Funding for Therapy & Counselling

Under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) each College is required to establish and maintain a program to provide funding for therapy and counselling for a person who, while a patient, was sexually abused by a member. This program is administered by the Patients Relations Committee.

The following information is intended for people considering applying for funding from the College of Denturists of Ontario.

Eligibility

A person is eligible for funding for therapy or counselling when (any of the following):

1. It is alleged that a person, while a patient, was sexually abused by a member
2. The Discipline Committee makes a finding that a person, while a patient, was sexually abused by a member
3. A member enters into an undertaking with the College to provide funding for therapy and counselling
4. An admission is made by a member in a statement to, or agreement with, the College, that he or she sexually abused the person while the person was a patient of the member
5. A member has been found guilty under the Criminal Code of sexually assaulting the person while the person was a patient of the member
6. There is a statement, contained in the written reasons of a committee of the College, given after a hearing, that the person, while a patient, was sexually abused by the member, or
7. There is sufficient evidence presented to the Patient Relations Committee to support a reasonable belief that the person, while a patient, was sexually abused by the member

Evidence Presented to the Patient Relations Committee

The evidence that the Patients Relations Committee may rely on to support a reasonable belief that sexual abuse occurred includes, for example:

• Evidence that a Notice of Hearing was issued by the College containing allegations of sexual abuse by a member who died or resigned before a Discipline hearing was held
• Evidence that a mandatory report was made naming the member as having sexually abused a patient
• Evidence that corroborates allegations of sexual abuse

A decision by the Patient Relations Committee that a person is eligible for funding does not constitute a finding against the member and shall not be considered by any other Committee of the College dealing with the matter.

For more information, please see the Funding for Therapy or Counselling Eligibility Policy.

Available Funding

Therapy and Counselling

The maximum funding available to each applicant is established by the RHPA and is equivalent to the amount that the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) would pay for 200 half-hour sessions of individual out-patient psychotherapy with a psychiatrist. This funding amounts to approximately $14,000 per person and is accessible over a five-year period. Under the RHPA, applicants are required to use other available sources of funding, such as private insurance, first.

Support Funding

The College will provide additional funding for certain expenses associated with accessing therapy or counselling related to the sexual abuse. This support funding is only available concurrently with therapy or counselling that a patient is receiving pursuant to the RHPA. The total amount of support funding available is $9,000. The $9,000 may be used towards any of the following expenses:

• Medications, Treatments or Remedies
• Dependent Care
• Travel Expenses

For more information, please see the Funding for Therapy or Counselling Eligibility Policy.

Choice of Counsellor/Therapist

A person who is eligible for funding is permitted to choose any therapist or counsellor, subject to the following restrictions:

1. The therapist or counsellor must not be in a family relationship with the person
2. The therapist or counsellor must not be a person who has ever been found guilty of professional misconduct of a sexual nature, or been found civilly or criminally liable for an act of a similar nature
3. If the therapist or counsellor is not a member of a regulated health profession, the individual receiving the funding may be asked to sign a document indicating that he or she understands that the therapist or counsellor is not subject to professional discipline.

Funding is paid directly to the therapist or counsellor chosen by the person and may only be used to pay for therapy or counselling. The funding that is provided will be reduced by the amount that OHIP or a private insurer pays for therapy or counselling for the person during the period of time during which funding is provided.

Applicants can access the fund for more than one therapist or counsellor if they so choose. The funds are paid directly to the chosen therapist or counsellor for any treatment provided.

The Patient Relations Committee will consider requests for reimbursement of past therapy cost if the past therapy has not been paid by any other provider. The dates of therapy must have occurred after the dates of the reports abuse and the Applicant or Therapist must provide invoices or receipts to verify the therapy costs and dates. Payment will be made directly to the Therapist, who must then reimburse the Applicant.

How to Apply

An application and related documents are to be completed and submitted in order to apply for funding for therapy or counselling.

• Form K1 - Application for Funding: This form is to be completed by the applicant. The application will be reviewed by the Patient Relations Committee to determine eligibility for funding for therapy and counselling. Payments are made directly to the therapist and must relate only to the provision of therapy and counselling.
• Form K2 - Therapist or Counsellor Information: This form is to be completed by the applicant and the therapist and submitted to the CDO.
• Form K3 - Therapist Invoice Submission: This form is to be completed by the therapist and submitted to the CDO.

Completed applications should be mailed to:
Patient Relations Committee
College of Denturists of Ontario
365 Bloor Street East, Suite 1606
Toronto ON, M4W 3L4

Questions?

Contact: Ms. Tera Goldblatt, Sexual Abuse Liaison
T: (416) 925-6331 ext. 223 • TF: 1 (888) 236-4326 ext. 223
Email: tgoldblatt@denturists-cdo.com