Four out of five families of children with intellectual disabilities don’t have enough money for food, clothing, bills, transport, or additional disability costs. Having a disabled child impacts families financially and often limits the ability for both parents to work. Most children with intellectual disabilities are in single parent households. Vulnerable families suffer the most in any cost-of-living crisis and find bureaucratic systems that are meant to assist them, difficult to circumnavigate and often, are too late.
Awhi Community (Family Response Fund) aims to support vulnerable individuals or families when they reach crisis point by having funding ready and available. The programme allows for flexibility to meet the evolving needs of individuals or families who have children with an intellectual disability. Awhi Community is made possible through the support of some generous IHC donors.
Referral forms must be completed and submitted by the person referring the individual or family and not the individual or family. Awhi Community is managed and administered by IHC Programmes, with all decisions made being final. The aim of the fund is to be responsive so we will provide quick decisions and support.
Individuals or a family member must have an intellectual disability or an intellectual disability and autism.
The focus is on wellbeing. Referrals are encouraged for lower-income individuals or families with younger children (25 years and younger). Other referrals will be considered.
Individuals or families can be recommended for support via IHC’s Associations, Family Whanau Liaisons, Volunteer Coordinators, Awhi Nga Matua, IHC Library or the Advocacy team etc.
Dependency is actively avoided by working with the family to ensure they access the long term supports and benefits they qualify for.
Below are some examples Awhi Community funding could be used towards:
We could look to assess how the funding support will impact the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families based on the following:
All referrers will be asked to complete an evaluation form following the approved request. This will assist us with reporting to the donors on Awhi Community together with individual impact stories.