BC Council for Families

by Marilee Peters
Director of Communications, BC Council for Families

This morning, Minister for Children and Family Development Mary Polak announced that the provincial government will increase support to Young Parent Programs in British Columbia.  Young Parent Programs will receive an increase in the monthly subsidy rate for children of young parents, from $850 to $1,000 per child, effective March 1, 2011.

As well, according to the press release issued by the Ministry for Children and Family Development: "Along with the increased subsidy rate, the programs will also receive a one-time payment recognizing student participation for this year, enabling them to invest in additional resources to meet program demands." 

Glenn Hope, the Executive Director of the BC Council for Families, attended the morning announcement, which was held at Options Child and Family Centre, a Young Parent Program in Victoria.

He commented "As coordinators of the BC Alliance for Young Parents, we know that completing their education is the key to ensuring a stable, successful future for young parents and their children.  This support for Young Parent Programs is a recognition of the real and positive impact that these programs make in the lives of young families.”