Supporting Children with Additional Needs
The Supporting Children with Additional Needs (SCAN) program provides funding to Community Services funded preschools, occasional care and vacation care services to support the inclusion of children with additional needs in mainstream services.
The funding is provided through a brokerage model. The target group for the SCAN Program is Service Providers requiring assistance to support the access and inclusion of children with additional needs enrolled in their service. Additional needs may include:
-
delayed developmental or diagnosed disabilities
- challenging behaviours
- severe chronic health problems
- moderate to severe language delays
The SCAN target group has been amended following the inclusion of per child funding for ATSI and CALD children through the new preschool funding model.
The changes to the SCAN target group and other amendments to the SCAN program are detailed in the SCAN Program Guidelines.Under the current SCAN program, funding is distributed through eight non-government organisations and three Community Services network offices.
A Tender process is expected to be conducted to identify non-government organisations to manage the SCAN in the three areas currently managed through Community Services.
Funding allocated to SCAN in 2008/09 is over $ $12.5 million. This an increase of 3.1% on the funding provided in 2007/08.
new funding model
A new funding model for preschools was introduced on 1 July 2008.
The basis of the new approach is to match funding levels to the actual characteristics of the children and the community in which the preschool operates, and the pattern of usage of services by the community.
support for ATSI and CALD children
Under the new preschool funding model ATSI and CALD children receive additional funding to assist their access to preschool programs. The funding may be used to provide resources and other forms of support to improve their inclusion and participation in mainstream children’s services.
In 2007, the SCAN program provided approximately $600,000 to support CALD children and $500,000 to support ATSI children in Community Services funded children’s services.
In 2008/09, under the new preschool funding model, approximately $1.18 million for CALD, and $2.4 million for ATSI children was been allocated to Community Services funded preschools.
Please note: SCAN has been refocussed to provide funding support to children with disabilities and children with challenging behaviours only. Community Services will continue to fund SCAN organisations to provide advice and support to eligible child care services to promote the inclusion of CALD and ATSI children.
The changes to the SCAN target group and other amendments to the SCAN program are detailed in the SCAN Program Guidelines.The changes made to the SCAN program will take effect from 1 January 2010.
The revised SCAN Program Guidelines have now been approved.
If you have any further questions regarding the SCAN program, please email: children’s_services_funding@community.nsw.gov.au
To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111 (24 hours/7 days).