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Children and Family Funding
These funding opportunities can help make raising a family more affordable!
Also: Download our funding guide, an easy to navigate and extensive collection of even more funding opportunities:
Children and family funding
Adult Upgrading Grant
This grant helps with costs related to unsubsidized child care and more. It also supports the cost of tuition for adult special education programs.
Affordable Child Care Benefit
A monthly payment to help families with child care costs. Children who have a special need may be eligible for an additional $150 per month towards the cost of child care.
Provides families funding so that all BC children, regardless of socioeconomic status, can participate in organized sport
The BC government provides funding to help families with the cost of purchasing intervention services that will promote their child’s communication, social-emotional, academic, and functional life skills development
The Pacific Autism Family Centre provides funding to assist families with the cost of programming
BC Child Opportunity Benefit
Provides a tax-free monthly payment to families with children under the age of 18.
The maximum BC Child Opportunity Benefit is:
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$1,600 for a family’s first child
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$1,000 for a second child
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$800 for each subsequent child under the age of 18
Bear Essentials
Offers financial support for equipment, travel costs, and therapy for kids with special needs
Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative enhances child care affordability by offering funding to eligible, licensed child care providers to reduce and stabilize parents’ monthly child care fees
Child Disability Benefit
A tax-free monthly payment of up to $236 per month, for each eligible child, made to families who care for a child under age 18 with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions
Cops For Kids
Raises awareness and funds to assist children in medical crisis or with special needs
Provides funding and support to vulnerable kids with physical, mental, and social challenges living in BC communities
Down Syndrome Resource Foundation Bursary Program
The Down Syndrome Resource Foundation offers a bursary to help families with program costs
Friends of Children
Provides financial support to BC families with children in medical need
Janna Epp Bursary
This bursary provides $5,000 to a child living with cerebral palsy every year. This money will assist with that child’s care, therapy, or recreation.
Provides free access to sports, arts, and cultural events to children and youth with diverse abilities across Canada
The foundation’s main purpose is helping children, including those with disabilities. Contact the Kiwanis International Foundation for more information.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of BC and the Yukon
Grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their experience with hope, strength, and joy
Specialized service and funding options from the Ministry of Children and Family Development are available for children or teens who have special needs. Options for intellectual disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, hearing or vision impairment, and complex health needs.
Starlight Children's Foundation
Dedicated to brightening the lives of seriously ill children and their families, bringing hope and joy to kids from hospital to home
Variety – The Children’s Charity
Offers financial support to children with special needs, as well as organizations
Young Parent Program
Parents who are under the age of 25 may qualify for help with child care while they finish high school, including up to $1,500 per month per child to help cover the cost of child care, as well as a space for their child in a care program at or near the school they are attending
Supported Child Development Program
The Supported Child Development Program (SCDP) assists families of children 0-12 years old, and in some cases 13-19, who require additional support to access inclusive child care programs. Children may require extra support for reasons such as:
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Developmental delay
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Physical disability
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Communicative disability
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Social, emotional, or behavioral issues
Supports vary by region, but the following services are often provided through SCDP:
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Individual planning to promote each child’s development
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Training and information for families and child care providers to help each child’s development
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Resources such as books, toys and specialized equipment
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Referrals to other services such as therapists or specialists
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Where necessary, additional staffing to ensure that children may participate fully with their peers
The service is voluntary and free of charge. Contact your local child or community resource centres to see if they offer the program.
BC Disability Funding Main Page
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