MFSP Services for CF Families Related to Children and Youth
The Military Family Services Program (MFSP) supports CF families in their caregiving role, and provides opportunities for the healthy development of children and youth. We know positive parenting and support for the care and development of children and youth contribute to the health and well-being of families and communities. As such, mandated service components offered by C/MFRCs include:
- Activities and Initiatives for Children and Youth
- Parent/Caregiver Education and Support
- Emergency Child Care
- Emergency Respite Child Care
- Casual Child Care
All of these programs are designed to promote healthy child development, support positive child/adult interactions, enhance parenting and caregiving skills, and foster youth engagement in the communities. Emergency and respite child care respond to the needs of families in times of emergency or crisis, and casual child care allows parents to participate in C/MFRC activities. C/MFRCs also maintain listings of child care services available in their area, so parents are able to find child care quickly.
Contact your local C/MFRC for more details on these programs.
Family Care Plan
The CF is committed to providing services for the well-being of CF personnel and their families; assisting in reducing the impact created by frequent postings on the social and educational integration and stability of CF personnel and their families; and taking measures (through the CF family network) to reduce the impact of long and frequent periods of family separation.
The Family Care Plan (FCP) is designed to ensure that all CF personnel have a plan in place to care for their family in the event of either an emergency callout or planned deployment.
Administered by local units, the form is designed to assist personnel in creating their plan and ensuring they consider all the people for whom financial, health care, family or other support is normally provided. All CF personnel MUST complete the FCP form DND 2267.
We encourage CF families to work together to create their FCP, and to update it regularly. If you are new to the area, C/MFRCs are available to assist you in finding appropriate caregivers, as well as assist you in the creation of your FCP.
We suggest you update your FCP regularly and specifically when:
- initially reporting to a new unit;
- your family situation changes; and
- during the deployment process.
We also encourage CF families to share their plans with the caregivers identified in the FCP as well as the local C/MFRC, so they are prepared to assist as quickly as possible in times of emergency.
Emergency Child Care Services
Through the MFSP, CF families are entitled to emergency child care services in order to support the ability of CF personnel to be available for duty if their family care plan fails.
Through services offered at local C/MFRCs, we can help CF families meet unexpected child care needs that are a direct result of CF duty requirements, and support CF families during short-term crises until they are able to make longer-term child care arrangements. C/MFRCs are currently authorized to fund up to 72 hours of emergency child care under specific circumstances, as well as extended partially-subsidized hours if required.
These services are also available to families of reservists on active service within Canada prior to and during deployment, and for up to one year following the member’s return. For those on active service outside Canada, families are eligible for support prior to and during deployment, and for up to two years after the member’s return.
DMFS is currently conducting a review of this service, with the intention of increasing the hours available and the eligibility conditions to improve the effectiveness of this policy at serving the needs of CF families.
C/MFRCs are better able to provide emergency child care services quickly if they are aware of the CF family care plan. We encourage you to update your plan regularly and share it with your local C/MFRC.
Respite Child Care Services
Through the MFSP, CF families are entitled to respite child care services while CF personnel are away on duty, in order to support the family’s health and well-being.
Through services offered at local C/MFRCs, we can help CF families of deployed personnel relieve some of the stressors related to child care. C/MFRCs are currently authorized to fund up to 72 hours of respite child care under specific circumstances, as well as extended partially-subsidized hours if required. .
These services are also available to families of reservists on active service within Canada prior to and during deployment, and for up to one year following the member’s return. For those on active service outside Canada, families are eligible for support prior to and during deployment, and for up to two years after the member’s return.
DMFS is currently conducting a review of this service, with the intention of increasing the hours available and the eligibility conditions to improve the effectiveness of this policy at serving the needs of all CF families, not just during deployment.
We encourage you to contact your local C/MFRC to find out about your respite child care opportunities.
Casual Child Care Services
Local C/MFRCs offer casual child care services to CF families. These services vary widely across locations. Casual child care is a mandated service of MFSP designed to enable CF personnel and families participation in C/MFRC services and to meet the needs of CF families. In most locations, regularly scheduled times are offered weekly for casual care to provide you with time for appointments, errands, job opportunities or just some time for you. Contact your local C/MFRC for details on the casual child care services available in your area.
Child Care Support for Single Parents and Married Service Couples
Administered by local units, Family Care Assistance (FCA) is designed to assist CF single parents and Married Service Couples offset increases in their normal costs for family care when service requirements necessitate personnel to be absent from their home unit for 24 hours or longer.
FCA is available to personnel who, for service reasons, are absent for 24 hours or more from their place of duty or from their family home while on military training or exercise, and
a. Do not have a spouse or common-law partner; or
b. Have a spouse or common-law partner who is also a CF member but who is away from their place of duty for service reasons.
Through FCP, personnel are entitled to be reimbursed either the daily amount established by Treasury Board or the difference between the amount paid for child care during the absence and the amount normally paid for child care, whichever is the lesser amount. Additional terms and conditions apply – for details refer to CBI 209.335.