MCFD CYSN Services and Job Action Updates

*This article has been copied in full from a document provided by the Ministry. We’re sharing it here in a more accessible format.

Ministry of Children and Family Development CYSN Services and Job Action Updates

Issue: The ongoing job action has caused delays in many government services, including Specialized Provincial Services (SPS) branch — At Home Program, Autism funding programs, and Autism information Services and CYSN Workers.

Update as of October 17, 2025

• The Ministry recognizes that ongoing job action and reduced staffing levels are causing delays in processing Autism Funding and At Home Program requests. We understand this is creating frustration and uncertainty for families and service providers.
• While these delays are challenging, Autism Funding, At Home Program, and Autism Information Services remain operational, and supports for children and youth continue. The Ministry is focused on maintaining operations and addressing impacts as capacity allows.
• The At Home Program continues to ensure timely admissions, maintaining access to medical equipment and provision of supplies for children with complex medical needs. These requests continue to be addressed with urgency.
• The Ministry knows that timely access to intervention services is important for children and families. While delays can be stressful and disruptive, they are temporary, and staff are working to ensure children continue to have access to the supports they need during and after job action.
• Service components delivered by mail, including reimbursement cheques and authorization or confirmation letters, continue to experience delays due to the Canada Post service disruption and ongoing BCGEU job action.
• MCFD leadership is actively redeploying excluded staff from across the Ministry to support ongoing operations and add capacity to ensure families are getting the best possible service during this challenging time.

What families can expect:

• All current authorizations remain valid, and families do not need to pay up front for authorized services.
• New authorizations and renewals are being received but will take longer to complete.
• To support families, the Ministry will ensure that a period of grace is provided where processing delays have impacted access to services. The grace period will depend on the length of job action and will ensure that families are not disadvantaged by circumstances outside their control. For example, if a family’s renewal or new authorization was delayed during job action, staff will work with them to adjust timelines.
• New Autism Funding applications continue to be accepted and will be honoured based on the date received. This is particularly important for families whose children are transitioning from the Under-6 Program or approaching the age limit for Autism Funding, to ensure that no child/youth loses access to funding or services due to processing delays. Staff will work with families to adjust timelines to ensure families are not disadvantaged by circumstances outside their control.
• To help us with efficient processing, we ask that families do not submit duplicate requests or send multiple emails about the same request marked “urgent.” Duplicate submissions slow down response times for everyone.
  • If you’ve already submitted a request (e.g., an invoice, authorization, or renewal), please wait for a response rather than resending.
  • If you need to add information, reply to the original message/thread so everything stays together.
  • If a situation becomes urgent after submission, update the same request/email thread with “urgent” in the subject line, rather than starting a new email.
• Once job action is completed, staff are prepared to work through all pending requests in the order they were received and to focus on restoring normal timelines as quickly as possible.
• The Ministry remains in close contact with sector partners to monitor impacts and ensure families continue to receive the supports they depend on, even as operations adjust.
• We understand this situation is stressful, but families can be reassured that services remain and staff are continuing to process requests as quickly and as fairly as possible.

What service providers can expect:

• The Ministry values the important role service providers play in supporting children and families across the province. We recognize that delays in processing invoices and authorizations are also affecting your work and operations.
• Existing authorizations remain valid, and payments will continue to be issued directly to service providers once processed.
• Invoices submitted through the electronic service provider portal continue to be received and paid, though processing times are significantly impacted.
• Invoices sent by fax or email are also being accepted but will take longer to process.
• New service provider requests and authorization updates are being received and logged but will be completed once staffing levels return to normal.
• When job action concludes, staff will work through all pending invoices and requests in the order received to restore normal timelines as quickly as possible.
• The Ministry asks that service providers not submit duplicate invoices or multiple follow-up emails about the same request, as this can contribute to further delays.
• We sincerely appreciate the patience, professionalism, and partnership of the service community during this time. Your help in sharing accurate information with families and reassuring them that programs remain operational makes a meaningful difference.
• We also thank you for your efforts to help reduce families’ stress by reinforcing that these delays are temporary and that supports will continue. The Ministry remains committed to working collaboratively to ensure families have continued access to the services they rely on as operations stabilize.

Update as of October 8 2025

Prepared for: CYSN Sector Partners, Advocates, and Families

Issue: The ongoing job action has caused delays in many government services, including Specialized Provincial Services (SPS) branch — At Home Program, Autism funding programs, and Autism information Services and CYSN Workers.

What Families Need to know:

• The well-being of children remains top priority and ensuring uninterrupted access to the support they need is essential.
• While the ongoing strike has affected timelines for some government services, the At Home Program, Autism Funding Programs, and Autism Information Services continue to operate. Processing times are currently longer as Specialized Provincial Services manages reduced staffing levels, but there are no program closures.
• At Home Program continues, ensuring timely admissions, access to equipment, and provision of supplies for children with complex medical needs. These requests are addressed with urgency.
• For autism funding programs, all pre-authorizations remain valid, and service providers continue to be paid directly by the Ministry. Families do not need to pay in front of authorized services, and requests for new authorizations for children with complex needs are being prioritized. In addition, electronic payments are being processed.
• Service components delivered by mail, including reimbursement cheques and authorization or confirmation letters, are currently experiencing delays due to the Canada Post service disruption and ongoing BCGEU job action.
• Autism Information Services (AIS) — There is messaging on the call line that provides families with clear information on how to proceed for urgent, and time sensitive matters and information sessions provided by AIS are temporarily paused until after job action has come to resolution.
• We understand delays are stressful. Even small disruptions can be challenging for families. Ministry staff are working to keep services running and minimize delays during job action.

What does this mean?

• The At Home Program
  • At Home Program continues, ensuring timely admissions, access to equipment, and provision of supplies for children with complex medical needs. We remain committed to maintaining continuity of support and these requests are addressed with urgency.
  • The Product Distribution Centre (PDC) is experiencing job action; processing times may be impacted as operations adjust, but service continuity remains a priority.
  •  Processing of School Age Extended Therapy Benefits are impacted by job action.
  • Messaging on the call line provides families with clear information on how to proceed with urgent and time-sensitive matters.
  • Families with urgent requests can email the At Home Program inbox with the subject line “urgent,” which is being monitored by essential staff to ensure a timely response.
• Autism Funding
  • Currently, staff are monitoring incoming urgent requests, but processing times are significantly impacted.
  • Current authorizations remain in place.
  • Invoices will continue to be filed as normal through the My Family Services portal.
  • Authorized providers should submit their invoices when services are completed; AF will process the payment but should expect delays.
• Autism Information Services (AIS)
  • Autism Information Services phone line is unavailable with messaging that provides families with clear information on how to proceed for urgent and time sensitive matters.
  • Information sessions provided by AIS/AF are temporarily suspended.
• Children and Youth with Support Needs Workers
  • CYSN workers remain available to families but are operating with reduced capacity. Staff are prioritizing timely service to maintain access to eligibility information, support planning, and service navigation, though reduced staffing may affect the immediate availability of social workers.
  • To find contact information for a Children and Youth with Support Needs (CYSN) worker in British Columbia, you should contact the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) by calling 1-800-663-7867, emailing [email protected], or contacting your local child and family services office.

What’s next?

• When job action ends, requests will be processed in the date order received and staff will be redeployed to priority work to return to normal processing timelines as soon as we can.
• AHP Medical Benefits’ equipment, supplies and new intakes are being prioritized, meaning those with highest need are being served.
• Following the completion of the job action policy will be reviewed to leverage opportunities to ensure families receive the support needed.