Resources for Acadian and Francophone kinship families in PEI.
Language is part of family connection. Caregivers can help children keep French-language education, services and community ties during a change in care.
Part of our Community & Respite resource series. See the main Community & Respite guide for the wider topic and related resources.
Information reviewed September 2026. Services, program rules and eligibility can change, so use the linked source for current information.
A child should not have to lose French because their caregiver arrangement changed.
For Acadian and Francophone kinship families, language can be part of family identity, education, health communication and connection with extended family. A caregiver who is less comfortable in French can still help the child maintain that connection.
Cap Enfants supports Francophone families with young children.
Cap Enfants is a nonprofit family resource organization serving Acadian and Francophone families with children from the prenatal period to age six. Its current programming includes play groups, healthy-baby programming, educational kits, lending resources and family support across PEI's Francophone regions.
211 PEI also lists a French-language home-visiting service for parents or guardians of children up to age six.
French first-language education
PEI currently has six schools offering French first-language education through the Commission scolaire de langue française, CSLF: Pierre-Chiasson, François-Buote, Saint-Augustin, École-sur-Mer, Évangéline and La-Belle-Cloche.
Eligibility for French first-language schooling is governed by section 23 of the Canadian Charter and PEI education rules. The CSLF can also consider some admissions outside the standard section 23 criteria under provincial rules.
If you are a grandparent rather than the parent.
School-language rights can depend on the parent and the child's prior education, not simply the language preference of the current caregiver. If the child is already in French first-language education or you are uncertain about eligibility, contact the CSLF rather than assuming a placement change ends the child's access.
French-language government services
PEI's French Language Services Act requires certain designated services to be provided in French with comparable quality. The list is specific, so not every provincial service is automatically available in French.
Current designated services include 211 by phone, 811 Telehealth and a number of Health PEI and government online processes.
PEI French Language Services Act overview
Health care in French
The PEI French Health Network, Réseau Santé en français Î.-P.-É., helps French-speaking Islanders navigate health services that are available in French and supports development of French-language health capacity.
PEI French Health Network overview
Use French with the child even if the caregiver is not fluent.
Books, music, school, grandparents, relatives, community centres and French-language activities can preserve the child's language. A caregiver does not need to be perfectly bilingual to support the child's connection with French.
Ask for interpretation or French service when the issue is important.
Health, legal, Child Protection and school conversations can involve complicated information. Ask whether a French-speaking worker, designated service or interpreter is available rather than using the child to translate adult decisions.
Keep Acadian and Francophone identity visible.
Language can connect the child with grandparents, extended family, community history and place. Kinship care should preserve those relationships where they are safe and meaningful.
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