How to Apply for the MCFD Extended Family Program in BC

What the Extended Family Program Actually Is

The Extended Family Program (EFP) is British Columbia's main financial support for relatives caring for a child outside the foster care system. It runs under Section 8 of the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA) and is administered by the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) or a Delegated Indigenous Child and Family Service Agency.

Under an EFP agreement, the child's parent keeps legal guardianship. You handle daily care — school, medical appointments, meals, bedtime. The ministry pays you a monthly maintenance rate and covers supplementary needs like health, dental, and childcare. The agreement is voluntary and designed to be temporary, keeping the child with family rather than placing them in foster care with strangers.

Current Monthly Payment Rates

EFP maintenance rates effective July 2025 are:

• Children aged 0–11: $1,549.20 per month
• Youth aged 12–19: $1,726.33 per month

These payments are tax-exempt under Section 81(1)(h) of the federal Income Tax Act. They do not count as income on your tax return, they do not reduce your Old Age Security or Guaranteed Income Supplement, and they do not affect your eligibility for the Canada Child Benefit.

Beyond the base rate, you can request supplementary help for health and dental coverage, childcare costs (so you can keep working), cultural supports for Indigenous children, and Enhanced Out-of-Care (EOOC) funding for children with complex needs — up to $26,000 annually in high-need cases.

The Application Process

Step 1 — Contact your local MCFD office or Delegated Indigenous Agency. Tell them you are a relative caring for a child and you want to discuss out-of-care support. A social worker will be assigned to assess the situation.

Step 2 — Background screening. Every adult aged 18 or older living in your household must consent to a Criminal Record Review Act (CRRA) check and an MCFD Prior Contact Check (PCC). The PCC looks at whether any household member has a history with child protection services.

Step 3 — Safe Home Assessment. The social worker visits your home and evaluates the safety of the living environment, your connection to the child, and your ability to meet the child's physical and emotional needs.

Step 4 — Tri-party agreement. If the assessment passes, you sign an EFP Written Plan with three parties: you (the care provider), the child's parent, and the Director of Child Welfare. The plan outlines reunification goals, visitation schedules, support services, and payment terms.

Monthly maintenance payments begin after the agreement is signed and are issued by direct deposit.

Who Is Eligible

You must be a relative or someone with a significant connection to the child — grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, or close family friends (sometimes called "kith and kin"). You do not need to be the child's legal guardian, and EFP maintenance is not means-tested against your income or assets.

The child's parents must be temporarily unable to care for the child. The EFP is not designed for situations where a parent is fully present and capable — it is a support mechanism for families in crisis.

When EFP Agreements End

An EFP agreement terminates automatically if the child returns to the parents, the child turns 19, a court issues a new permanent custody order, or you move outside British Columbia without ministry authorisation. If circumstances change, notify your social worker promptly to avoid overpayment recovery.

What to Do While You Wait

While your EFP application is being processed, submit CRA Form RC66 to apply for the Canada Child Benefit and BC Family Benefit — those payments run through the tax system, not through MCFD, and you can claim them under any care arrangement if you meet the CRA's primary-care, residency, tax-status, and tax-filing requirements. The BC kinship financial help guide includes a CRA evidence checklist and an application tracking log to keep both processes on track at the same time.

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