Are you a person with a disability who’s looking for a support worker, and needs a great resource to find one? Or maybe you’re a support worker looking for that perfect match?
Either way, the new, free web resource called “Support Match NB” can help! Designed to connect individuals and families with support persons in their community, Support Match NB is really easy to use. Individuals and families can create job advertisements outlining their specific needs, location, and required or preferred qualifications, while support providers can create online profiles outlining their location, qualifications, experiences and availability. Support Match NB will then match job advertisements to support providers and vice versa based on similar or matching criteria. When a match is found, users can then reach out to one another via the email addresses provided at initial registration.
The Support Match NB project was initiated by the Saint John Respite Committee, which is made up of representatives from Ability NB, NBACL, Developmental Dynamics NB, and two teams from the Department of Social Development – the Family Supports for Children with Disabilities team and the Disability Support Program team. It was developed using generous funding from The Greater Saint John Community Foundation and the Windsor Foundation.
While it is currently available only to families and support service providers in the Greater Saint John area, plans are to roll out the service across the province in the fall. To use Support Match NB, or to register for a notification when it’s available province-wide, go to www.supportmatchnb.ca. If you’re looking for more information, contact the New Brunswick Association for Community Living at 1-866-NBACL4U. That’s 1-866-622-2548.
