The Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD)

On July 1, 2005, responsibility for the delivery of services and supports for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities, also known as Community Living Services, was transferred from the Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD) to Community Living British Columbia (CLBC). CLBC is also providing these services to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and children who have been assessed as eligible for the At Home Program (severe disabilities).

You can contact Community Living British Columbia directly at 604-660-2522 or toll free at 1 877 660-CLBC (2522). You can also email them at info@communitylivingbc.ca.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and Community Living British Columbia (CLBC) work together to offer a range of services to support children and youth with special needs from birth up to age 19 and their families. These services are provided through various organizations, including MCFD and CLBC offices, health authorities, contracted agencies and other ministries.

MCFD describes a child with special needs as:

• having significant impairments in one or more of the following areas: health, cognition, communication, sensory motor, social/emotional/behavioural or self help (adaptive), and
• requiring specialized supports to enhance or improve their health, development, or participation in daily activities at home, in school and in their communities

Some weblinks

MCFD Responsibilities for Children and Youth with Special Needs

MCFD Responsibilities for Early Childhood Development

More general information about MCFD is available on their website.

Update - February 2008: BCACL's Letter to Minister of Children and Family Development
BCACL wrote a letter to Min. Christensen to reinforce some of our key concerns and follow up on our recommendations that came out of our meeting together. Click here to read the letter.

Update - November 2007
The media coverage and debates in the legislature on MCFD's spending priorities continue to provide us with opportunities to share our stories about why government needs to make funding for community living supports a priority in next year’s budget. After the report of the MCFD $560,000 office renovation, it is the $20,000 MCFD staff retreat.

Click here to read BCACL's Letter to the Editor on this issue - November 9, 2007.

Here are some news links to these stories:

Victoria Times Colonist, Nov 9 - "After ministry reno, a resort retreat"
The Province, Nov 9 - "Families, support workers irate at extravagance"
The Vancouver Sun, Nov 9 - "Ministry under fire after Shuswap sojourn"
The Province, Nov 2, "Children's ministry drops ball on plush office"
Victoria Times Colonist, Nov 2, "What the children's ministry did with $560,000"