Our Services
The Department of Community Services delivers a wide range of social services to Nova Scotians in need. We work with other levels of government and many community-based non profit organizations to provide this network of social services.
Approximately 1,200 staff work in 40 Community Services offices across the province. The department has a number of divisions, sections and programs:
- Family and Community Supports including Family and Community Supports, Child Welfare Residential Services, Early Childhood Development Services (ECDS), Family and Youth Services, Adoption.
Website content: Children, Youth & Families,Child and Youth Strategy - Child and Youth Strategy
Website content: Child and Youth Strategy - Services for Persons with Disabilities
Website content: Persons with Disabilities - Employment Supports & Financial Assistance
including Housing, Income Assistance, Employment Support Services, Program and Operations, Emergency Social Services.
Website content: Employment Supports & Financial Assistance, Housing & Repairs - Housing Authorities & Property Operations (HAPO) including Property and Facilities.
Website content: HAPO - Licensing Services (LS) licenses all day care facilities, residential child-caring facilities, children's small option homes and homes for special care facilities in Nova Scotia.
Website content: Licensing Services (LS) - Policy & Information Management including Federal/Provincial Social Initiatives Unit, Policy Planning and Research, Appeals, Information Services and FOIPOP, Central Registry, Legislation and Regulations, Client Services.
- Finance & Administration including Accounting and Control, Budgets and Results, Mortgages and Loans, and Administrative Services.
- Human Resources. Human Resources provides services in the following areas: human resource planning, recruitment and selection, human resource development, counseling, attendance management, labour relations, performance management, occupational health and safety, employee benefit information, compensation and salary administration and personnel and payroll records.
- Information Technology Services including Technology Infrastructure, Help Desk, Network Support, Business Solutions, Production Support, ICM, and ELCC. This section provides and continuously improves on a broad range of information technology services, primarily to its customers throughout the Department and the Children's Aid Societies. In providing these services, ITS will look for partners in other Government departments or organizations and to the private sector in order to achieve the highest level of services for the best value to the Department and Government.