Child Protection Services - Four Key Stages
MCFD receives child protection reports on over 54,000 children each year (approximately 6% of the population, ages 0 to 18).
Child protection workers assess each report to determine if there is a child safety concern. After assessment, half of these children are determined to be safe (there is no protection concern).
About half of these children are assessed to have a protection concern. The ministry needs to manage these cases so these children are safe. These cases proceed to stage two.
For over 23,000 children in need of protection, evidence shows that, if safe to do so, it’s best for their well‑being to continue to live with their families.
Where ever possible MCFD provides families with services that address the child protection concerns so that they can provide a safe and stable home for their children.
In some situations parents may not be able to care safely for their children. MCFD then provides financial support to family or extended family who are willing and able to care for them.
In 2022/2023 after receiving services, 92.9% of children in need of protection are able to live safely with their families. This is the rate of family preservation.
However 7.1% of children in need of protection cannot stay with their family or extended family.
The 7.1% of children that are unable to remain with their parents or extended family are admitted to care and usually placed with a foster family.
MCFD's priority for these children is to find them a safe, stable, permanent home.
Permanency for children in care means safe reunification with family, adoption or permanent transfer of guardianship to extended family.
BC has the lowest number of children & youth in care in over 30 years because of performance improvements in family preservation and permanency.
Children and Youth in Care who achieved Permanency, Years since Admission into Care
Each year, around 800 young people transition from care or youth agreements to adulthood at age 19.
For these youth, MCFD’s priority is to prepare them for adulthood while in care.
As young people get ready to leave care, MCFD works with them to help form a plan for their future.
This can include providing financial support for career training, post-secondary education and life skills after they leave care as well as supporting activities that will help them adjust to adult life successfully.