In October 2021, the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) announced a new centralized hub model in British Columbia branded as Family Connection Centres (FCCs) that would replace and eliminate the Autism Funding Program by the Spring of 2025. While the intentions of FCCs are to create a new model of care that is designed to support children and youth from birth up to nineteen years of age with developmental challenges and create easier access and navigation of services for families and caregivers, it has not come without its share of significant concerns from professionals and communities across BC. The intent of this research project is to provide a guided framework to address the concerns that have been raised and include important recommendations from Foundry, a well-established youth agency in BC, as well as incorporating essential ethics from nature that will help to design a better agency structure and model. The proposed framework will focus on building from existing services and unique family networks, as well as connecting back to land and nature, to support and raise healthy children and create strong, connected familial communities.
