Deadline: 9-Jun-22
The Government of Ontario is seeking applications for the Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC) Program that provides funding to approximately 300 established SALC programs across Ontario to deliver activities and services to Ontario’s older adults and seniors.
These approved programs promote the engagement, health, and well-being of older adults and seniors to help them:
- age at home and in communities
- be safe and secure
- remain healthy, active, and socially engaged
- participate in the labour market and economy as they wish
Priorities
When planning their programming for 2022-23, SALC operators are encouraged to address the following program priorities:
- Explore potential partnerships and collaboration opportunities with local organizations and programs to reach a wider population of older adults and connect them with all programs and services that are available to them.
- Provide more programing opportunities for seniors in underserved rural and remote communities and socially isolated seniors, including unique or specialized program offerings (e.g., programs to address local diverse, multicultural/new immigrant/Indigenous/remote older adult populations).
- Help remotely connect socially isolated seniors at home with their communities and provide in-person programing when their local public health unit says it is safe to do so.
- Offer programing that reflects the needs of people with disabilities, specifically seniors with disabilities or seniors aging into disabilities.
- Offer a diverse range of services and activities for older adults and seniors and provide information about local supports that help them:
- Age at home and in communities;
- Be safe and secure;
- Remain healthy, active, and socially engaged; and,
- Participate in the labour market and economy as they wish.
- Incorporate the innovative use of technology for new and existing programs, with an emphasis on reaching older adults who are socially isolated and helping them get better education and access to new technology.
Types of Funding
- Maintenance and Operating Funding
- The purpose of this funding is to support regular operating costs associated with promoting active and healthy living, social engagement, and learning for persons who are primarily seniors and/or older adults by providing activities and services.
- In 2022-23, the maximum amount available for a 12-month year is up to 80 per cent of the net annual operating costs of maintaining and operating the program, to a maximum of $42,700.
- Special Grants
- Operators can also apply for a Special Grant of up to a maximum of $15,000 to further support the planning and delivery of SALC programs and services for seniors and older adults. Funding is paid out in one lump sum once approved.
- Municipal Funding
- As stipulated in the legislation, municipal support of the maintenance and operating costs of the SALC program is mandatory to qualify for SALC funding from the ministry.
- As in past years, the value of the municipal contribution can be cash or in-kind, or a combination of both:
- For programs approved after April 1, 2008 – a minimum of 20 percent of the net annual cost of maintaining and operating the program for the funded year, and
- For programs approved prior to April 1, 2008 – a minimum of 20 percent of the 2007-08 net annual cost of maintaining and operating the program.
Roles and Responsibilities
The delivery of SALC programs and services to older adults and seniors is made possible through the coordination of a variety of partners, each playing an important role.
- The ministry is responsible for the overall management, stewardship and effective oversight of SALC funding and program delivery. This includes setting the policy direction and program funding while ensuring that operators comply with their transfer payment agreements and the SALC Program Guidelines. The ministry also provides information to operators about other government programs for older adults and seniors that are relevant and may be of interest to them, their families and caregivers in their communities.
- Regional Development Advisors serve as the ministry’s first point of contact for operators and support program delivery throughout the year. Regional Development Advisors provide operators with important program information and monitor program delivery for compliance. They also help operators to manage administrative processes related to requesting funding, payments and fulfilling reporting requirements.
- SALC operators must meet all the requirements in the Seniors Active Living Centres Act, 2017 (SALCA) including demonstrating that they are charitable corporations financially capable of establishing, maintaining and operating a program under competent management. They must also demonstrate how the organization, and its programs and services, will best serve the interests of older adults and seniors.
- SALC programs must promote active and healthy living, social engagement, and learning for persons who are primarily seniors and older adults by providing them with safe activities and services. Programs delivered by operators can include remote social and recreational activities, as well as virtual health and wellness exercises and clinics, and educational workshops on various topics (e.g., safety and legal protections, governance and volunteerism, computer literacy).
- Municipalities are key partners in the delivery of SALC programs. Under the SALCA, an operator must acquire 20 per cent of annual program costs from a municipality. The municipal contribution can be in cash or in-kind, or a combination.
For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/available-funding-opportunities-ontario-government#section-25