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Community Assistance Program (CAP)


Overview: July 29, 2008

Effective: July 29, 2008

The revised Community Assistance Program (CAP) is a comprehensive Ministry program providing structured services and supports designed to meet the needs of more barriered BC Employment and Assistance Clients who are deemed:

  • Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB);

  • No Employment Obligations (NEO);

  • Expected to Work (ETW) or Expected to Work-Medical Condition (ETW-MC) and who have either been returned from, or are not appropriate for other programming (e.g. BC Employment Program);  or

  • Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and cannot access or are unsuitable for other programming (e.g. Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities).

The CAP is not an employment program, as the employment elements of the original CAP were moved to the BC Employment Program (BCEP), launched in July 2006. 

The Ministry’s objectives for the CAP are to provide more barriered individuals with the opportunity to:

  • enhance their quality of life; and

  • participate more fully in their communities.

CAP is delivered by contracted Service Providers in 50 communities throughout the Province.  Through its focus on Service Provider linkages with other community services and support systems, Participants in the CAP may have outcomes resulting in increased community involvement, increased networking, commitment to healthier lifestyle, enrolment in education or training, volunteer placements, improved personal budgeting abilities, movement into employment programming, and development of skills that contribute to stronger family relationships.  Employment may also be an outcome for Participants.

Primary responsibilities for service delivery are as follows:

Ministry:

  • Referrals - which includes Client eligibility and referral guidelines;

  • Returns – Participants returned to the Ministry at any point in the program.

Service Provider:

  • Acceptance and Intake – includes Participant assessment for suitability in the CAP;

  • In-Depth Assessment – includes comprehensive assessment of a Participant’s strengths and barriers;

  • One-on-One Support and Referral/Navigation - includes direct one-on-one support to Participants throughout their program;

  • Individual Services – includes a combination of personal counselling, core lifeskills, supplementary lifeskills, external community services and supports;

  • Follow-Up Services – includes assistance to Participants for a period of 6 months following completion of Individual Services.