Family Support for Children with Disabilities Transparency and Timely Access
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate to the Government of Alberta to improve transparency, communication, and timeliness within the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program by:
- Reinstating routine public reporting on FSCD wait list volumes and average wait times at key stages of the process;
- Ensuring families awaiting FSCD supports receive clear, proactive communication regarding application status and expected next steps;
- Allocating targeted, time-limited resources to reduce existing FSCD backlogs so approved supports can be accessed within reasonable timelines; and
- Establishing transparency and timeliness as core operational standards within the FSCD program.
WHEREAS the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program is intended to provide timely, needs based supports to children with disabilities and their families across Alberta;
WHEREAS families across Alberta report prolonged wait times for FSCD services and limited communication regarding application status and anticipated timelines;
WHEREAS extended delays in accessing FSCD supports can contribute to employment disruption, financial hardship, missed developmental opportunities for children, and increased strain on families;
WHEREAS timely FSCD supports help children participate more fully in community life while supporting family stability and parental workforce participation;
WHEREAS in 2022, the Government of Alberta discontinued routine public reporting of FSCD wait list data that had shown how many approved or eligible families were awaiting services; and
WHEREAS transparency, timely communication, and accessible information are fundamental to equitable and accountable public service delivery.
BACKGROUND:
Municipal leaders across Alberta hear from families facing significant delays and limited communication within the FSCD program. While municipalities do not administer FSCD, the effects of delayed access are felt locally through reduced workforce participation, increased pressure on community-based supports, and broader impacts on community wellbeing.
A 2024 Inclusion Alberta survey of 746 families across 81 electoral divisions reported that families waited an estimated three years after applying to access the full range of FSCD services, including average waits of approximately 7.5 months for an eligibility decision and a further 10 months before initial supports began. The same survey reported that 58 percent of families experienced negative impacts while going without required supports, including employment disruption, financial hardship, and missed developmental opportunities.
The discontinuation of routine public reporting on FSCD waitlist data in 2022 reduced transparency and made it more difficult for families, municipalities, and communities to understand system pressures and anticipated timelines.
This resolution does not prescribe a specific service delivery model. It focuses on practical governance level improvements to transparency, communication, and timeliness that would improve accountability and reduce uncertainty for families while broader system improvements are pursued.
ABmunis is preparing correspondence to the appropriate ministry.