Informal kinship care and GACP are not the same thing.
A grandparent or relative can be raising a child without being part of PEI's GACP program. The difference matters for legal authority, financial support and child-protection involvement.
Part of our First Steps resource series. See the main First Steps guide for the wider topic and related resources. Following a guided route? Return to the Child Protection & GACP route.
Information reviewed September 2026. Program rules and services can change, so use the linked official source for current requirements.
Two families can look similar from the outside and have very different legal arrangements
One grandparent or caregiver may have a child living with them because the parent asked for help privately. Another may be caring for a child because Child Protection determined they needed an out-of-home placement. Both adults may be doing the same daily parenting, but their legal authority, financial support and relationship with government can be very different.
Informal kinship care
The child lives with a relative or family friend through an arrangement made within the family, without the child being placed through PEI's GACP process.
- Child Protection may have no involvement.
- Financial support is not automatically provided through GACP.
- Legal authority may be unclear or depend on separate custody or guardianship documents.
- The caregiver may still qualify for federal or provincial benefits depending on the program.
GACP placement
PEI's Grandparent and Alternative Care Provider Program is for children found in need of protection who require care outside a parent's home.
- Child Protection is involved.
- The caregiver and home are assessed.
- The temporary and permanent streams have different rules.
- Approved caregivers receive financial support under program rules.
Informal does not mean unimportant or unofficial
An informal kinship caregiver may be the person actually raising the child every day. The problem is that schools, health providers, CRA, passport authorities or other institutions may still need evidence showing who can make decisions.
If you are caring for a child without a clear legal document, the legal question is separate from whether you are a committed or appropriate caregiver.
Is a piece of paper signed by the parent enough?
Do not assume so. A note saying that a parent is “giving” the child to a grandparent may show the parent's wishes, but it should not automatically be treated as proof of permanent custody or guardianship.
PEI's Children's Law Act does allow formal agreements about children's-law matters. An agreement under that Act is unenforceable unless it is in writing, signed by the parties and witnessed. Even then, the wording and legal context matter. A casual note may not give the caregiver all of the authority that a school, health provider, government program or court needs to see.
What documents can prove legal authority?
Can an informal caregiver receive the Canada Child Benefit?
Potentially, yes. CRA looks at who lives with the child and who is primarily responsible for the child's care and upbringing. When someone other than a parent becomes the new primary caregiver, such as a grandparent or guardian, they may need to apply for the child's benefit payments. GACP participation is not the test CRA uses for CCB eligibility.
CRA: New primary caregiver and child benefit payments
When might GACP apply?
GACP may be relevant when PEI Child Protection has determined that a child is in need of protection and needs out-of-home care with someone who already has a relationship with the child. The program has a temporary stream where reunification remains the goal and a permanent stream for longer-term placement when reunification is not possible.
Why some families should not avoid Child Protection just because they are afraid the child will be taken away
Contacting Child Protection does not automatically mean that a child will be removed from a safe grandparent or relative. PEI's current child-welfare system specifically recognizes grandparents, relatives and other people who already have a relationship with the child as possible out-of-home caregivers. The GACP program can provide an assessment, an assigned social worker, financial support for approved caregivers and, where the circumstances meet the program rules, a pathway toward a formal temporary or permanent placement.
Child Protection is not simply a service for getting custody papers, however. Its job is to assess child safety and act in the child's best interests. A kinship placement is not guaranteed, and a caregiver and home still have to meet safety requirements.
When Child Protection may be the right route
There are abuse, neglect, abandonment, family violence, serious parental substance-use or other protection concerns, and the child may need an out-of-home safety plan.
When private family-law help may be the better starting point
There is no child-protection concern and the family simply needs to put a stable caregiving arrangement on a proper legal footing. In that situation, legal information about a formal agreement or court order may be more appropriate.
Government of PEI: Child, Youth and Family Services Act overview
Questions to ask if you are unsure which situation you are in
- Was the child formally referred or placed through Child Protection?
- Do I have a GACP worker?
- What document says the child is allowed or required to live with me?
- Who has custody or guardianship?
- Who can consent to medical treatment and school decisions?
- Am I expected to facilitate specific parent contact?
- What financial supports can I apply for?
If your family arrangement started privately but safety concerns now exist
Do not try to turn a dangerous situation into a paperwork exercise. PEI's Duty to Report applies when a person has knowledge or reasonable grounds to suspect that a child's safety or well-being is endangered. If that threshold is met, the report should be made even if the family is worried about Child Protection involvement.
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