Aboriginal Women

• Aboriginal Friendship Centres
  Contact information for the British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres.
   
• Business Advisory Centres (First Citizens Fund)
  Provision of business and advisory services to Aboriginal entrepreneurs and Aboriginal businesses in the Northeast and Southeast regions of the province.
   
• Business Loan Program (First Citizens Fund)
  Provides loans for the creation, expansion or upgrading of Aboriginal businesses.
   
• First Citizens Fund
  Perpetual fund established by the government of British Columbia in 1969, with interest earned on the fund dedicated to enhancing cultural, educational and economic development opportunities for Aboriginal citizens in B.C.|
   
• Friendship Centre Program (First Citizens Fund)
  Assists Friendship Centres with the hiring of Program Directors, who deliver a range of social and recreational programming to Aboriginal people living in urban areas.
   
• Heritage, Language and Culture Program (First Citizens Fund)
  Promotes the preservation and revitalization of Aboriginal languages in British Columbia
   
• Métis Provincial Council of British Columbia
  Contact information for Métis Nation BC Offices throughout British Columbia
   
• Student Bursary Program (First Citizens Fund)
  Provides financial assistance to eligible Aboriginal students enrolled in post-secondary education programs.
   
• Transportation Program for Elders (First Citizens Fund)
  Provides partial funding to elders for transportation costs related to heritage, cultural and educational workshops and conferences.
   

Immigrant and Visible Minority Women

• Multiculturalism Week
  Provides funding to non-profit organizations for Multiculturalism Week projects and events and assists with event planning.

Parenting and Family

Childcare

• Child Care Capital Funding Programs
  Assists non-profit childcare centres via two capital funding programs: Minor Capital Funding for Emergency Repair, Replacement and Relocation and Major Capital Funding for Creation of New Child Care Spaces.
   
• Child Care Operating Funding Program
  Application packages and contact information for licensed family and group day care providers.
   
• Child Care Resource and Referral Program
  Complete list of childcare services and program contacts.
   
• Child Care Services of British Columbia
  Provincial child care programs information overview including application forms and other program links.
   
• Child Care Subsidy
  Provides subsidies for the costs of child care.
   
• Claim the Child Care Subsidy
  How childcare providers apply to claim the Child Care Subsidy.
  

Child Support

• Child Support Guidelines
  Provides information for B.C. families on the federal child support guidelines and tax rules, and provides information on who to contact for more information.
   
• Family Maintenance Enforcement Program
  Monitors and enforces spousal and child support orders and agreements that are filed with the program.
  

Parenting After Separation

• Parenting After Separation Program
  A list of locations where a free three hour information session is offered in your area and registration contact phone numbers.

Work, Education and Economics

Education and Training

• Aboriginal Student Assistance
  First Citizens Fund Student Bursary Program - Provides financial assistance to eligible Aboriginal students enrolled in post-secondary education programs.
   
• Apprenticeship
  Apprenticeships can enable you to earn while you learn, since most industry training programs combine paid work experience with post-secondary technical training.
   
• B.C. Awards Online
  A searchable database containing available student awards, bursaries and scholarships. Searchable by award deadline, career area, specific district, category etc.
   
• Student Assistance Programs in B.C.
  Eligible students can apply for help with the costs of post-secondary studies at universities, colleges, institutes and private training institutions. A one step application process to apply for various loans and grants.
   
• Women's Studies, University of Victoria
  The University of Victoria offers an Honours Program in Women's Studies, as well as a Major Program leading to a Bachelor's degree. Students may also combine the requirements of a Major in Women's Studies and a Major in another discipline to obtain a Double Major.

Employment and Business

• British Columbia Public Service
  B.C. Public Service career opportunity information and applications.
   
• E-Business Connection
  A unique collection of e-business services including local solution suppliers, newsletter subscription, various guides, low-cost seminars and information with a Web focus.
   
• Employment Standards
  Information for workers and employers and information on the First Job/Entry level wage rate.
   
• Interactive Business Planner
  Electronic tool to assist entrepreneurs in the creation of a three-year business plan for new and existing businesses.
   
• OneStop Business Registration
  Register your business with multiple levels of government over the Internet or at your nearest OneStop location.
   
• Small Business BC
  • Online Small Business Workshop: Business development techniques, ideas and information on starting a new venture and improving an existing small business.
  • Small Business Sourcing Guides: Small business regulations, how-to's, financing, contacts, directories, associations, and marketing information.
     
• Starting Your Business: A Guide to Resources for BC Women
  From drafting a business plan to finding the start-up money, this guide will help explain what you need to know and where you can find the information.
   
• The Women of BC Resource Communities
  An online community that facilitates the sharing of skills, knowledge and experience amongst women and organizations who have an interest in working with a sustainable economy.
   
• Women's Enterprise Centre
  Designed to assist women entrepreneurs, services include financing, free business counseling, workshops and training.
   

Income

• B.C. Family Bonus
  Family Bonus Program and Canada Child Tax Benefit Program information and forms for low and modest income working families.
   
• Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
  Information on a variety of programs that provide support and benefits to assist persons with disabilities.
   
• Income Assistance - BC Employment and Assistance
  Comprehensive list of income support and benefit programs in British Columbia.
  

Housing

• About B.C. Housing
  Social housing programs offering housing assistance to low- and moderate-income households.
   
• B.C. Housing Community
  B.C. Housing community office addresses and contact information.
   
• Subsidized Housing
  Information on how to apply for subsidized housing.

Women with Disabilities

• Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
  Information on a variety of programs that provide support and benefits to assist persons with disabilities.

Women's Health

Breast Health

• Screening Mammography Program of British Columbia
  SMPBC is a dedicated women's health service, providing access to free screening mammograms for women across BC. Screening Mammography is the best way to detect early breast cancer.

Eating Disorders

• B.C. Children's Hospital - Eating Disorders
  An eating disorders program for children and adolescents delivered through the Children's and Women's Health Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.
   
• Children's and Women's Health Centre of B.C.
  Contact information page for the Children's and Women's Health Centre individual hospitals and health centres.
   
• St. Paul's Hospital - Eating Disorders
  B.C.'s designated Eating Disorders Program for the treatment of adults with severe anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in Vancouver, British Columbia.
  

Mental Health and Substance Misuse

• Here to Help BC
  BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information website provides quality information, personal stories of hope, and resources for individual decisions about mental health or substance use issues.
   
• Ministry of Health - Mental Health and Addictions
  A toll-free information and referral service for residents of B.C. who are seeking assistance with alcohol and other drug misuse. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
   
• Kaiser Foundation
  Using the online Directory of Addiction Services, locate programs and resources in your area or anywhere in British Columbia.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

• Pregnancy Options Line
  B.C. Women's Hospital and Health Centre - confidential, accurate information on pregnancy options, counseling support, referrals to supportive health services.
  

• Stopping the Violence Counselling Programs
  Community-based "Stopping The Violence" counselling programs for women who have experienced sexual assault, relationship violence, or childhood abuse.
   
• Children Who Witness Abuse Programs
  Community-based programs which provide individual and group counselling services for children who witness abuse of a parent. Support is also available to the parent.
   
• Violence Against Women and Children Initiative
  Policies on the criminal justice system's response to violence against women and children.

• Crisis Lines and Transition Houses
  Getting help when violence happens. For your community, see the listings on the inside front cover of the TELUS (BCTel) phone book. Toll-free 1-800-563-0808 for information on victim services. Hearing impaired access 604 875-0885.

• Child Support
  The legal responsibilities of parents to financially support their children.
   
• Child Support Orders
  Effective date of the Child Support Guidelines in relation to the Divorce Act and the Family Relations Act.
   
• Court Services Locations
  Address, telephone and fax listings of over 70 court services locations in B.C.
   
• Custody, Guardianship, and Access
  Information on what these legal terms mean and how they describe different parenting arrangements.
   
• Dispute Resolution
  Non-adversarial dispute resolution options within the justice system.
   
• Do it Yourself Divorce
  Do-It-Yourself Divorce requirements and proceedings.
   
• Family Justice Centres
  Counsellors are available in many areas to help families needing assistance with separation and divorce issues like child custody, access and guardianship, or child and spousal support.
   
• Family Maintenance Enforcement Program
  Monitors and enforces spousal and child support orders and agreements that are filed with the program.
   
• Justice Services
  Keep your family safe while sorting out separation and custody issues. Information about Protection Orders and the Protection Order Registry.
   
• Separation and Divorce
  Information and resources regarding decisions that have to be made when a couple separates or divorces including: child custody and access, guardianship, financial, and property division issues.
   
• Spousal Support
  Information about financial support from one spouse to another. Also referred to as alimony or spousal maintenance.

• Transition Houses
  Provides temporary housing for women and their children leaving abusive relationships.
   
• Safe Homes
  Safe homes provide short-term accommodation in communities where transition houses do not exist. The safe home may be a rental apartment, private home or hotel unit. Women and their children stay in a safe home for less than 7 days. If necessary, transportation is provided to the nearest transition house.
   
• Second Stage Housing
  Second Stage houses help women who need time beyond their stay in transition houses to make next-step plans for independent living. Women and their children usually stay in a second-stage house for 9 - 18 months.

Other Programs/Services/Initiatives

• Employment Preparation
  Programs available to women leaving abusive relationships.
   
• Keeping Safe: Women At Work
  Provides safety and crime prevention tips for women working alone, going to and from work and traveling.
   
• Outreach and Multicultural Outreach Services
  Outreach services are community-based services to help women who have experienced violence and their dependent children identify and access the services they need.
   
• Stopping the Violence
  Emergency phone numbers.
   
• Victim Services Programs
  Community-based or Police-based programs which provide emotional support, information, referrals and assistance with the justice system. Community-based victim services specialize in issues of sexual and family violence.
   
• Violence Against Women and Children
  Policy on the Criminal Justice System Response to Violence Against Women and Children.

Other Related Sites

• Ministry of Community Services
  Ministry's main website lists services for women and seniors. Link to Women's Services.  Link to Seniors' website.

• Women's Services Division - Other Links
  Division's website lists links to other provincial, territorial, federal government resources and non-governmental agencies and organizations.
   

 updated: May 8, 2006.    E-mail broken link reports and site comments here.