What this page says
- When people ask for CLBC funded services, CLBC uses different tools to help make fair decisions about what and when services can be accessed.
- A CLBC facilitator will ask you questions about what is important to you and the support you need in different areas of your life.
- This information is used to fill out a form called the Guide to Support Allocation, or GSA.
- CLBC will also use a Priority Tool form to learn about your living situation.
- This information helps CLBC know who needs help the most.
CLBC-funded services are provided based on an individual’s disability-related needs. CLBC staff use a carefully developed tool called the Guide to Support Allocation (GSA) to help make fair and consistent decisions about how much service a person can receive. At the same time as CLBC is figuring out the amount and type of service that you can request, it uses the Request for Service Priority Tool to understand how urgently service is needed.
Because CLBC can only approve services within available funding, these tools make sure that those who need the most help right away receive the services they need, and that as many people receive services as possible. If circumstances change, you can request that CLBC review your situation and needs.
What is the Guide to Support Allocation (GSA)?
The GSA is a form and tool that summarizes information about disability-related need in 10 areas of life and evaluates need on a five-point scale. Some of the areas allow for the review of exceptional needs, which are called “flags”. The five point scale represents a scale that goes from needing no support to needing full support. Most people have different support needs in different areas of life. For example, you could be independent in meeting personal care needs, but need guidance in making important life decisions.
The ten areas of life the GSA reviews support needs for are:
- Communication
- Meeting personal care needs
- Creating or maintaining relationships
- Making day-to-day decisions
- Making important life decisions
- Safety within community
- Work and learning
- Community participation
- Complex health needs
- Complex needs and risks
NOTE: It’s important to understand that the level of need identified in the GSA does not guarantee a level of service. This is a guide and other factors include urgency of the request, the appropriate match of the support for each individual and available funding each year.
What is the Request for Service Priority Tool?
The Request for Service Priority Tool is used by CLBC to assess the urgency of an individual’s request for funded supports. It takes into account the current circumstances of the individual and their family. The tool is another way CLBC tries to ensure decisions are fair and support as many individuals and families to get services as possible.
This tool looks at risk in areas like:
- Risk associated with current living situation
- Risk the person faces for abuse, neglect, physical harm
- Extent an individual is limited to access home and community
- Level of support required to be safe
- Vulnerability to financial exploitation
To see how these tools help CLBC approve services, visit the section: Understand CLBC funding decisions.