I am a parent

Birth Certificate

This website provides information on how to apply for a birth certificate in the province of Nova Scotia.

Child Care Subsidy

This program helps eligible families pay for licensed or regulated child care. The Department of Community Services provides subsidies to the child care centre or family home day care on your behalf. The subsidy is attached to your child, not the child care centre. If you decide to change child care centres or family home day cares, the subsidy goes with you. This program provides financial assistance to families and their children who require child care services.

Direct Family Support

This program provides supports and services to both children and adults with disabilities who live at home with their families. The intent of the program is to support and provide funding to eligible families to enable them to support their family member with a disability at home.

Early Intervention Programs

This program provides support and information to families with children between birth and school entry who are at risk for poor developmental outcomes because of a developmental delay or risk for delay.

Lone Parent Student Affordable Rental Housing

The Nova Scotia Department of Community Services is funding a limited number of affordable rental housing units for low-income single parents attending university.

Nova Scotia Child Benefit (NSCB)

This tax-free monthly benefit is provided to low- and modest-income families with dependent children under age 18.

To be eligible, you must also be receiving

• Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB)

Additional Information

• Application is automatic when you apply for the Canada Child Tax Benefit.

Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare

This is a provincial drug plan designed to help Nova Scotians with the cost of prescription drugs. The program offers protection against drug costs for families who have no drug coverage; or, if the cost of the prescription drugs becomes a financial burden to them.

Parent Information Program

This program provides information sessions to parents who have children and are separating to support their children during the process and to identify and practice ways to keep children from getting caught in the middle.

Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities

The Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities Program is a community-based children's program delivered by the Public Health Agency of Canada. It focuses on early childhood development for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and their families living off-reserve.

Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve

The Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve Program funds activities that support early intervention strategies to address the learning and developmental needs of young children living in First Nations communities. The goal is to support early child development strategies that are designed and controlled by communities.

Cadet Program

The Cadet Program gives youth the opportunity to develop leadership skills, increase their physical fitness and make new friends while enjoying a variety of fun and challenging activities.

Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB)

This benefit is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families with children under 18. It may include the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS), a benefit for low-income families with children, and/or the Child Disability Benefit (CDB), a benefit for families caring for children with severe and prolonged disabilities.

Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG)

The Canada Education Savings Grant is a grant from the Government of Canada to help you start saving early for your child's education after high school.

Canada Learning Bond

The Canada Learning Bond provides a grant to families whose children are born in 2004 or later and who receive the National Child Benefit Supplement.

To be eligible, you must also be receiving

• Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB)

Child Disability Benefit (CDB)

This program provides a non-taxable supplement to low- and moderate-income families to help them with the costs of raising children under 18 who have a severe and prolonged mental or physical impairment.

To be eligible, you must also be receiving

• Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB)

Child Rearing Drop-Out Provision (CRDP)

This program allows periods of low or zero Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contribution to be excluded from the calculation of CPP benefits when these periods are spent caring for a child under the age of seven.

Children's Fitness Tax Credit

This website provides information on the Children's Fitness Tax Credit.

Elementary/Secondary Education Program

This program provides access for First Nations students to elementary or secondary schools, or services.

Employment Insurance Family Supplement

The Family Supplement is a feature of Employment Insurance (EI) that provides additional benefits to low-income families with children.

Employment Insurance Maternity and Parental Benefits

Employment Insurance (EI) provides Maternity and Parental Benefits to individuals who are pregnant, have recently given birth, are adopting a child, or are caring for a newborn.

Junior Canadian Rangers Program

The Junior Canadian Rangers Program offers a variety of skill-developing activities that promote traditional cultures and lifestyles to youth living in remote and isolated communities.

Nobody's Perfect

This program provides parenting education and support for parents of children from birth to age five.

Universal Child Care Benefit

The Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) provides financial assistance to all Canadian families with young children, regardless of where they live, whatever their family circumstances or preferences. Parents receive $100 a month for each child under six.