About the Department of Families

The Department of Families is responsible for a wide range of programs and services that are delivered by the department, or by community-based partner organizations. The department is organized into the following divisions:   

View Organizational Chart (PDF)

Administration and Finance

The Administration and Finance division provides centralized financial services, comptrollership, project management and information systems support. The division provides support to the department and to external funded agencies.  

Administration and Finance Policies and Forms

Corporate Services

The Corporate Services division provides centralized internal services to the department in the areas of legislation, intergovernmental relations, information services, accessibility and social innovation. The division leads government-wide strategies in the areas of Poverty Reduction, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Homelessness.

Corporate Services provides for the operation of the Francophone Affairs Secretariat and the Manitoba Status of Women Secretariat, including the Family Violence Prevention Program. The division is also responsible for the operation of the Manitoba Accessibility Office and the Accessibility for Manitobans Compliance Secretariat.

The division supports three independent offices: The Social Services Appeal Board, the Fair Practices Office, and the Office of the Commissioner for Adults Living with an Intellectual Disability. It is also accountable for the operation of the Adult Abuse Registry Committee.

Child and Youth Services

The Child and Youth Services division administers funding for the provision of child and family services (CFS) and other supports for children and families. The division works with the four CFS Authorities and agencies, community-based service providers and others to help keep children safe and protected, and to support children, youth and families.

The division supports and delivers specialized services, including provincial abuse investigations and registries, adoption and post-adoption services, and Tracia’s Trust: Manitoba’s Strategy to Prevent Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking.

Community Service Delivery

The Community Service Delivery division delivers many of the department’s direct service programs through a province-wide network of community-based offices. In Winnipeg, some services are provided in a partnership with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

The division operates the Manitoba Developmental Centre.

The division also provides a comprehensive continuum of child protection, early intervention and family support services in accordance with The Child and Family Services Act and The Adoption Act from 15 locations across rural Manitoba through Winnipeg and Rural and Northern Child and Family Services.

The division helps adults with intellectual disabilities to live and participate in the community through Community Living disABILITY Services, which includes funding and supports for residential services, day services, and transportation. The division helps children with disabilities, their families and caregivers through Children’s disABILITY Services, and provides funding for the Children’s Therapy Initiative, early intervention autism services, and external agencies that deliver specialized services.

Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) and Manitoba Supports for Persons with Disabilities (MSPD) are also delivered through the division. EIA provides allowances for basic and essential living, shelter and health needs, as well as employment supports for people who are able to work. MSPD is a new income support program that is tailored to the needs of persons living with severe and prolonged disabilities.

Indigenous Governing Bodies Support

In recognition of the importance to support Indigenous Governing Bodies as they exercise their inherent jurisdiction over child and family services the Indigenous Governing Bodies Support Branch within the Department of Families was established to ensure that we have adequate and dedicated resources for this work.

The Branch is responsible for negotiation and implementing trilateral coordination agreements with Canada and Indigenous governments. It also supports the implementation of provincial system adaptation and works with other provincial departments and partners to support the implementation of Indigenous laws from a whole-of-government approach.

Manitoba Housing

Manitoba Housing is responsible for the development and management of housing policies and programs. The Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation (MHRC) is governed by a Board of Directors, with policy direction provided by the government.

The division supports the development of safe and affordable housing, particularly for those of low and moderate income or those with specialized needs. Programs are delivered directly or in partnership with private, non-profit, and cooperative organizations and community-based service providers. The division also helps to provide emergency shelter services across Manitoba.

Technology and Transformation

The Technology and Transformation (T&T) Division is a centralized area comprised of three branches supporting strategic technology and transformation work, undertaking multi-pronged and complex initiatives, acting as an in-house consultancy and building internal expertise. T&T provides strategic policy support, project management and information technology support and services for the Department of Families.