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.
Universal supports to promote inclusion and quality child care programming through training, mentorship, and workshops to child care providers. Please see our brochure for more information.
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.
Dependent on funding availability, direct funding to a child care centre to hire additional staff to support inclusion in child care.
The SCD Program has a variety of trainings including:
SCD consultants will work with child care operators to tailor a collaborative service block focusing on universal design and inclusion.
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.
(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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Child Care Resource and Referral - Victoria
Child Care Resource and Referral - Saanich Peninsula
Child Care Resource and Referral - Sooke/Westshore
Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB)
ACCB Special Needs Supplement Form
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.
There is a significant waitlist for SCD service. Priorities for SCD resources and services are based on Provincial SCD Policies and contract requirements of the Ministry of Children and Family Development and community specific priorities as determined by our Local Advisory Committee. Consideration is given to the child's age and whether the child's parents/guardians are working or going to school full-time.
To make a referral call:
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
