The CDC has operated continuously since 1975 providing assessment, treatment, education and assistance to vulnerable children and children with special needs and their families.  In the year 2008/09, 923 children and their families in the Williams Lake area –from 15 First Nations communities to the rural and remote communities of Likely and Horsefly in the Interior of British Columbia – were served by the CDC. 

The CDC believes that healthy child development begins with adequate prenatal care. We believe that services are most effective when parents are actively involved in the planning and implementation of their child’s service(s). The family is the best source of information about the child’s abilities and needs and can be the child’s best, most committed long-term advocate.  Our services complement existing family resources, honoring each family’s “ethnic, cultural, socio-economic and personal uniqueness”. We believe in the importance of sharing complete and unbiased information with families in a supportive manner. Information and services are provided through a multi-disciplinary team-based approach. The team consists of the family and those professionals whose skills can best meet the child’s and the family’s needs.

The major funding source is the provincial Ministry for Children and Family Development.  Government funds represent 80.96% of the agency’s total revenue and totaled $1,669,570 in 2008/09.  The remainder of the agency’s 2008/09 operating funds of $2,062,284 is made up of gaming funds from a bingo affiliation license, and unrestricted revenues such as rental and interest income, fees for service, memberships and donations.