Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Line BC: PSSBC Help

The Kinship Care Help Line: 1-855-474-9777

The Parent Support Services Society of BC (PSSBC) operates a free Kinship Care Help Line — formerly called the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Line — at 1-855-474-9777. It is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Pacific time.

PSSBC provides peer support from people who understand kinship care, legal information (not legal advice), benefit navigation guidance, and connections to local support groups and workshops. They can help you figure out whether your situation fits the Extended Family Program, how to approach the CRA for the Canada Child Benefit, or what to do when a caseworker stops returning calls.

This is not a government line — PSSBC is an independent nonprofit. That independence means they can speak frankly about what works and what does not when dealing with MCFD or the CRA.

Other Key Phone Numbers

Legal Aid BC / Family LawLINE: 1-866-577-2525. Free legal information and summary advice for low-income relatives navigating child protection matters, custody questions, or FLA guardianship under the Family Law Act. If you cannot afford a lawyer, start here.

MCFD Client Relations Branch: 1-877-387-7027 (Press 1). Call about Enhanced Out-of-Care supports. For an EFP agreement or funding dispute, raise the concern in writing with the Team Leader or Community Director of Operations; if unresolved, contact the MCFD Complaints Specialist.

Representative for Children and Youth (RCY): 1-800-476-3933. An independent office that provides oversight, advocacy, and assistance for children, youth, and caregivers experiencing service disputes with MCFD or Delegated Indigenous Agencies. Contact the office to ask whether it can help with your situation.

BC Ombudsperson: 1-800-567-3247. Investigates administrative unfairness in provincial services, including denied kinship benefits.

BC Emergency Child Protection Line: 310-1234 (no area code needed). Available 24/7 for immediate child safety concerns.

How to Get the Most from a Phone Call

Help lines are staffed by small teams handling high volume. Showing up organised makes the difference between a productive 15-minute conversation and a frustrating one where you cannot remember the dates.

Before calling, write down:

• The child's full name and date of birth
• Your care arrangement (informal, EFP, court order, or unsure)
• The date the child moved in with you
• Any MCFD case number or social worker name
• What specific question you need answered

If you are calling about a payment that was denied or delayed, have the denial letter or the date of the last payment in front of you.

For a structured call preparation sheet and a log to track every conversation — who you spoke with, what they said, what they promised, and when to follow up — the BC kinship financial help guide includes an agency communication log and escalation tracker designed for exactly this kind of multi-agency navigation.

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