Comparing AFU and FCCs

Disclaimer*: This blog post has been updated in accordance with the AutismBC 2025 Communication Guide. Any mentions of “respite” have been changed to “caregiver wellbeing support” as part of our commitment to nurturing safe and inclusive spaces through language. Support for caregivers to take time for themselves— to rest, restore balance, and care for their own well-being. It offers space to reconnect with what nourishes them—whether that’s family, community, culture, or personal healing—so they can continue to care for others in a good way. We use this term instead of “respite,” which can carry a negative implication about disability and disabled people.

Across British Columbia there are four Family Connections Centres (FCC) in Central Okanagan/Kelowna, Haida Gwaii/Prince Rupert, Terrace/Kitimat, and Bulkley Valley/Stikine. These were introduced as pilot projects to see how successful they were in each community while keeping autism funding (AFU) still in place for those families with autistic children. 

There has been a lot of confusion over these FCCs, so we put together a blog to put all the information we have gathered in one place. There has been a lot of worry that in March 2025, if you live in one of the areas with an FCC, you will be forced to transition away from AFU to the FCC. That is false. Nothing like that has been officially implemented. That was the original plan back in 2019, but that has since changed. 

In March 2025, the public will have access to the findings of MNP’s open houses conducted throughout the FCC regions at the end of 2024. These will help shape the FCCs and services for all children and youth with support needs moving forward. Once the report comes out, AutismBC will release our thoughts on it.  

About FCCs 

The FCCs were created to be a “one-stop shop” for families. The thought was families needing services would go to the FCC and they would help them find all the services they may need, as opposed to the current system where the family must find the services on their own. 

The FCCs have two streams: developmental and goal-focused.  

The developmental stream allows families access to: 

• A Developmental Generalist that will focus on connecting, consulting, and education 

• They will help families navigate supports including ones outside the FCC 

• Access to parent workshops or groups 

• Functional assessments 

• No group-based services for children and youth 

• This stream is less intense and more focused on assistance in accessing outside services 

The goal-focused stream allows families access to: 

• Everything in the developmental stream 

• These are more intensive services where families will work with: 

• • Intake and Care Coordinators 

• • Family Support Workers 

• • Behaviour Support 

• • Group and individual services 

• • Recreational, life, and social skills groups 

• Partner agencies provide services such as: 

• • Speech-language pathologist services (SLP) 

• • Occupational therapist services (OT) 

• • Physiotherapist services (PT) 

Something worth noting within the goal-focused stream is that the coordinators and clinicians dictate how much service your child receives. All children and youth start with ten blocks of a service, then they reevaluate. At that time, they may stop that service and transition the child to a group setting instead. The services received are based on the child’s and family’s goals and reassessed at 6 months. (Okanagan FCC Handbook, 2024). 

The services at the FCC are organized by the Intake Care Coordinators. They assist families in finding what services they need and connecting them with the correct providers in their network. They facilitate and coordinate referrals for the family. 

The FCC offers developmental, behaviour, and family support services, as well as recreational life and social skills groups in one place. They offer support for those looking for, or navigating, a new diagnosis, and offer education on diagnoses.  

Behaviourally, they create a Positive Behaviour Support Plan (PBSP), which they refine over time. They want to “reduce and replace concerning behaviours with positive functional alternatives” (Okanagan FCC Handbook, 2024) and develop new skills. They utilize Behaviour Consultants, Specialists, and Interventionists to assist with this. 

With family support, they try to strengthen the family’s circle of support, identify any barriers to supports, and provide practical help. 

About AFU 

For those of you unfamiliar with AFU, here is some basic info to help you out. “Funding helps families pay for services that promote skill development for their child – communication, social-emotional, academic and life skills. Only specific services and therapies qualify for funding” (How much funding is available, Government of BC, 2025). 

For children under age six, they will receive up to $22,000 per year for each child and this may only be used for: 

• Professionals listed on the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) 

• Behaviour interventionists (BI) who are supervised by a RASP professional 

• Administrative costs related to managing service providers, up to $100 monthly (e.g. paying a bookkeeper) 

• Costs related to employing a service provider – for example, vacation pay, income tax, Canada Pension Plan or Employment Insurance benefits, and WorkSafeBC premiums 

• Family counselling/therapy 

• Beginning April 1, 2021: Family counselling/therapy is an eligible expense for Autism Funding: Under Age 6 

• Family counselling/therapy providers do not need to be listed on the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP). The following professionals may be eligible to provide family counselling/therapy services: 

• Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC) 

• Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) 

• Registered Marriage and Family Therapists (RMFT) 

• Registered Psychiatrists 

• Registered Psychologists 

• Registered Social Workers (RSW)/Registered Clinical Social Workers (RCSW) 

• Please contact Autism Funding or Autism Information Services BC if you require more information. 

For children and youth aged 6 to 18, up to $6,000 per year for each child can be used for: 

• Behaviour consultants or analysts, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists or physical therapists  

• Behaviour interventionists (BI) (should be supervised by a professional listed above) 

• Life skills and social skills programs 

• Out-of-school learning support that’s not part of a regular school program – for example, support and tutoring that takes places outside of school hours, speech-language therapy, or behaviour consultation 

• Dietary counselling from a registered dietician 

• Family counselling/therapy 

• Specialized therapeutic activities and camps designed for children with autism 

• Interventions outlined in a letter of recommendation from an eligible professional (written pre-approval from the Autism Funding Branch is recommended) 

• Administrative costs related to managing service providers – up to $50 monthly to pay a bookkeeper or $600 per funding period for direct payment accountant fees 

• Costs related to employing a service provider – for example, vacation pay, income tax, Canada Pension Plan or Employment Insurance benefits, and WorkSafeBC premiums 

FAQ — FCC vs AFU 

Here are some FAQs we’ve come across at AutismBC: 

Does the FCC offer culturally appropriate/sensitive care and support, and if so, what does that look like? 

Despite their clear differences, both the FCCs and AFU strive to provide culturally appropriate and sensitive care and support. The FCCs do this through acknowledging the child’s and family’s culture in their support plan. Their background and cultural needs are taken into consideration when creating their program. 

The Developmental Generalist at the FCC must “[d]emonstrate knowledge of the stages of early childhood development including typical and atypical growth and development; Indigenous culture and issues, and local early childhood development/ support resources and services” (Family Connections Centre: Service Expectations & Description, p. 23). 

When using AFU, you have choices, so you may use culturally appropriate providers where available. 

Can you still access the FCC and keep autism funding? 

This is a great question and one that is asked often. If you currently have AFU, you can use the FCC’s developmental stream. You can also leave AFU and try the FCC exclusively, and go back to using AFU, once. See this document for more info: AFU to FCC and Back

Do you need to go to the FCC? 

No. If you live in one of the four pilot areas you can choose to keep using your AFU or the FCC. 

 What does caregiver wellbeing support look like with the FCCs? 

The FCCs do not directly provide caregiver wellbeing support. According to Kelly Singler of CYSN, here are the details of caregiver wellbeing support for the Central Okanagan Pilot Area specifically: 

“Direct Funded Respite remains available through CYSN Disability Services in the Central Okanagan Pilot Area. Caregiver wellbeing support funding is not available at the Family Connection Centre. Families in the Pilot area who are eligible for Disability Services may receive caregiver wellbeing support. The intent of Disability Services caregiver wellbeing support is to contribute to child or youth and family quality of life, reduce overall family stress, and build family capacity. The family’s needs and support plan are considered in determining the allocation of caregiver wellbeing support funding. 

a)     Standard Direct Funded Respite* (DFR)  

• Payment of funding directly to parents or caregiver of the child. 

• The maximum annual amount for standard DFR is $ 4,135.56. 

• This funding can be used flexibly, meaning families decide how to use DFR, so they may pay for supports and services they determine to be culturally safe and best meet their goals. 

• Examples of how families may choose to use their funding: Caregiver wellbeing support provider, summer camps, recreational activities, housekeeping, support with meal preparation and grocery shopping. 

b) Caregiver Specific Direct Funded Respite *(DFR)

• Families with exceptional needs may qualify for Caregiver Specific DFR. In this situation, funding may be provided over the Standard DFR amount. 

• Must be used to hire a person to provide caregiver wellbeing support, pay for summer camps, and/or recreation-based and/or skills-based programs  

c) Families may also receive specialized caregiver wellbeing support services through Specialized Homes and Support Services (SHSS)  

• This would be overnight care through a staffed agency/resource or foster home” 

What, if anything, is the impact of using the FCC on assessments? 

The FCC can actually assist with assessments. They cannot complete an autism assessment, but they are able to assist with filling out the required forms and can help families understand the process. Once diagnosed with autism, they will suggest you stay with the FCC over taking AFU, but that is a personal choice. 

The FCC does conduct other assessments, however. They can do functional assessments, record observations, and help with the ASQ questionnaire. 

Chart Comparing FCC and AFU Offerings 

*BC Gov webpage — Purchase Equipment or Supplies

** Central Okanagan FCC Program Handbook

*** BC Gov webpage — K-12 Funding – Inclusive Education