Indigenous Kinship Care in BC: Financial Support and Agency Pathways

Delegated Indigenous Agencies Deliver the Same Financial Supports

In British Columbia, Indigenous children in kinship care may be served by a Delegated Indigenous Child and Family Service Agency (ICFSA) rather than a standard MCFD office. These agencies operate under varying levels of delegated authority (Levels 1–6), and a Level 6 agency delivers the full range of child protection and out-of-care services — including the Extended Family Program.

The monthly maintenance rates are the same regardless of whether your EFP agreement is administered by MCFD or an ICFSA:

• Ages 0–11: $1,549.20/month
• Ages 12–19: $1,726.33/month

These are tax-exempt, and the caregiver can claim the Canada Child Benefit and BC Family Benefit on top.

Cultural Supports and Community-Led Care

Beyond the standard financial package, ICFSAs may provide additional cultural support funding for Indigenous children to participate in traditional activities, ceremonies, language programs, and community events. This funding recognises that maintaining cultural connection is part of the child's wellbeing — not an optional extra.

Under the Child, Family and Community Service Act, Section 71 establishes a placement priority that favours extended family and community members. ICFSAs apply cultural placement preferences that prioritise kith and kin — keeping the child connected to their nation, their language, and their people.

Federal Legislation and Self-Governing Jurisdiction

The federal An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (S.C. 2019, c. 24) recognises the inherent right of Indigenous self-government in child welfare. Indigenous Governing Bodies (IGBs) that enact independent child welfare laws can assume direct jurisdiction, superseding provincial CFCSA mechanisms.

For caregivers, this means that the agency overseeing your arrangement — and the specific policies that apply — depends on whether the child's nation has exercised jurisdiction. The financial support amounts remain comparable, but the process, the assessment, and the community involvement protocols may differ from the standard MCFD pathway.

On-Reserve and Off-Reserve

Whether the child lives on-reserve or off-reserve does not change their eligibility for federal benefits like the CCB and BC Family Benefit. A kinship caregiver living on-reserve submits Form RC66 to the CRA the same way as anyone else, attaching an ICFSA verification letter as proof of the care arrangement.

For provincial EFP maintenance, the administering agency is the relevant ICFSA (if one exists for the child's nation and community) or the local MCFD office. Some nations have signed coordination agreements that clarify which agency handles referrals for their children regardless of where the child resides.

Finding Your Agency

To connect with the appropriate Delegated Indigenous Agency, contact the agency serving the child's nation or community. If you are unsure which agency is responsible, ask the child's band office or local MCFD office for direction.

The BC kinship financial help guide includes a support directory with ICFSA contact pathways alongside the standard MCFD and CRA routes — so you can navigate the right system for your family's situation.

See more British Columbia guides →