Understand CLBC Funding Decisions

CLBC welcomes more than 1,000 new eligible individuals each year. The number of people eligible for services has grown from 12,735 in March 2010 to 27,000 in March 2023. Thanks to increases in funding, CLBC has been able to fund new respite, employment, community inclusion and residential services each year. But more and more new people and already eligible people requesting services every year means that CLBC must have a careful process to make fair decisions within available funding.

This page explains how CLBC gets its yearly budget, makes funding decisions and approves people’s funded-service requests. CLBC always funds as many service requests as possible, but as a Crown Corporation is not permitted to spend more than the funding it has.

Estimating annual service needs

CLBC works with the government each year to identify funding required to continue services to current eligible individuals and meet the service needs of new individuals. For each area of the province it estimates: the number of CLBC-eligible youth in foster care turning 19 in the year; the overall number CLBC-eligible youth turning 19; the expected number of individuals over 19 that will be registering, and the overall ongoing caseload.

Annual funding decision process

1. Before learning of its approved annual funding from the government, CLBC staff contact families who have requests for service that have not yet been approved to update their information. In some cases a family’s needs may have become more urgent, and in others a service may no longer be needed.
2. Staff then identify high priority service needs for each year looking at an individual’s level of need and urgency of request.
3. Once CLBC learns of its overall approved budget for the year, staff in each area of the province develop a plan to ensure priority needs are met, and as many requests for services as possible receive funding.
4. People with higher needs get more service. Those with the most urgent requests get service first. People in emergency situations – for example with no place to live – get services right away.

What can I expect to receive?

Almost all individuals receive some form of funded services within six months. Depending on the level of priority needs and available funding, other requests may not be funded right away. If a service is not funded immediately, talk to a CLBC facilitator about other ways CLBC can help you access support and opportunities towards your goals (See the Connecting to Existing Community Supports page). If your family situation changes, and if needs change or become more urgent, an individual or family can request a review.

When can I expect to receive a service?

CLBC receives requests for support throughout the year, and makes decisions using its allocation processes and the needs of families. For youth entering into CLBC services, planning may begin as early as 16. However, CLBC-funded services can only begin at the age of 19 (other government bodies provide supports until this age). CLBC must wait until its budget is approved each year, typically in February, to know available funding for the year. Once available funding is confirmed, CLBC staff work as quickly as possible to develop and finalize the plan for services it is able to fund. Depending on timing of these events each year, CLBC tries to confirm funding decisions to new families and families with outstanding requests by Summer or Fall.

Regular budget re-assessment

Budgets are regularly reviewed through the year to fund more services if possible. In some cases, contract recoveries free up budget to fund more services during the year. This may occur, for example, if someone moves out of the province or no longer needs a service. In other situations, CLBC may be required to support individuals with unexpected and very high support needs. This can affect the funding available for new services, as well.

Resources

What if I disagree with a funding decision? See the web page on requesting a review through CLBC’s formal complaints process.