Psychiatric Family Care

The funding program "Psychiatric Family Care" in Upper Austria provides supervised residential placements with carefully selected host families and is professionally supported by psychosocial services. The goal is to enable people with long-term psychosocial support needs to achieve sustainable integration into community life after the acute phase of illness has subsided. The host families offer accommodation, meals, participation in daily family life, and, if applicable, employment opportunities in the household, garden, or agriculture. The psychosocial specialist offices organize selection procedures, home visits, and regular reflection sessions, ensure quality assurance in accordance with § 29 Upper Austrian Equal Opportunities Act, and promote the exchange of experiences through training and supervision. Service providers receive a monthly fee for their work, while the individuals being cared for contribute an appropriate cost share.

Non-profit organizations and public institutions recognized under § 27 Upper Austrian Equal Opportunities Act are eligible for funding. Eligible beneficiaries are adults with mental impairments or social-psychiatric support needs who have their main residence or permanent stay in Upper Austria and do not receive comparable services under other legal provisions. Eligible expenses include remuneration for host families as well as care and accompaniment services provided by psychosocial services. Applications can be submitted at any time to the competent district administrative authority and require proof of disability pursuant to § 2 Upper Austrian Equal Opportunities Act as well as a service contract according to § 30 Upper Austrian Equal Opportunities Act. This continuously available grant funding supports inclusive living arrangements and sustainably improves the quality of life of the participants.