The Ministry's budget and fiscal plan for 2008/09 to 2010/11 is available on the BC Budget site at: http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2008/default.htm

BUDGET FEBRUARY 2008
KEY BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS FROM YEAR TO YEAR

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

• $55 million over three years to build on the investments already made to provide supports to children and youth at risk and to provide new or continued access to services for children and youth with special needs.
• $17 million over three years to continue to support the delivery of services for Aboriginal children in care and to provide funding to build capacity within the Aboriginal community for child and family services.
• $42 million over three years for programs and services for adults with developmental disabilities and their families including:
• implementing more manageable caseloads for staff, and
• enhancing funding to service agencies to provide new or continued access to community living services.

I. Overall Ministry Budget for 2008/09 increases by $129 million or 6.9%

Budget for Ministry Operations Vote increases by $87.4 million or 7.2%. Main increases are:

• $33 million to help create child care spaces and fund increased costs of the child care subsidy. This federal funding was first received in 2007/08 as recovery and is now included in the ministry budget on an ongoing basis.
• $28.4 million to continue to enhance child welfare services including supporting children in care and alternates to care; providing increases to foster parents; enhancing services to at-risk youth; and responding to recommendations of recent external reviews.
• $7.2 million to continue to be responsive to the needs of children and youth with special needs particularly in the areas of addressing waiting times for service and increased demand for medical equipment.
• $13.7 million for negotiated labour commitments and other service provider pressures.
• $4.6 million to continue to support the delivery of services for Aboriginal children in care and to provide funding to build capacity within the Aboriginal community for child and family services.

Budget for Community Living Services Vote increases by $41.6 million or 6.5%. Main increases are:

• $21.5 million to continue to address the increased number of adults with developmental disabilities accessing residential and day support services.
• $1.1 million for increased rates to family care providers.
• $4.4 million to continue to support services for children and youth with special needs to ensure they are healthy and safe.
• $10.8 million for negotiated labour commitments and other service provider pressures.
• $2.8 million to implement more manageable caseload and enhance the level of quality assurance in managing and monitoring services.

II. Overall budget increase from 2008/09 to 2009/10 is $56 million or 2.8%.

Additional Budget for Ministry Operations Vote of $21.4 million or 1.6%. Main increases are:

• Additional $3.6 million for foster parent rate increases.
• Additional $2.3 million for continued responsiveness to children and youth with special needs.
• Additional $12.6 million for negotiated labour commitments and other service provider pressures.
• Additional $1.7 million to support the delivery of services for Aboriginal children in care and to provide funding to build capacity within the Aboriginal community for child and family services.

Budget for Community Living Services Vote has increased by $34.6 million or 5.1%. Main increases are:

• Additional $23.2 million to continue to address the increased number of adults with developmental disabilities accessing residential and day support services.
• Additional $1.2 million for increased rates to family care providers.
• Additional $9.7 million for negotiated labour commitments and other service provider infrastructure pressures.
• Funding for increased service demand in 2009/10 for children with developmental disabilities has not been incorporated in the financial plan for 2009/10 at this time. It will be considered in next year's budget plan to ensure optimum allocation of resources.

III. Overall budget increase from 2009/10 to 2010/11 is $20.9 million or 1.0%.

Additional Budget for Ministry Operations Vote of $13.9 million or 1.0%.

• Additional $5.2 million for children and youth at risk.
• Additional $8.1 million for negotiated labour commitments and other service provider infrastructure pressures.

Further increase of $7.0 million or 1.0% in the budget for Community Living Services.

• Additional $6.1 million for negotiated labour commitments and other service provider pressures.
• Additional $0.9 million to implement more manageable caseload and enhance the level of quality assurance in managing and monitoring services.
• Funding for increased service demand in 2010/11 for adults and children with developmental disabilities has not been incorporated in the financial plan for 2010/11 at this time. Service demand for 2010/11 will be considered in next year's budget plan to ensure optimum allocation of resources.