Nova Scotia

Department of Community Services

Child Caring / Community Residential Facilities Approval

Who Needs This Approval?

Anyone who wants to operate a residential child-caring facility for children and youth under 16 years of age.

Issuing Department / Agency:

N.S. Department of Community Services

Where can you get this Approval and / or further information?

Website: http://www.gov.ns.ca/coms/
E-mail enquiries:[email protected]

Toll-Free Telephone: 1-877-223-9555

Central Region:
Regional Administrator
Department of Community Services
2131 Gottingen Street
Halifax, NS B3K 5Z7
Tel: (902) 424-5074
Fax: (902) 424-5115

Eastern Region:
Regional Administrator
360 Prince Street, Suite 25
Sydney, NS B1P 5L1
Tel: (902) 563-5690
Fax: (902) 563-5693

Northern Region:
Regional Administrator
610 East River Road, Suite 255
New Glasgow, NS B2H 3S2
Tel: (902) 752-4863
Fax: (902) 752-5088

Western Region:
Regional Administrator
10 Webster Street, Suite 202
Kentville, NS B4N 1H7
Tel: (902) 679-6715
Fax: (902) 679-6127

Application Forms & Process:

An application form [Form #1 of the Regulations accompanying the Children and Family Services Act] as well as guidelines for preparing a proposal can be obtained at any of the four regional offices listed above. After it has been completed, and approved by the Regional Administrator for the region where the proposed facility is to be located, it is then submitted to the Director of Child Welfare and Residential Services, N.S. Department of Community Services, for final approval.

The application is evaluated on the basis of departmental priorities, need, the program to be offered, compliance with appropriate Standards and Legislation, the availability of funding, etc.

If all requirements are met and budget is approved, the approval will be issued to the applicant to proceed with construction, renovation or acquisition of a building to operate a residential child-caring facility.

Following this approval process, the applicant will then be required to complete a licensing application and undergo a site inspection in order to obtain a licence to operate as a residential child-caring facility.

Waiting Period:

Depends upon how long it takes to assess the proposal and receive budget approval for funding. Upon receipt of completed licensing application, an initial license will be issued within 10 business days.

Expiry & Renewal:

The approval process to operate a residential child-caring facility is a one-time event. Once approved, the facility is licensed for a five-year period or other such time periods as required to address compliance issues.

Documents to confirm compliance with the legal requirements of the Children and Family Services Act and Regulations, and the "Provincial Standards for Residential Child-Caring Facilities" must accompany the annual licence renewal documents.

Price:

Free

Related Requirements:

Inspection by:
1. Labour and Workforce Development ;
2. N.S. Department of Agriculture ;
3. Emergency Management Office

Additional Information:

Licensed facilities are funded by the N.S. Department of Community Services on a grant plus per diem rate basis, or on a straight fee for service.

All children and youth accepted into these facilities must have a care status under the Children and Family Services Act and Regulations.

A facility's programs are open to review on a yearly basis.

Legislative Authority:

Children and Family Services Act, Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, Chapter 5, Section 15 and 16, Regulations 13-32