Sort by
Alphabetical
Categories
ONE TO ONE offers programming across B.C. that leverages the power of one-to-one connections to help children develop literacy skills and reading confidence – at no cost to schools or families. Come Read with Me (CRWM) is an interactive workshop facilitated by a ONE TO ONE educator, designed to give parents and caregivers the opportunity to learn positive reading strategies to support their children at home.
Pacific Post Partum Support Society (PPPSS) provides a variety of free or low-cost programs for those experiencing a difficult pregnancy or postpartum adjustment, including postpartum depression and anxiety (PPD/A) including fathers/partners and LGBTQ+ families. Their website is rich with videos and other resources, and they offer free telephone and text message support and weekly support groups.
VICCIR provides mental health counselling to immigrants and refugees living in Canada. They offer their services on a sliding fee scale, based on clients' ability to pay. They work with specially trained interpreters as required.
**MEETING ONLINE.** Come meet parents, caregivers, and close adult family members of trans, gender non-conforming, and Two-Spirit children, youth, and young adults. This group is facilitated by trans adults who are experienced working with trans children, youth, and parents and caregivers.
This online guide provides ideas and suggestions about dental hygiene, preparing for visits to the dentist, and general care, for families with special needs children and teens.
The Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not for profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI is unique in Canada and the only grass roots family-to-family organization with a broad volunteer base. FSI’s supports and services are FREE to any family.
ACT is a not-for-profit society that provides evidence-based information resources and training for the autism community. Their goal is to enable parents, professionals, and paraprofessionals to support children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder to live productive, satisfying lives, but much of their information is relevant across neurodiversities.
ACT’s Autism Manual for B.C. is a manual for Living and Working with Children and Adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Community organizations and parents are welcome to print the relevant sections of the manual for easy reference. If you have corrections or updates, please email info@actcommunity.ca
Community Options for Children and Families is a welcoming, innovative organization that provides a wide range of services to people with developmental disabilities, their families, and their caregivers on South Vancouver Island. We work in partnership with other organizations, individuals, and government to ensure the inclusion of all people in our community.
Autism Information Services British Columbia (AIS BC) is a provincial information centre for autism and related disorders that provides information and supports to families, service providers, and community professionals across B.C. Their experienced staff are available by phone, in person, or by email to explain the range of best practice treatment options for autism spectrum disorder to help you navigate the BC service system.
Working with families, the Supported Child Development Program (SCDP) provides consultation, extra staffing supports and staff training to child care providers and early childhood educators.
This program provides speech and language services to infants, toddlers and preschool children. To receive services, children must: have only speech and/or language delays or disorders, and be preschool aged – not yet eligible for kindergarten. Speech-language assessments and treatment are offered at the five regional public health units located in Victoria, Saanich, Esquimalt, West Shore and the Peninsula. Visit the website to contact the Health Unit closest to you.
The Queen Alexandra for Orthotics, Prosthetics and Seating helps people of all ages overcome physical disabilities and mobility challenges. They offer the widest range of accredited orthotic, prosthetic and seating assessments, in-house manufacturing facilities, and fitting services on Vancouver Island.
BC211 connects people to the community, government and social services they need. You can call or text 2-1-1 any day of the week, between 8 AM and 11PM. They offer confidential, multi-lingual, and texting services. You can also chat online.
La Leche League Canada is a registered charity that provides peer support for pregnant women/parents, new moms/parents and beyond. They are parents who have breastfed or chestfed their children and now volunteer to support others to reach their goals. They believe that nobody knows your baby or family better than you and that everyone deserves the right circle of support in which to raise their children.
The Westshore "1000 X 5" Children’s Book Recycling Project was started in September 2012. Through this initiative, gently-used children’s picture books are collected from the community, screened for suitability, counted, labelled, sorted, and bagged for distribution to young children (birth-5 years) and their families in the Westshore. Each week, a small, but dedicated, group of volunteers screen, sort, clean and package gift bags of books for distribution by local family serving agencies in the Westshore area.
Island Sexual Health offers information on pregnancy, testing, options and decision making. They are are a pro-choice organization that offers non-biased, factual, and comprehensive information equally on all options available in Canada. They believe a pregnant person has the ability and right to make the best decision for themselves when they are given objective, non biased information. You can make an appointment for more information and support. The Victoria Clinic is located at #101-3960 Quadra Street
The centre helps immigrants, refugees, new Canadian citizens, and visible minorities settle and adapt into new lives in Greater Victoria. Their mission is to assist in the settlement and adjustment of immigrants and refugees in Canada, and to provide services designed to increase the newcomer's participation in Canadian society, by assisting the newcomer to overcome barriers.
The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) helps individuals and organizations to connect across cultures. We provide information, support and tools to help immigrants and refugees reach their goals. By engaging people through networks, education, employment, and arts programming we create a welcoming community. Their main office is located at 808 Douglas Street, Suite 102
The Compassionate Friends is an international, non-profit, non-denominational, self-help organization, offering friendship, understanding, grief education and HOPE for the future to all families who have experienced the death of a child at any age, from any cause. They aid in the positive reconciliation of grief and foster the physical and emotional health of parents and their surviving children as well as provide information and education about the grief of bereaved parents and their surviving children.
They are a non-profit, free, and confidential service that connects the public to grief support services within the province of BC. Whether you are looking for bereavement support groups, community events, information on BC Bereavement Day, information on how to donate or to volunteer with them, you will find it on their site. Please call the BC Bereavement Helpline and speak with one of their caring volunteers for information on their bereavement support groups, agencies, and peer-based support.
Discover Victoria literacy events and browse their curated digital resources to help guide you across your learning journey!
When it comes to maternal, child and family health, FNHA’s approach is health and wellness now and into the future for the whole family. This family-focused approach supports important areas like: Healthy relationships, Sexual health, Family planning, Healthy pregnancies, Optimal birth experiences, Parent and guardian health, Early childhood development, Child safety.
The ACCRR program staff work in partnership with Indigenous families and communities on and off reserve and in urban settings throughout the province. Their goal is to increase the availability and accessibility of high quality child care resources and services that support the needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and families.
ASCD programs are designed to ensure cultural safety and cultural sensitivity for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children and families. ASCD services are provided for children who require extra support in the following areas: physical development, cognitive development, communicative development, social/emotional development and behaviour.
The Doulas for Aboriginal Families Grant Program (DAFGP) is offered by the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, First Nations Health Authority, and the BC Ministry of Health. The goal of the program is to increase healthy birth outcomes for Indigenous families by removing the cost barrier to accessing doula services.
If you think a child or youth under 19 years of age is being abused or neglected, you have the legal duty to report your concern to a child welfare worker. Phone 1 800 663-9122 at any time of the day or night. Your call will be answered by the Provincial Centralized Screening team (PCS) and their primary role is to receive and assess child protection reports and initial requests for ministry service across the province, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If a child is in immediate danger, call police (call 9-1-1 or your local police) to intervene and a child protection social worker should be contacted to determine whether the child is in need of protection.
The Children’s Oral Health Initiative (COHI) is an early childhood tooth decay prevention program aimed at children aged 0 to 7, their caregivers and pregnant women living on-reserve or accessing on-reserve resources. The goal of the initiative is to improve oral health and well-being. COHI aims promote a lifetime of oral health by preventing tooth decay, treating and restoring teeth that already have tooth decay, improving oral health knowledge, changing oral health–related behaviours and reducing the number of First Nations children that require general anesthesia for dental surgeries.
One-on-one consultation for at-risk pregnant women and parents with infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Smiles First provides assessment and skill building for parents to understand factors that increase the risk of dental disease, and learn ways to reduce risk. Visual screening can identify early stages of decay, and fluoride varnish or dental referral is provided as needed. This services is available at all health units and some community locations. Contact your local Public Health Unit to find the location of the nearest dental program.
Clients of all ages and the public are welcome to visit their in-house Dental Hygiene clinic between September and April each year. The Dental Hygiene students provide professional, preventive and therapeutic services that are caring, high quality and low cost. Personalized care is provided by students under the direction and supervision of licensed faculty
As a regional system, Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) covers a vast geographic area, from Sooke and Sidney in the south to Port Hardy, Haida Gwaii and the Central Coast. They have always provided with the flexible spaces, new technologies, digital resources, and exciting programming that people expect today.
This parent-child playgroup is an extension of our Family Support Program. The group offers support to parents with children 0-6 years who may be facing challenges in life such as single parenthood, low income, or young parenthood. The group will focus on supportive parenting strategies. Call to register. Sooke group meets every other Thursdsay 10AM-noon.
South Island Wellness Society (SIWS) uses Traditional Decision Making processes to facilitate community-based collaborative planning for Aboriginal families that require support to address concerns about the care of their children.
MFCSS offers a community room & playground, computer lab, teaching garden, counselling room, & access to the centre’s community kitchen. Located at 345 Wale Road.
Pacific Centre Family Services Association is dedicated to maintaining outstanding services for the people they work with through education, counselling and creative programming. Locations: Centre for Wellbeing, 324 Goldstream Ave, Colwood; and 6672 Wadams Way, Sooke.
Whether you enjoy a stroll in the park, a swim in the pool, playing soccer with friends, or a round of golf, West Shore Parks & Recreation has programs and facilities for everyone. West Shore Parks & Recreation is governed by the board of directors made up of representatives from the City of Colwood, the City of Langford, the District of Metchosin, the District of Highlands and the Town of View Royal.
SEAPARC is pleased to offer a variety of program options for 4 months to 5 years. Programs include a licensed preschool, social programs, sports, swimming and skating. Located at 2168 Phillips Rd, Sooke.
The MFRC has resources to meet the unique demands of raising children in the military lifestyle. It’s about getting quality care, support and resources in an environment that understands the lifestyle. Services include: Parenting support, child care, literacy programs, counselling, etc. The Colwood Pacific Activity Centre is located at 2610 Rosebank Rd, Colwood.
Community parks and trails are yours to enjoy, and a legacy for future generations. While visiting, please respect the private property next to the parks, trails, viewpoints, and ocean accesses and leave no trace of your visit or the visit of your dog. Leave the treasures that you find, including wildflowers, for others to enjoy.
The Sooke Region Literacy project supports literacy and educational initiatives, providing programs and more!
Island Health Resources: Child health and development, Dental, Flu vaccine and influenza prevention campaigns, Hearing, Immunizations, Nutrition, Parenting, Prenatal registration and postpartum support, Speech. The Health Unit is located at 345 Wale Road, Colwood
Sooke Family Resource Society offers the following Early Years groups in Sooke: Parent and Child Playgroups (Mondays/Wednesdays) and a Neurodiverse Playgroup. In the Westshore, the following groups are offered: Parent and Tot Playgroup (Tuesdays/Fridays) and Tummy Time Baby Group (Thursdays). See the calendar for more info.
Qualified early childhood educators lead learning activities where children find opportunities to make friends and interact with others of similar ages. Participate with your young child (aged birth to five) in play-based early learning activities – including stories, music and art. This is a free program for families that helps prepare children for success in kindergarten.
BC Child Care Resource & Referral programs offers referrals for quality child care and community resources, and support to child care providers and families in every community across the Province of British Columbia. Located at 100- 6672 Wadams Way, Sooke. West Shore office located at 345 Wale Road, Colwood. Or call Toll-free 1-888-338-6622 (option 4) for more info.
There are Support Groups specifically for those who are raising their friends or relatives’ children (Kinship Caregivers or Grandparents Raising Grandchildren). Please contact the Kinship Care Help Line, which can give you more information and refer you to a Kinship Care Support Groups.
Parenting Support Groups are free, anonymous, and confidential self-help groups providing parents and caregivers with a safe space to share their stories, build communities, learn new skills, receive emotional support and discover new services and resources. The groups offer weekly or bi-weekly meetings and other activities organized by trained volunteer facilitators.
The Chair in Transgender Studies is proud to host this resource and information site for Trans+ people and their allies on Vancouver Island
Ambit offers training and consulting to reduce barriers and improve accessibility for trans, non-binary, and other gender diverse people. Ambit's website also includes resources for queer and trans families.
The Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Service is an interdisciplinary team working in collaboration with families and community partners to: support best practice in assessment and treatment of children and youth with feeding, swallowing and nutrition concerns; provide education for families and partners; contribute to current knowledge in order to support optimum, safe nutritional health for clients. Located at Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health, 2400 Arbutus Rd. Victoria BC
A map of all licensed child care providers that receive Child Care Operating Funding across British-Columbia
Email us
Visit website
604-255-7999 or (855) 255-7999