Ministry Overview and Core Business Areas

The ministry's mandate is to advance the safety and well-being of vulnerable children, youth and adults; advance early childhood development through strategic investments; and advance and support a community-based system of family services that is sustainable, stable and flexible and promotes innovation, equity, and accountability. The ministry relies on its five core business areas to implement its strategic direction and achieve its goals and objectives.

1. Adult Community Living Services
   This core business provides services to assist adults with developmental disabilities to live as fully and independently as possible in the community. Key programs and services include residential programs, training and day support programs, respite and home support, and professional support services. [2005/06: Budget: $520,478,000 and 161 FTEs]
   
2. Child and Family Development
   This core business provides a range of services for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children, youth and their families. It includes child protection services, residential and foster care, permanency and adoption planning for children permanently in care, services to strengthen and preserve families, and guardianship. It also includes community child and youth mental health services; community youth justice supervision services; and services to assist youth who are at-risk or are commercially sexually exploited. [2005/06: Budget: $589,842,000 and 2,734 FTEs]
   
3. Early Childhood Development, Child Care and
   Supports to Children with Special Needs
   This new core business provides early childhood development and child care services for children and their families. This area focuses on supporting a sustainable child care system in which families can choose from a range of available, affordable, safe, quality child care options that meet their diverse needs, support families to achieve their educational and employment goals, and support healthy child development. It includes developmental and support services for children and youth with special needs, such as early intervention services and services and funding for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. [2005/06: Budget: $395,588,000 and 308 FTEs]
   
4. Provincial Services
   This core business provides for administration of specialized provincial services for children and youth, such as youth custody centres, treatment programs for psychiatrically ill or conduct-disordered adolescents and services for the deaf and hard of hearing. These services complement the delivery of regionally based community services. This area is also responsible for the Child and Youth Mental Health Plan. [2005/06: Budget: $53,717,000 and 621 FTEs]
   
5. Executive and Support Services
   This core business provides overall advice, direction, leadership and support to ministry programs. This includes overarching policy and legislative support, intergovernmental relations, audit, staff development, performance management and related research functions, administrative and financial support and guidance. [2005/06: Budget: $17,763,000 and 205 FTEs]

Further Ministry Information
Further information regarding ministry services, locations and related legislation is available on the ministry website at: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/about_us/index.htm.