How to choose the right service providers
Last updated on September 3, 2026
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You take the lead in prioritizing goals for your child and deciding which supports and services to use.
A Support Specialist through Provincial Access, Information and Resource Services (PAIRS) is available to guide you through each step:
Choosing the Right Service Provider for Your Family
Finding the right service provider can feel like a big decision. Regardless of what type of service provider you are looking for, choosing the right provider can make a meaningful difference for your family.
You should feel confident as you explore your options and find a provider who best meets your family's needs.
Start with Your Family's Needs
Before you begin your search, think about what is most important to your family.
Consider:
- What services do you need?
- Who will be receiving the service?
- What goals are you hoping to achieve?
- Do you have cultural, language, or accessibility needs?
- What schedule, location, or availability works best for your family?
Helpful Tip: Make a list of your priorities and non-negotiables before contacting providers.
Research Your Options
There are many ways to find service providers, including:
- Recommendations from healthcare professionals, teachers, or support workers
- Referrals from family, friends, and community members
- Provincial Access, Information and Resource Services, CYSN (PAIRS)
When reviewing potential providers, look for:
- Relevant experience and qualifications
- Appropriate licensing or certifications
- Specialized knowledge or expertise
- Positive community reputation
- Experience working with families like yours
Ask Questions
A good provider should be happy to answer your questions. Don't hesitate to ask about their services, staff, communication practices, and fees. Examples of some questions you may consider asking are:
About Their Services
- What services do you offer?
- How do you customize services for individual families?
- What is your approach to supporting children, individuals, and families?
About Their Team
- What qualifications and training do staff have?
- How are staff supervised and supported?
- Will we work with the same team members consistently?
About Communication
- How often will we receive updates?
- Who will be our main point of contact?
- How can we share feedback or concerns?
About Costs
- What are the service fees?
- Are there any additional costs?
- Do you accept funding programs, benefits, or insurance coverage?
Pay Attention to Communication
Strong communication is one of the most important qualities of a trusted provider.
Look for providers who:
- Listen carefully to your concerns
- Explain information clearly
- Respect your family's values and choices
- Respond promptly to questions
- Encourage collaboration and partnership
Green Flags
- Friendly and respectful interactions
- Clear and consistent communication
- Family-centred approach
- Openness to questions and feedbac
Warning Signs
- Lack of transparency
- Poor communication or follow-up
- Pressure to make quick decisions
Consider the Overall Fit
The right provider is not always the biggest or most expensive. The best choice is often the one the service provider that makes your family feel supported, respected, and understood.
Ask yourself:
- Do we feel comfortable with this provider?
- Do they listen to our goals and concerns?
- Can they meet our family's unique needs?
- Do we feel heard, valued, and included?
Trust your instincts. A positive and respectful relationship is often the foundation for successful services and positive outcomes.
Remember
Choosing a service provider is an important decision, and it's okay to take your time. Ask questions, explore your options, and choose a provider that aligns with your family's goals, values, and needs.
The right provider will work with your family as a partner, helping you feel informed, supported, and empowered every step of the way.
Therapy approaches
Every child and youth has unique strengths, needs, and circumstances. Services and supports should be tailored to their individual needs and goals. For some families, supports may help a child develop new skills or increase participation in daily activities, while for others they may help maintain well-being, enhance quality of life, or provide support to caregivers.
Supports, services and therapies will also change over time and at any one point may involve approaches that are: ​
- One to one
- Group-based
- Home-based
- School-based
- Vocational/employment focused
- Community/recreation focused
- Life skills/social skills focused
- Complementary therapies that address your child’s specific needs
- A combination of the above or other approaches
Developmental social pragmatic approaches
These approaches are based on the principles of typical development and how children learn to interact. They build on the child’s current abilities and support progress through developmental milestones by focusing on social communication and language development. The goal is to improve the child’s ability to form positive, meaningful relationships with other people and develop functional skills.
Naturalistic developmental behavioural interventions
This is a combination of applied behaviour analysis and developmental social pragmatic approaches. The emphasis in these approaches is on building developmentally appropriate skills that can be learned in everyday settings and include natural back-and-forth interactions between the adult and child.
Applied behaviour analysis (ABA)
ABA is an approach to therapy that is based on the science of learning and behaviour. It uses a variety of strategies to achieve goals that are important to the individual and their families. For example, techniques such as positive reinforcement are used to teach new skills, strengthen learned behaviours, or reduce unsafe behaviours.
The Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) is a list of professionals who have the experience and education to offer programs for children with autism. If your child is under six and you want to use autism funding to pay for services, you need to choose service providers from the RASP.
Some RASP providers may have experience supporting children with a wide range of support needs. You can contact a provider directly to discuss your child's specific needs and abilities and learn about their skills and experience. This conversation can help you understand how the provider may support your child's participation and determine whether the program is the right fit for your child and family.
Common service providers
The following descriptions outline the roles of common service providers. These examples are not a complete list of eligible professionals. Eligible service providers may vary by funding program. Please check your funding agreement and policy for a full list of eligible service providers and funding requirements.
Speech-language pathologist (SLP)
- Develop communication skills – for example, supporting the development of reciprocal conversation skills
- Introduce communication tools - including augmentative and/or alternative communication tools
- Help with oral motor skill development - including eating, drinking and swallowing
- Provide assessment, diagnosis or consultation
- Are registered with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC)
Occupational therapist (OT)
- Help your child participate in everyday activities such as play, dressing, grooming, feeding, sleeping, toileting, school readiness, printing, keyboarding, social skills, ability to cope and work
- Address motor, perceptual, social, or sensory challenges through skill development or by making changes to the child’s environment
- Provide assessment, diagnosis and consultation
- Are registered with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC)
Physiotherapist (PT)
- Help your child understand how and why movement and function take place so that they can improve and maintain mobility, functional independence, physical performance and overall health and wellness
- Assist with managing physical conditions, limitations or restrictions
- Provide diagnostic assessments and implement strategies for improvement
- Are registered with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC)
Behaviour consultant (BC)
Behaviour consultants help families understand the factors that may be influencing a child's behaviour, including communication, sensory, environmental, and emotional needs.
Using a strengths-based approach, they work with families to develop supportive strategies that promote participation, well-being, and quality of life in ways that are meaningful to the child and family.
Some behaviour consultants are also behaviour analysts.
You play an important role in choosing the right provider for your child. When considering a behaviour analyst or behaviour consultant, ask about their education, training, credentials, and experience. Understanding a provider's qualifications can help you make an informed decision about whether they are a good fit for your child's strengths, needs, and goals.
Behaviour interventionist (BI)
Behaviour interventionists provide direct services to children and youth by carrying out recommended strategies and support plans developed by a supervising professional (as outlined in the Invoicing Pathway), usually a behaviour consultant or behaviour analyst.
Behaviour interventionists help children practice skills, participate in everyday activities, and work toward goals, but they do not assess needs or develop behaviour support plans independently.
Inclusion Support Worker
Inclusion support workers can work with your child to support their participation in recreational or community-based programs and activities.
For example, they may support your child at a summer camp, swimming lessons, sports programs, art class, youth group, or other community activities. Their role is to help your child participate, build connections, and have positive experiences in settings that are meaningful to them
Contact information
1-844-878-4700
PAIRS.Connect@gov.bc.ca