"every child belongs"
The Supported Child Development Service coordinates inclusive child care for children from birth to twelve who require extra supports.
What is inclusive child care?
Inclusive child care welcomes all children. Inclusive child care provides opportunities for all children to learn and grow in environments that meet individual strengths and needs. Benefits include increased social skills, play skills, language, cognitive and motor skill development. Inclusive child care means that all families have the same range of child care options; preschool, group child care, family child care, after school care or in-own-home care.
Supported Child Development (SCD) is based on family-centred service principles. This means that families choose the child care option that best meets their needs. Families are actively involved in the planning, programming, and when applicable, the hiring of support staff for their children. Families help determine which services - such as therapy or nursing support - their child receives while in child care.
Who is eligible?
Any child from birth to twelve who needs extra support due to a developmental delay or disability, children with exceptional health care needs, and children with mental, physical or behavioural challenges.
How can I access this service?
A referral for Supported Child Development is accepted from parents or other sources (such as a child care provider, therapist, infant development consultant, or a physician) with parental consent.
What happens after the referral?
Once a child has been referred to SCD, a consultant meets with the family to learn about their child, their concerns and their preferences for child care. The Support Guide is used to help identify needs for extra supports.
SCD then coordinates extra supports, which may include:
- support, consultation and training opportunities for families and child care providers
- individual planning for children
- lending library of toys and equipment, books, videos and resources
- specialized materials
- referrals to other services
- transition planning
- additional staffing
If additional staffing is needed, SCD works with families and child care centres to hire a support worker. Support workers are typically Early Childhood Educators with extra training in working with children with special needs. Some children require support workers with a background in health care or other specific skills. The Comox Valley has a large, highly skilled pool of support workers.
Is there a fee?
The services of a Supported Child Development Consultant are free. If a support worker is needed, the Ministry of Children and Family Development provides the funds for extra staffing. When a child attends a child care facility, parents pay the same basic child care space fee as parents whose children do not need extra support. Parents with low incomes may apply for a child care subsidy to help cover the basic space fee.
Who are Supported Child Development Consultants?
Supported Child Development Consultants are early childhood professionals with a background in early childhood development and specific training and education in working with young children with special needs and their families. They work collaboratively with parents, child care providers, infant development consultants, therapists, social workers, behavioural consultants, school district special education staff, nurses and any other partners who may be working with a young child with special needs and their family.
Advisory Committee
The local Supported Child Development Advisory Committee consists of parents of children receiving service, child care providers, an Infant Development Consultant, a social worker, school district staff, a representative of the Board of Directors of the Comox Valley Child Development Association and program staff. The committee meets monthly to review service guidelines, monitor budgets, plan for transitions, and guide service delivery.
Submitted by Kathy Yendall, Janet McCarthy, Kathy Cruickshank,Jennifer McInnes and Marika Gould: Supported Child Development Consultants
Forest Palumbo:Aboriginal Supported Child Development Consultant
250-338-4288
(Kathy Y. - Ext. 239, Janet/Marika - Ext. 224, Kathy C. - Ext. 230, Jennifer - Ext. 235, Forest - Ext. 227)
For more information on Supported Child Development, visit:
Ministry of Children and Family Development - Supported Child Development
