Specialized Homes and Support Services Information for Service Providers

The SHSS journey started by building on work in response to reports and recommendations dating back to 2012. Working with service providers, the ministry focused on creating a network of Specialized Homes and Support Services (SHSS) aimed to keep families together, improve the well-being of children and youth and ensure that children and youth experience a strong sense of belonging and connection to culture and community.

The ministry is working towards building strong relationships with internal and external partners to implement SHSS without disrupting existing contracts or impacting children and youth.

• Consulting Provincially (2018) with thousands of service providers, ministry staff and families who participated in extensive engagements with internal and external partners.
• Partnering with existing service providers to learn from successful and unsuccessful models and experiences, including listening to the voices of children and youth.
• Engaging province wide (February 2021 to March 2022) with Indigenous partners, service providers, contract holders, staff, families, interest groups, and community members to help shape the new model for SHSS and ensure that, once implemented, it meets the unique needs of vulnerable children, youth, and families.
• Initiating targeted discussions with key partners supporting the implementation of SHSS, including:
• An Early Implementation Area (EIA) Advisory Committee (established Fall 2022)
• Collaboration with sector groups including a SHSS Sponsor Committee with key service provider partners, and larger sector engagement supported by the Federation of Community Social Service BC
• Consulting with key groups such as youth, service providers, Indigenous Child and Family Services Directors (ICFSD), and the First Nation’s Leadership Council (FNLC).
• Collaborating with an external steering committee made up of sector partners, including urban and rural ICFSD/ICFSAs, Métis Nation, and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC).

The ministry is committed to working collaboratively, respectfully and in partnership with Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit peoples, communities and agencies, and Indigenous Child and Family Service Agencies (ICFSAs) to improve outcomes for Indigenous, Métis and Inuit children, youth, families and communities in B.C.

The ministry is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and partners over the coming months and years to support their vision for services. This includes:

• Contracting with Alderhill Planning, an Indigenous-owned consulting firm, to engage with Indigenous Rights Holders across B.C. A summary, ‘What He Heard’, report was delivered Fall 2022
• Continuing engagement with Indigenous partners, including ICFSAs, to explore how this work supports the creation of services embodying an Indigenous worldview and fostering cultural identity.

The ministry works separately with Indigenous partners through a distinctions-based process that does not assume these SHSS Services will fit the needs of their children, youth, families, and communities.

• Service Providers receive reliable baseline funding that is capacity-based (moving away from ‘ a bed filled is a bed funded’)
• Funding amounts include allocated set of funds to address the unique needs of child or youth
• Staff wages are aligned to union rates (CSSEA)
• Moving away from reporting for the sake of reporting: by completing the Care Plan, the Service Providers have completed most of their reporting requirements
• Service Provider Portal (accessible once entered on to the qualified provider list) provides transparency on payment processing, resource planning, tracking
• CFR is open for 10 years with responses reviewed quarterly (or as otherwise decided by the Ministry) and the same Service Providers can re-apply to provide additional services if applicable over time
• Allows more open opportunities for smaller Providers/Indigenous Providers
• Creates opportunity for Service Providers who do not currently provide bed-based services but who provide similar services (e.g., crisis services for youth, adult bed-based services)
• Service Providers have an equal opportunity to respond for potential inclusion on the pre-qualified list
• Opportunity to work with someone to strengthen and resubmit, if a Provider’s submission is not successful

• Visit the BC Bid website or use the links located on the right hand column for any of the applicable services and be sure to take a look at the service expectations links above for each of the four services to validate eligibility. 

Any new SHSS contracts will be awarded through the CFR process. Service Providers must respond to the CFR for the new service to be evaluated for inclusion on a pre-qualified list.

As part of the transformation the ministry will work with each Service Provider to discuss transitioning their existing contracts through a supported and gradual process.  The focus of this process is safety and stability for children, youth and families.

Existing or 'legacy' Service Providers do not have to respond to the CFR, however it is certainly encouraged to apply for any service that applies in order to access opportunities for any new future contracts.  

It is "business as usual" until the local ministry resource office is in contact to begin the transformation of any current contract (legacy contract) to the new SHSS model. This is done together with the ministry and Service Provider. Each contract is individualized to help avoid disruption to existing service and to the children and youth receiving the services.