The Supported Child Development Program

picture of smiling baby being propped up from behind by a young woman with long brown hair looking over the baby's left shoulder

Funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the Supported Child Development (SCD) Program, part of Island Health’s Child Youth and Family Rehabilitation Services, works with child care providers and families to facilitate inclusion in group child care for children with developmental delays or disabilities.

We collaborate with families, therapy teams, child care providers and community partners. We are a team of child care professionals who have experience with, and a strong commitment, to the practice of inclusion.  

What we do

CAPACITY BUILDING

Universal supports to promote inclusion and quality child care programming through training, mentorship, and workshops to child care providers.  

CHILD CENTRED CONSULTANT SERVICE

SCD consultants gather information from families, child care providers, community partners, as well as through observation of the child in the child care setting. SCD consultants make child specific recommendations to support the child’s inclusion in their child care setting. Consultants may provide resources, learning opportunities, equipment and inclusion strategies to the program staff.

ENHANCED RATIO SUPPORT FUNDING

Dependent on funding availability, direct funding to a child care centre to hire additional staff to support inclusion in child care.  

How to access services

WORKSHOPS

The SCD Program has a variety of trainings including:

  • supporting children with anxiety
  • self-regulation
  • self-care
  • planning for inclusion
  • understanding autism
  • positive behaviour supports  

TRAINING

SCD consultants will work with child care operators to tailor a collaborative service block focusing on universal design and inclusion.

RESOURCES

The SCD Program has a variety of materials and learning resources for loan. Your SCD consultant may also provide you with visuals and other tools for inclusion.

To enquire about individual training opportunities, our collaborative service blocks or lending materials, please call 250-519-6961 or your SCD consultant. 

EARLY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

(September to June) – Four year olds, in their year before Kindergarten, in licensed preschool settings can access child centred consultant service. Enhanced ratio support funding may be available. Referrals are accepted starting in February of the child’s four year old year. (We are currently taking referrals for children born in 2020.)

CHILD CARE AND OUT OF SCHOOL CARE

For families whose parents/guardians are working or going to school during regular child care hours. Child centred consultant service and enhanced ratio support funding may be available dependent resources available. (The SCD prioritizes four year olds in their pre-K year. All four year olds in a licensed preschool or full day child care program will be eligible for child centred consultant service.)

To make a referral please call 250-519-6763 or 250-519-6967.

SPRING AND SUMMER BREAKS 

School Age Care – inclusion support grants provided directly to out of school care and day camp programs in the community to hire enhanced ratio staffing. Families register their school aged children (kindergarten to 12 years old) directly with camp programs and inform them of their inclusion needs. Programs work with families to determine availability and levels of support needed.

Referral or SCD program involvement is not required.

Programs that have Spring and Summer Inclusion Grants for 2024 - 2025:

  • Beacon Community Services (Otter Be Fun and Beacon Nature Club)
  • BGC of South Vancouver Island
  • Braefoot Community Association
  • Burnside Gorge Community Centre
  • Campus View Child Care
  • Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare (PSP Camps)
  • City of Victoria
  • Cloverdale Out of School Care
  • Doncaster Oakcrest Childcare
  • Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group
  • Friends of Tiggers
  • Goosey Gander Kindergarten Association
  • Happy Campers Child Care Ltd.
  • His Kids
  • James Bay Community School Society
  • Keating Out of School Care
  • Kidspace  
  • Lux Mundi OSC - Christ Church Cathedral
  • Maria Montessori Academy
  • Oak Bay Parks and Recreation
  • Oaklands Community Association
  • Pacific Heart
  • Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE) Society
  • Panorama Recreation Center
  • Percy’s Clubhouse
  • Quadra Village Community Child Care
  • Raccoon Den Child Care
  • Saanich Parks & Recreation
  • Seedlings Forest Education
  • Sir James Douglas OOSC
  • St Patrick's Elementary Summer Program
  • Summer Breeze Child Care
  • Sunshine OSC
  • The Cridge Centre for the Family
  • University of Victoria – Vikes Athletics & Recreation and Science Venture
  • Vancouver Island Kids Klub Society
  • Victoria West Community Association
  • West Shore Parks & Recreation
  • Westmont Montessori
  • YMCA-YWCA of Greater Victoria (Camp Thunderbird Day Camp Programs)

Grant applications will be available in early 2025 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and are dependent on available resources. For more information please call 250-519-6961.

TEEN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS (TCC) 

Contracted by SCD, Community Living Victoria provides after school, spring and summer break programs for CYSN eligible youth aged 12 to 19. To learn more about TCC, visit this page or call 250-477-7231 ext. 237.

Community Partners

Aboriginal Supported Child Development
Victoria Native Friendship Centre - 250-384-3211

Community Living Victoria
250-477-7231 ext. 237

Island Metis Family and Community Services Society
250-391-9924 or reception@metis.ca

Resources

Child Care Resource and Referral - Victoria
Child Care Resource and Referral - Sooke/Westshore
Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB)
ACCB Special Needs Supplement Form
 

General Information on The Supported Child Development Program

Referral Required?
Required
How to get a Referral

The Supported Child Development Program has an open referral process.

Families and care providers or health care professionals with parent/guardian permission may refer any child or youth from birth to 19 years with a developmental delay or disability who is attending child care or is waitlisted for a child care space. Priorities for SCD resources and services take into consideration the child's age and whether the child's parents/guardians are working or going to school full-time.

To make a referral call:

Contact Us

Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health
2400 Arbutus Road
Victoria, B.C.
V8N 1V7

Supported Child Development Administrative Assistant
250-519-6961
scd_programsupport@islandhealth.ca

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