RCY-CYSN Research report highlights key components for CYSN service delivery – current FCC pilot model leaves more questions than answers
FSI calls CYSN to make funding available, equal and flexible for all children, youth and families
(February 24, 2023 – New Westminster, B.C.)—Family Support Institute (FSI) applauds and
welcomes the most recent RCY paper, “RCY-CYSN Research review Feb 2023”, where the
document outlines the six key components for effective CYSN service delivery. The report is
timely as the four pilot Family Connection Centre (FCC) sites have been launched around B.C.
this past month, leaving people to wonder how services will be delivered and whether there will
be funds to support the families in desperate need everywhere across our province, including
those who do not access the FCC pilot sites.
While the FSI is awaiting the unfolding of the FCC services for children and families, we
are also deeply concerned about the quality of government support programs and services
operating in the regions where no FCC pilot has been launched or for those who choose not to
join the pilots. Many questions still need to be answered, as the RCY report also succinctly
identifies, such as funding, access, service delivery, collaboration across ministry programs,
social workers’ qualifications, cultural or trauma-informed care, eligibility, and crisis response, to
name a few.
Due to these lingering questions, and those raised in the RCY report, FSI is asking for
more attention to systems improvements in the current MCFD model and a family-centred
approach that will reflect the real needs of the families in B.C. Unfortunately, the complex
consequences of completely overhauling the B.C. system for kids with neurodevelopmental
disabilities have yet to be adequately considered by the provincial government to date. The
RCY report captured the intricacies needed to begin the engagement process with families and
ensure we meet their needs starting from a place of engagement and deep listening, a process
skipped entirely when the Ministry first announced changes in October 2021.
“We stand beside families and their need for flexible, malleable care options,” says
Executive Director Angela Clancy. “Individuals and families are the ones we need to be listening
to. Families have a lot of great ideas, and there are things that they need to share that are
working well and should continue. However, some things are deeply troubling for them. We
need to stop and carefully listen to them, or else this system will continue to cause real harm to
people.”
Clancy also highlighted that respite services are critical in keeping families resilient and
strong while keeping kids out of care, employed and away from burnout. “Providing respite as
an essential service would be a good move,” says Clancy. “Respite is a way that families can
have a small break, provide some self-care, or even manage their daily tasks without
interruption. If families don’t have respite, the chances of breakdown are much higher.”
Inside the system, CYSN workers determining eligibility for respite has already been
deemed a fractured and unsafe aspect of the government bureaucracy. In addition, these
workers are closely linked to Child Protection, the system that removes children from their
homes. As a result, many families do not consider the CYSN office a safe place to ask for help,
and this may remain the case for many until child protection and CYSN are systemically
separated.
“Additionally, we have concerns and questions about funding for Nursing Support Services
and their role in the new framework. These families are also experiencing service delivery and
direct funding cuts, staffing shortages, and exclusion from many programs due to underfunding.
Yet, their needs are highly complex, and the risks to these families are significant”, said
Executive Director of FSI, Angela Clancy.
FSI stands firm that to meet the needs of the diversity of all children and families in B.C.,
the service offerings need to build on the principles of equity, choice, flexibility, and
family-centeredness, have a trauma-informed foundation, be culturally responsive in practice,
and be equally available in all geographic areas. A provision of family-centred care, cross-sector
collaboration and services customized to meet individual needs, all outlined in the RCY- CYSN
research report, matches the FSI belief system.
The time is now to engage deeply and listen to families firsthand about what they need,
what is working, and what needs to change.
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About Family Support Institute of BC:
The Family Support Institute (FSI) supports families who have family members with disabilities and mental health challenges. FSI is unique in Canada and is the only grass-roots, family-to-family peer support organization. FSI believes families are the best resource to support one another and the most vital voice for their family members. FSI supports all families with children of all ages, disabilities, and concurrent conditions. FSI’s supports are free to any family.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Angela Clancy
Executive Director
Family Support Institute of BC
(604) 540-8374 ext 524
Juliia Dynnyk
Communications Specialist
Family Support Institute of BC
