Child and Family Development and Support Services Definition
Purpose
Families participating in Child and Family Development and Support Services gain new competencies, improve child health and well-being, improve family functioning, and make family-community connections.
Definition
Child and Family Development and Support Services address the needs of the family as a whole and are based in the homes, neighbourhoods, and communities of families who need help promoting positive development, meeting challenges, and preventing adverse outcomes.
Currently viewing: CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES (CA-CFD)
Note: This section is designed to accommodate a variety of supportive programs for families and their children, including, but not limited to: (1) home visiting programs that deliver support services in families’ homes; (2) early intervention programs for children who have or are at risk for developmental delays; (3) parent education groups; and (4) parent/caregiver focussed intervention programs designed to address child protection issues and/or to reunify out-of-home children with their families. Out-of-home placements can include, but are not limited to, placements in: kinship care, foster care, psychiatric inpatient care, residential treatment, and youth justice facilities.
Organizations providing all other services will complete the following core concept standards relating to general service delivery: CA-CFD 1-5, and CA-CFD 11. They will also complete one or more of the following core concept standards, based on the services their programs provide: CA-CFD 6, CA-CFD 7, CA-CFD 8, CA-CFD 9, and CA-CFD 10. For example, a home visiting program that provides education and support services would complete CA-CFD 7 and CA-CFD 8, whereas a home visiting program that provides health services would complete CA-CFD 6.
Although organizations are only required to implement standards relevant for their program, it is important to: (1) recognize when families have needs or concerns the program is not prepared to address, and (2) connect those families with appropriate resources, services, and supports.
Note: Please see CA-CFD Reference List for a list of resources that informed the development of these standards.
Note:For information about changes made in the 2020 Edition, please see the CFD Crosswalk.