Children & Youth (6-18 Years)

Through our Support Services for Families, Parenting Wisely program and Supported Child Development programs a variety of supports and education are provided aimed at helping children and youth and their parents or caregivers to navigate their way through challenging times and to work to improve their quality of life.

YCS also offer Youth Activities where youth can enjoy some fun and social opportunities! These activities promote positive relationships with peers and within the community both through a drop in youth group and periodic planned activities and events. 

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Supported Child Development Program

The Supported Child Development Program (SCDP) helps families whose children need extra support to access community settings, like daycare.  Typically we work with children under 12 years but services may be available for  older children.

Supported Child Development operates under the principles of inclusion and family-centered practices and uses a multi-disciplinary team approach. Parents may self-refer or come from community service providers including child care settings.

We believe that:

• children and youth of diverse abilities have a right to participate in a full range of opportunities with their peers.

Inclusion means: 

• all children are welcome and valued
• playing, learning, and growing happen in a way that children feel they belong

Families know their children best and have the right and responsibility to make choices in the best interest of their children and to have those choices respected. We honor the family as a whole and work collaboratively with families to meet their unique needs.

Some of the supports we provide are :

• individual planning to promote each child’s development
• training and information for families and child care providers to help support each child’s development
• resources such as books, toys and specialized equipment
• referrals to other services such as therapists or specialists
• additional staffing to support children in a program 

This program is available in the North Thompson Valley from McClure through to Blue River. Please use the referral form at the top of the page to access this service. 

This program is free to families and is funded by the Province of British Columbia.

Outcome Measurement Reports for our programs are available for you to download and read 2023 Annual SCD Report

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Autism Services Program

The Autism Services program offers behaviour consultation and intervention services to families with a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from infancy to age 19. We work collaboratively with you and your child's team to create plans that address your priorities and target a wide range of skill development in a variety of home and community settings. 

Our team consists of a Behaviour Consultant who is registered on the RASP (Registry of Autism Service Providers) who will oversee the plans and guide our Behaviour Interventionist, who will work directly with you and your child. 

What we do: 

• support families to connect with a CYSN worker to set up and access their Autism Funding
• collaborative partnerships with other interventionists & professionals supported your child in both home and school environments
• flexible, family centered services to support you and your child int he way that best suits your family's needs
• individualized blend of services that can include visits in your home, a community setting, at our office or virtually; whenever you feel it is most appropriate for you and your child to feel comfortable
• customized interventions that can address a wide range of skill development; create healthy daily routines, teach important life skills or support social engagement and promote peer relationships
• access to important ASD resources; our lending library for therapy equipment and toys, parent ASD training and education opportunities

Contact:

Nikki Vincent - Clearwater-Barriere
Phone: 250.674.3530
Email: Nikki Vincent

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Family Support Services

Family Support Services supports diverse families in the North Thompson Valley to increase their safety and well-being. Services are broad, promote empowerment, and are tailored to a family's unique needs. A family/youth support worker will support the family or youth to develop a Service plan and, as appropriate, collaborate with other community professionals and the family support network.

• Parenting skill development services: to supplement families in their knowledge of their child and youth's development, which increases safety, communication, and connection.
• Parent teen mediation services: for families experiencing interpersonal conflict aimed to strengthen family relationships by meeting each family's unique needs.
• Supervised visit services: for parents and caregivers and their child and youth in care to maintain family connection in a safe and neutral environment
• Life skills services: for youth with diverse abilities to strengthen youth independence and healthy development. This service includes support services to parents of children and youth with diverse abilities by collaborating with social workers, behavioral consultants, and other professionals as part of an integrated support team.
• Youth Services to support daily life skills, strength and independence, and transition services for youth in care approaching 19 years of age.

Services occur in the family home, at the YCS office, or in the community.

How can I access?

There are three options for referrals, through MCFD, by a community professional, or self-referrals by parents and youth. MCFD referrals take priority. See below for the MCFD referral process.

A referral can be made to the family support services program ANY TIME during involvement with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD).

• When a social worker has assessed that there are worries about the safety of a child or youth
• And the social worker and family agreed that the family support services program would be the appropriate way to increase the child or youth safety.
• Then the social worker makes referral to the family support services program.

Outcome Measurement Reports for our programs are available for you to download and read. Click here for the Annual Summary Report for Family Support Services Dec 2023

For more information please Contact Us