to communicate may impact your eligibility for future funding.
The applicant is responsible for making sure the project activities are finished.
Partners for Planning can help the applicant in different ways:
For assistance with the funding application, please contact: fasdinfo@p4p.ca
