What is the Family Connection Centre

The FCC provides individual and group prevention, treatment, and support services to help families with children and youth aged 0-19 reach their developmental goals. These children may have developmental support needs, be neurodivergent, or have disabilities.

Our focus is on improving families’ quality of life by fostering inclusion and independence, while increasing access to a wide range of supportive therapies and community resources. Depending on your child’s needs, they can receive a broad selection of services through the FCC.

We offer developmental monitoring and consultation, educational workshops, and parenting support groups, as well as help connecting with community resources.

For children and families needing more intensive or frequent support, the FCC also provides goal-oriented programs that integrate multiple therapies and services.

The FCC is based on needs, and your child does not need to have a diagnosis to access services. 

Developmental Services

The purpose of this service is to provide a low-barrier connection to a family when developmental concerns have been raised. Education and guidance provide an important ‘gateway’ for families to further screening and, if needed, developmental monitoring.

These services include Developmental Monitoring, Community Connection Support, and Inclusive Childcare (formally known as Support Child Development.)

Developmental Services

Developmental Consultants at the FCC support infants and young children 0-9 years with identified or potential developmental delays by implementing strategies and appropriate therapies. This includes:

  • Conduct home visits to assess development, collaborate with parents, and create plans to support optimal growth.
  • Monitoring progress and providing guidance tailored to each child's needs.
  • Applying expertise in early childhood development, including typical and atypical growth, and local support resources and services.

Developmental Consultants support Circle of Security parenting classes, Infant massage, and other parenting support classes.

Inclusive Child Care Consultation at the FCC supports children in childcare settings by:

  • Assessing the needs of the child or youth alongside their families.
  • Collaborating with childcare providers and families to develop and monitor strategies for full participation in inclusive childcare.
  • Determining if additional staffing support is needed and allocating appropriate hours.
  • Assisting with the transition to kindergarten by coordinating with families, childcare providers, and the school district.
  • Providing childcare programs with capacity-building services, including practical professional learning opportunities to strengthen inclusive care practices.

Inclusive Child Care formally known as Supported Child Development

Community Connections assists families with children from birth to age 19 in accessing community resources and serving as liaisons for programs. They work closely with families, the FCC team, and community partners to strengthen family capacity and engagement in their children’s needs.

CCAs provide a range of supports, including:

  • Strengthening family capacity and self-advocacy skills
  • Helping families navigate community programs and resources
  • Providing one-on-one and group support
  • Assisting with paperwork (e.g., childcare subsidy, child tax)
  • Arranging transportation and accompanying families to appointments when needed
  • Problem-solving and connecting families to other services in the community

We work to identify and address gaps, barriers, and challenges in the community while helping families access services, funding (e.g., travel and equipment grants), and connections to CYSN Disability Services, and other programs around the province.

Goal Based Services

Goal Focused Services are intended to support children, youth and their families work towards them unique goals that support their overall quality of life. All services will be provided in the context of the child or youth and their family and circle of support. A child or youth and their family can access Goal Focused Services if they have an identified need for support, developmental delay or disability.

These services include Behaviour Support, Child and Youth Care, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy

Goal Based Services

Behaviour Support Services (BSS) help children and youth with behavior, social, and emotional development. These services guide families in managing behaviors while building positive skills.

  • Behaviour Support – Strategies to manage challenging behaviors and encourage positive interactions.
  • Emotional Regulation – Helping children express emotions in healthy ways.
  • Social Skills – Supporting communication and building relationships.
  • Daily Routines & Transitions – Assisting with schedules and adapting to changes.
  • Family Coaching – Providing tools to support development at home, school, and in the community.

Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCWs) support children and youth with developmental needs by using strategies and therapies from supervising professionals. They can help with:

  • Developmental Support – Building essential life skills.
  • Behaviour & Emotional Regulation – Managing emotions and behaviors.
  • Social Skills – Encouraging positive interactions and friendships.
  • Routine & Transition Support – Adapting to changes in daily activities.
  • Family & Community Collaboration – Working with caregivers, therapists, and educators for consistent support.

Occupational Therapy (OT) helps children build skills for everyday life, learning, and play, such as:

  • Hand & Body Movements – Use utensils, button clothes, run, and jump.
  • Sensory Skills – Helping kids handle sounds, textures, and movement so they can focus and join in activities.
  • Self-Care Skills – Practicing dressing, eating, and using the toilet on their
  • Social & Play Skills – Learning to play and interact with other kids.

Physical Therapy (PT) helps children improve their strength, movement, and coordination for everyday activities, such as:

  • Big Movements – Learning to sit, crawl, walk, run, and jump.
  • Posture & Body Positioning – Helping kids sit, stand, and move comfortably.
  • Mobility & Equipment Use – Teaching kids to use walkers or wheelchairs if needed.
  • Active Play & Participation – Encouraging movement and play to join in at home, and in the community.

Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) helps children with communication and social skills such as:

  • Speech Sounds – Making sounds clearly.
  • Language Skills – Understanding and using words.
  • Social Communication – Learning to take turns and understand emotions.
  • Fluency – Speaking smoothly and confidently.