Single parenting

Prenatal support programs, such as Best Babies Possible and the Pregnancy Outreach Program, welcome single mothers. Contact your local health unit or public health nurse for more information.

Financial support advice is available from a variety of sources. For information on B.C.'s Family Bonus visit the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue's Income Taxation Branch website, or contact them directly at either 1 800 663-7867 or 250 387-3332.  You can also contact the Canada Revenue Agency to discuss family benefit enquiries by calling 1 800 387-1193. For enforcement of maintenance orders, information is available through the Ministry of the Attorney General on the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program website or by calling the toll-free info line at 1 800 668-3637.

Parental support groups, such as “Parents without Partners” and “Nobody's Perfect," are available in many communities. Contact your local health unit/department or mental health agency about programs available in your community.

Additional supports for single parents on income assistance

The Healthy Kids program gives basic dental and optical services to children in low-income families.

A natal supplement helps pregnant women on income assistance, as well as families on assistance with a child under seven months, meet extra costs before and after a child’s birth.

A school start-up supplement is provided to parents on income assistance and disability assistance to help with extra costs related to their children’s schooling.

A Christmas supplement is added to income assistance or disability assistance cheques for December, to help with extra expenses at Christmas.

The Family Maintenance Enforcement Program helps people obtain maintenance payments and support from those who are legally obligated and financially able to pay. The program, operated under the Ministry of the Attorney General, monitors and enforces all maintenance orders belonging to income assistance clients.

For more information on these services, phone 1 866 866-0800.