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FAQ & Resource Links
Children and families receive what they need to thrive.
Autism Information Services British Columbia - After Your Child’s Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quick Start Guide Ages 0-5 | Ages 6-12 | Ages 13-18
Bear Essentials Program
A family support program that assists with the costs of health-related travel and equipment for Island kids.
BC Association for Child Development & Intervention - as a non-profit, accredited agency who is a dedicated and passionate provider of services to children, youth, and families, the CVCDA is a BCACDI member agency.
Children and youth with support needs - Connect with programs and service providers who can help families on their journey to support each child or young person in their lives.
Community Living BC - funds supports and services to adults with developmental disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and who also have significant difficulty doing things on their own. To see if you or your family member might be eligible, visit the Am I Eligible for CLBC Support?
Health Services List (Ages 0-5)
This document lists local, provincial and online health resources for families with young children.
Local Resource Guide for Women and Families with mental health and/or substance use challenges in pregnancy and with babies up to 2 years of age.
Ministry of Children & Family Development - The Ministry supports the well-being of children, youth and families in British Columbia by providing services that are accessible, inclusive, and culturally respectful.
Is there any cost for your programs?
Most of the programs at CVCDA are fully funded, this means there is no cost for families. Our Autism Program (TAP), for children with a diagnosis of ASD, charges a fee equivalent to the amount funded by government. Jumpstart Preschool charges a fee. Low and middle income families may be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit.
If I want to refer one of my other children or if someone I know wants to refer their child, do we need to get a referral?
No, we take referrals from many sources, especially from parents! You do not need another person to refer you, just give us a call or stop in to fill out a referral form. In fact, we encourage families to use “word of mouth” to tell others about our services. If you are not sure what service is appropriate, April, our Family Advocate is happy to speak with you.
Once my child is involved with services, are we committed to receiving services for a certain length of time?
No, we practise Family Centred Service. This means that families make decisions about the services they receive. It is always your choice whether you wish to be involved with our programs. However we do encourage families to be involved as long as it benefits their child.
Will my child be diagnosed or “labelled” if they get involved with your services?
We do not diagnose children or label them. Some of the children we serve have a diagnosis but this is something a doctor or paediatrician has given them. If you are concerned your child may need to have a diagnosis, please speak with your doctor or one of our service providers for more information.
I have an appointment time booked but I may have to reschedule it, what should I do?
Please call us as soon as you know you will need to cancel or re‐book an appointment. For this reason we encourage you to always take note of the name of the person you are scheduling an appointment with. We appreciate as much advance notice as possible, and under our cancellation policy, our service providers also follow the same procedure and will give you as much notice as possible if they must reschedule an appointment.
I am having a hard time with the fact that my child may have challenges or need extra help. Do you have any suggestions?
You are not alone. While many parents look forward to getting support for their child it can also be an emotional time. We encourage parents to speak with their doctor about their concerns. Our service providers are also good people to discuss your concerns with. You may also wish to call one of our Parent to Parent supports. These are parents who have been involved with our services and are available as a resource for others.
You may also find one of our CVCDA or other community groups a helpful resource.
ABA
Applied Behavioural Analysis
ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder
BCACDI
BC Association for Child Development & Intervention
CLBC
Community Living BC
CYSN
Children and Youth with Special Needs
ECE
BC Association for Child Development & Intervention
HSW
Human Service Worker
MCFD
Ministry of Children & Family Development
SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
Connect with Family Advocate
To get started with any of our CVCDA Services speak with April Statz.
