In this section:

• Start by selecting your Organization Type.
• Enter your organization name.
• Enter your organization’s address.
• Enter your name, job title and contact details.
• Enter the address of the Living Classroom location. 
• Indicate if your organization is receiving Living Classroom funding from Wave 1 (March 2024) for this Living Classroom partnership. 
• Briefly describe your role with respect to planning and/or managing the Living Classroom.
• Provide contact details for any alternate/secondary contacts for your Living Classroom program. 

Who can apply for funding?

Applications will be accepted from any of the following provincially recognized organizations in Ontario, as long as both a long-term care partner and education partner are represented:

• Long-term care home
• Long-term care corporate office
• Publicly-assisted college
• Career college
• Indigenous  Institute
• District school board

NOTES:

• This funding opportunity is available only for Living Classrooms partners that are hosting an existing Living Classroom PSW program, or that will be launching a new PSW cohort by January 2025.
• Career colleges must seek and provide proof of necessary approvals such as the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and/or National Association for Career Colleges (if offering a NACC PSW program) to integrate their PSW program into the Living Classroom model. Proof of approval such as a letter or email, should be attached to the application. For MCU, please reach out to your assigned inspector by email.  If no proof of approval is available at the time of application, it must be provided prior to November 1, 2024 in order for your funding application to be approved.
• School boards must meet the Personal Support Worker Quality Assurance requirements set out by the Continuing Education School Board Administrators of Ontario (CESBA) as defined in the Quality Assurance Process Handbook.  New school board programs or programs that have not undergone the Quality Assurance process will be required to work with CESBA to complete the process in order to maintain funding.
• Educational institutions are responsible to ensure their student insurance covers the location of the Living Classroom.

Who should complete the application form?

The application form should be completed jointly by the primary long-term care home partner and the primary education institution partner. Either partner may be the lead applicant or partner organization. 

The lead applicant is the organization that will receive and manage funding for the Living Classroom, including disseminating funding to the partner organization(s) as agreed upon between the lead applicant and the partner organization.  The lead applicant is accountable for reporting on how the funds are spent in consultation with their partner organization. Both the lead applicant and partner organization are responsible for completion of the funding application, and any required program reporting and evaluation activities. 

Reporting and evaluation requirements will be outlined in the Letter of Agreement that successful applicants will be required to sign before payment is released. For more information, see PART 7: AGREEMENT below.

Can partner organizations apply for funding separately?

No. For the current wave of funding, organizations must apply jointly for Living Classroom funding. Living Classroom partners are encouraged to consider formal agreements to determine how funds will be disseminated from the lead applicant to the partner organization as applicable. 

What if you don’t have a Living Classroom partner?

As Living Classroom funding is only available until March 2026, applications will only be accepted from organizations with established partnerships to support establishment of robust and sustainable Living Classroom programs. 

Can a national LTC corporate office apply for funding?

Yes, national LTC organizations that have an Ontario corporate office are eligible to apply for Living Classroom funding. However, all funds must be applied to support Ontario Living Classrooms only.

What is the definition of a Living Classroom “location”?

A Living Classroom location is the location of the individual long-term care home where the physical classroom resides. The Living Classroom may be located within or adjacent to the LTC home. 

Requests for funding must apply to a single Living Classroom location. Organizations with more than one Living Classroom location may submit multiple applications.

Can an organization apply for multiple Living Classroom locations?

Each application for funding must apply to a single Living Classroom location. Organizations with more than one Living Classroom location may submit multiple applications.

What education programs can be supported through this funding?

This funding opportunity is currently available only for Living Classrooms that offer a PSW certificate program. Education institutions that do not currently offer a PSW program must launch a Living Classroom PSW cohort with their LTC partner by January 2025.

The Living Classroom Fund is designed to increase the number of PSWs who graduate from Living Classrooms and choose to work in long-term care (LTC). While we recognize that some Living Classrooms may also offer nursing and/or other education programs that are needed to meet LTC workforce demands, funding is currently available only for PSW Living Classrooms.

If your organization provides (or intends to provide) other education programs in your Living Classroom, feel free to include that information in your application under PART 4: LIVING CLASSROOM DETAILS. Offering a variety of education programs may contribute to the success and sustainability of a Living Classroom. 

In this section:

• Start by selecting your Organization Type.
• Provide the name and address of the partner organization.
• Provide the name, job title, email, and phone number of the partner organization contact person, and briefly describe their role with respect to the Living Classroom.
• Provide contact details for any alternate/secondary contacts for your Living Classroom program. 
• Indicate whether an MOU, operating agreement and/or lease agreement has been signed.
• Briefly describe the nature of this Living Classroom partnership.
• Tell us about any other organizations involved in your Living Classroom partnership.

Must the partners have an MOU, operating agreement or lease agreement in place?

No, having a signed agreement(s) in place is not required in order to submit an application for funding. However, formal agreements are highly recommended to guide and sustain successful Living Classroom partnerships. For more information, see the Living Classroom Implementation Guide.

Can multiple long-term care homes collaborate on a distributed or rotating Living Classroom model?

Yes. Smaller student cohorts may be a reality, especially for Living Classrooms in rural, remote and northern communities. Finding creative solutions to ensure sustainability may include collaboration with multiple partners. The Living Classroom model is flexible and can be adapted to meet local needs and resources. 

The lead applicant will apply with their primary partner. They will receive and manage funding for the Living Classroom, including disseminating funding to the primary partner and any other partner organization(s) as agreed upon between the lead applicant and the partner organization(s).

Describe any other organizations involved in your Living Classroom partnership under PART 2: LIVING CLASSROOM PARTNER and provide further details about your Living Classroom model under PART 4: LIVING CLASSROOM DETAILS.

In this section:

• Indicate whether the funding will be applied to a new Living Classroom, an existing Living Classroom, or to implement a Living Classroom program that was funded in Wave 1 (March 2024) as a planning/feasibility study.
• Identify any challenges you are currently experiencing with respect to PSW education and recruitment.
• Describe how the funding will help you resolve those challenges.
• Describe how the funding will support sustainability of your Living Classroom program and partnership.
• Describe your plan for the sustainability of your Living Classroom beyond the funding end date (March 31, 2026).

Funding Stream 1: Student Wraparound Supports 

• Indicate whether you are applying for student wraparound support funding. 
• Indicate the number of new cohorts for which you are applying for wraparound support funding. Indicate the expected size of these cohorts. 
• Indicate if you are applying for retroactive wraparound funding for a cohort that launched in Fall 2024 and will be completed in Winter 2025. Provide the start and end dates for this cohort, and the number of students enrolled. 
• Indicate the total amount of wraparound support funding requested.
• Select the type of wraparound funding you are requesting (from the expense categories listed).
• Explain how you intend to use the funding to reduce student barriers to participation and success in the PSW program, and provide an outline of planned deliverables and timelines.  
• Indicate whether you plan to distribute wraparound funds directly to students, and if so, your plan for allocating and distributing funds. 

Funding Stream 2: Implementation Funding 

• Indicate whether you are applying for implementation funding.
• Indicate the total amount of implementation funding requested.
• Select the type of implementation funding you are requesting (from the expense categories listed).
• Indicate whether you received Wave 1 funding for any of the expense categories selected. If yes, provide justification for requesting additional funding for these categories. 
• If you select the “Renovations” category, please describe the planned renovations. Describe any impacts the planned renovations will have on running your January 2025 PSW cohort. 
• Explain how you intend to use the funding, and provide an outline of planned deliverables and timelines. 

How much funding is available?

There are two funding streams available. The first is for wraparound support which aims to reduce barriers for students to participate in the PSW program. Wraparound funding will be available to cohorts in session between January 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, with cohorts starting in January 2026 being the last eligible group for this funding.  Applicants may apply for a maximum of $30,000 for this stream of funding, based on the following parameters:

• Funding available per unique cohort, after day 10 enrollment numbers are provided 
• Funding will be provided in two equal payments; the first on the payment date that follows day 10 of enrollment, and the second on the payment date of the following quarter
• Funding amount will be determined by cohort size:
  • Cohort sizes up to 12 students will receive $5,000
  • Cohort sizes of 13+ students will receive $10,000
• For cohorts that launched in Fall 2024 and will be completed in Winter 2025, one full payment can be provided after current enrollment numbers are provided 

The second stream is implementation funding to support integration of the Living Classroom PSW program into long-term care homes. Funding can be used towards expenses that contribute to starting, enhancing, or sustaining your Living Classroom. Funding is available between January 2025 – March 2026. Applicants may apply for up to a maximum of $75,000 for this stream of funding.

Applicants may apply for one, or both streams of funding. Applicants are required to submit a proposed budget (see Budget Template). All amounts must be submitted as a round number (e.g., $10,000 instead of $9,992).

Applicants may be approved for the full amount of their funding request or for partial funding. 

What can the funding be used for?

We invite applicants to apply for funding for any expense that contributes directly to starting, enhancing, or sustaining your Living Classroom (Stream 2),  as well as reducing barriers to student participation and success via wraparound support (Wave 1). Details about eligible expenses for each stream of funding are provided below. 

NOTE: All services and goods for the project must be procured according to the Broader Public Sector Procurement Directive.

Funding Stream 1: Student Wraparound Supports 

The purpose of wraparound support funding is to support students with expenses that may otherwise prevent them from participating in an education program. Applicants will be responsible for either a) distributing funding to students directly, or b) spending funding on services or materials that will reduce student barriers to participating in and completing the PSW program.

General guidelines:

• Wraparound supports will be dependent on local community and student needs 
• Wraparound supports will be based on funds available and number of students in each cohort
• Consideration should be given to supports that will enhance program sustainability beyond the funding end date 
• If applicant received Living Classroom funding in Wave 1, wraparound supports cannot be a duplication of funds already received 
• If applicant received / receives other government funding for student wraparound supports, wraparound supports cannot be a duplication of funds already received 

Wraparound supports may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Transportation
  • Purchasing or renting a bus to take students to the Living Classroom site
  • Funds to cover taxis/Ubers, gas cards, etc.  
  • Partnerships with local transportation agencies to offer low-cost passes
• Housing support
  • Student rent assistance 
  • Partnerships with local housing services
• Academic or course-related costs
  • Uniforms
  • Textbooks
  • Technology for students e.g., laptops 
  • Academic guidance, counselling, or tutoring, including language support classes
• Food/meal support
  • Meal grant or voucher programs, including access to cultural meals 
  • Campus food pantry 
• Child care support
• Emergency assistance fund
  • Small stipends or grants to support students with financial emergencies that may impact their ability to complete the program, such as a vehicle repair or caregiving/medical cost
• Support with health or medical-related costs
• Mental health supports
  • In-person or virtual mental health supports, including partnerships with local services
  • Student peer groups, including those that address cultural needs and belonging 
  • EDI initiatives to reduce barriers to inclusion and success for diverse students 
• Cultural activities 
• On a needs basis/per student allocation

Funding Stream 2: Implementation Funding

General guidelines:

• Applicants who received Wave 1 funding (March 2024) must provide justification for requesting additional funding in the same category.

Implementation funding expenses may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Renovations (physical space improvements related to the Living Classroom, including accessibility upgrades)
• Equipment and supplies (e.g., mannequins, beds, education materials, etc.)
• Technology to support learning in the Living Classroom (e.g., improved Internet access, computers, etc.)
• Staffing costs for the LTC home and for the education provider (e.g., instructors, onsite Living Classroom lead to facilitate scheduling and communications, support staff, resident and family engagement, and integration of student learning activities within the home)
• Marketing and recruitment (e.g., graphic design, printing, advertising costs, open houses, etc.)
• Evaluation and reporting costs

NOTE: Living Classroom partners must be currently hosting an existing Living Classroom PSW program, or launching a new PSW cohort by January 2025.

What is the definition of a “new” or “existing” Living Classroom? 

An existing Living Classroom is an active classroom location that has produced PSW graduates at any time within the past two years (2022 and/or 2023). Existing Living Classrooms also refer to programs funded in Wave 1 (March 2024). Some organizations received funding in Wave 1 for planning/feasibility studies only. You will be asked to indicate if you plan to use funding to implement a Living Classroom program that was funded in Wave 1 as a planning/feasibility study.

A new Living Classroom is a location that has never hosted a Living Classroom, OR a location that previously hosted a Living Classroom but has not produced any PSW graduates within the past two years (2022 or 2023).

Can the funding be used to pay for PSW tuition costs?

No, tuition costs are not eligible for either stream of funding. Other Ontario programs may be available to support tuition costs for PSW students.

Does the funding need to be spent by a specific deadline?

Funding from Living Classroom grants approved prior to December 1, 2024, must be spent on or before March 31, 2026. Depending on the project timeline and activities, funding may be paid in installments, based on deliverables.

Can the funding be applied to previous expenses?

No. Funding can only be applied to expenses incurred after the signing date of your Letter of Agreement.

Are in-kind contributions required?

No, in-kind contributions are not required to be eligible for funding, but are welcome and encouraged. 

What details must be included in our proposed budget?

Your proposed budget must indicate expected quarterly expenses, by category, for both Stream 1 and 2 as applicable, for the duration of your funded program.

• All expenses must be in accordance with funding guidelines.
• Applications may be for single or multi-year funding, 
• All amounts must be submitted as a round number (e.g., $10,000 instead of $9,992).
• Use the Budget Template provided with the Application Guide.

If your funding request is approved, payments will be made quarterly. Details and dates will be included in a payment schedule outlined in the Letter of Agreement. 

You will be required to submit a mid-year narrative and financial report, and a year-end narrative and financial report. The financial report will ask you to report on funds spent each quarter, and anticipated spending for the remaining quarters. 

NOTE: Budget transfers from one spending category to another above 10% of the granted total for the specified category must be approved by the Living Classroom team.

In this section:

• Describe your Living Classroom.
• Describe how student learning activities (other than clinical placement) are or will be integrated into the LTC home.
• Indicate whether the Living Classroom education partner currently offers a PSW certificate program. If yes, indicate whether the program meets the MCU PSW program standard. Indicate how many PSW cohorts the Living Classroom education partner has graduated in the past two years. Describe the PSW program delivery and provide a link to the program information page if available.
• Indicate if students will be eligible for OSAP funding with the education partner/college.
• Indicate whether you are currently hosting a Living Classroom PSW cohort or will be launching a new Living Classroom PSW cohort by January 2025. 
• Tell us about the delivery model (e.g. hybrid, in-person) of the PSW program 
• Indicate in what language(s) the PSW program is offered.
• Indicate what student population(s) your Living Classroom serves (e.g., francophone, Indigenous, international, and/or domestic students).
• Let us know whether your LTC home has been approved for redevelopment and/or new beds. If yes, provide a description (including number of new beds, current development status, anticipated opening date, how the Living Classroom is included in the development, etc.). Indicate how many new PSWs you will need to hire as a result.

What information should be included in the description of our Living Classroom?

For both new and/or existing Living Classrooms, please provide a concise description. 

• For new Living Classrooms, describe your future vision for the classroom. 
• For existing classrooms, tell us about the current status. And if this funding will be applied to physical renovations, explain how your Living Classroom will change (e.g., “We currently have a 1000-square-foot room that doubles as lab space and lecture hall. Our renovation will add 500 square feet of dedicated lab space in a separate room.”). NOTE: Living Classrooms must be hosting an existing PSW cohort or launching a new PSW cohort by January 2025.

NOTE: Living Classrooms partners must be currently hosting an existing Living Classroom PSW program, or launching a new PSW cohort by January 2025.

Tell us about each of the following elements of your Living Classroom, if applicable:

Any other details that help to paint a picture of your Living Classroom.

Location within the long-term care home (e.g., “Our LC is located on the ground floor of our LTC home, next to our physical activity space. Students can access the LC through a separate entrance from the parking lot.”)

Approximate size (e.g., “Our LC includes three rooms, totalling approximately 5000 square feet.”)

Available learning spaces (e.g., lecture hall, practice lab, computer room, student lounge, faculty office, etc.)

How student learning activities (other than clinical placement) are/will be integrated into the LTC home

In this section:

• Student capacity (e.g., “Our PSW program has capacity to enroll a maximum of 25 students per cohort. We train two cohorts per academic year.”)
• Indicate how many student cohorts your Living Classroom PSW program will host between January 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026.
• Indicate the expected start dates for each cohort.
• Indicate the length, in months, of your PSW program.

In addition to funding, the RIA and CESBA provide educational materials, training, and coaching from our outreach team to help organizations plan, implement, evaluate, and sustain their Living Classroom. Living Classroom resources can be found at https://livingclassroom.ca/resources/. 

In this section:

• Indicate what Living Classroom supports or resources would be helpful for your organization in starting, integrating learning into, and/or sustaining your Living Classroom.
• Include any final comments or questions.

What related resources are available to support Living Classrooms?

The following resources are currently available on the Living Classroom website:

• Implementation guide
• Readiness checklist
• Infographic describing the benefits of the Living Classroom
• Video promoting the Living Classroom model
• Webinar recordings

CESBA can also provide training and curriculum resources to support new school board PSW programs.

RIA and CESBA will be developing additional resources and offering training opportunities as part of the new Living Classroom program. Please let us know if there are any new resources that would be particularly helpful for your Living Classroom. 

Can the RIA and CESBA provide coaching support for our Living Classroom?

Yes, free coaching support is available on request. Please contact us for more information. See page one of this application guide for contact details. 

Can the RIA and CESBA help us with our funding application?

Yes, we can help. Please contact us at livingclassroom@the-ria.ca for more information.

In this section:

• Indicate your agreement with the application process and funding requirements. Both the lead applicant and partner organization are required to indicate their agreement. 

What are the application requirements?

• Applications will only be accepted from eligible organizations.
• Applications must be submitted by the application deadline.
• All parts of the application form must be complete and all required attachments must be submitted.

What is the application process?

• Applications are due by October 11, 2024, 11:59 p.m. EDT.
• Late applications will not be accepted.
• All funding requests must be submitted using the online application form. (Please let us know if you experience any technical issues or if you have any accessibility requirements and need support to complete your application.)
• The Living Classroom team may request to interview with both the lead applicant and partner organization to gather further information necessary to make funding decisions. 
• All applicants will be notified about the status of their application on or before November 29, 2024.
• Successful applicants will be required to submit the following documents on or before December 13, 2024:
  • Signed Letter of Agreement signed by both the lead applicant and partner organization
  • Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) form to enable direct deposit to the lead organization’s bank account

What are the reporting and evaluation requirements?

Detailed reporting and evaluation requirements and dates will be included in the Letter of Agreement and may include the following elements:

• Baseline evaluation survey to be completed at the start of the funding period
• Mid-year narrative and financial report, describing your progress and how the funding has been spent
• Year-end narrative and financial report, describing your progress and how the funding has been spent. Year-end evaluation survey embedded within the narrative report. 
• Year-end one-hour interview 
• Support with distributing student baseline and graduation surveys 
• Support with providing time for interviews with students at graduation

All required reports must be submitted to the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging.

Research on the Living Classroom model may be conducted in the future but is voluntary and participation will not be required. 

In this section:

• All attachments must be sent to livingclassroom@the-ria.ca. 
• Attach your proposed budget, using the Budget Template found here.
• FOR CAREER COLLEGES ONLY: Attach proof of Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) and/or National Association for Career Colleges (if offering a NACC PSW program) approval for the Living Classroom site, such as an approval letter or email. For MCU, please reach out to your assigned inspector by email. If no proof of approval is available at this time, it must be provided prior to November 30, 2024 in order for your funding application to be approved. 

Living Classroom
The Living Classroom is a partnership model that integrates education into a long-term care (LTC) home to support the development of the PSW workforce for senior living. Students, faculty, and those living, visiting, and working in the home engage in a culture of shared learning. 

Core elements of a successful Living Classroom include the following:

• Collaboration between a LTC home and education provider based on shared goals and values, including a mutual commitment to share resources, risks, and rewards.
• A formal agreement and well-defined operating protocols, including regular communication. 
• Physical space dedicated to student learning within the LTC home, which may include a practice lab, lecture room, faculty office, student lounge, access to computers, and/or other resources.
• A curriculum that meets all provincial and/or national PSW education standards, but is enriched by a greater focus on gerontology and by the inclusion of LTC residents and family members as student mentors who are invited to share their lived experience.
• An interdisciplinary team that is willing to collaborate with an education provider and receptive to student participation in care planning and delivery.
• Trained preceptors to support student placements.
• Experiential education opportunities that go above and beyond standard clinical placements in LTC (which are a required element of all PSW certificate programs in Ontario) by integrating educational activities into the LTC home throughout the program. 

The Living Classroom model is flexible and may include hybrid learning methods (for example, theory courses delivered virtually and practice labs delivered in person within the LTC home), which allows the model to be adapted to meet the needs of rural and Northern communities.

Ultimately, the Living Classroom is defined by the many benefits it can bring to everyone involved — benefits that are more difficult to achieve in a traditional PSW program. Not all Living Classrooms are the same, but exist along a continuum. The extent to which the potential benefits are realized — in particular by maximizing experiential learning opportunities — is a reflection of how closely an individual Living Classroom aligns with the ideal model. For a detailed description of the Living Classroom model, see the Living Classroom Implementation Guide. For more about the benefits of the Living Classroom, see Building a Stronger Workforce in Senior Living.