Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)
Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) is the focal point for social policies and programs in Canada, providing Canadians with the tools they need to thrive and prosper in the workplace and community. The Department is responsible for strengthening Canada's social foundations by fostering the welfare of citizens, families and communities, as well as their participation in society through policies, programs and services focused on citizens.

Children and Families
In partnership with the provinces, territories and other departments, HRSDC provides support to children and families through initiatives such as the National Child Benefit and Canada's Universal Child Care Plan. It also assists research through the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth.

Income Security and Seniors
The Department is responsible for Canada's public pensions, Canada Pension Plan benefits and the Old Age Security including the Guaranteed Income Supplement, all of which are essential to ensuring economic security for Canada's seniors. HRSDC is the focal point for the Government of Canada on seniors. In this capacity, it works with other government departments, other levels of government, stakeholders and interested parties to ensure that their needs and opportunities, as well as those of future generations of seniors, are taken into consideration.

Persons with Disabilities
HRSDC is the focal point for the Government of Canada on persons with disabilities. It directly supports equal inclusion of Canadians with disabilities in the community, workplace and schools through the Canada Pension Plan Disability Program, the disability benefit paid to children whose parents receive the CPP disability benefit and the Office for Disability Issues. In addition, the Department contributes to initiatives under the disability component of the Social Development Partnerships Program and the Community Inclusion Initiative.

Social Partnerships
HRSDC seeks to improve the well-being of Canadians in their communities. This includes activities for children and families, including Understanding the Early Years, and for seniors through the New Horizons program. It also supports the efforts of community enterprises not-for-profit and community sector, and other community efforts that help combat poverty and improve the quality of life in communities. Through its Homelessness Partnering Strategy, HRSDC works with communities, provinces and territories, partners in the private and not-for-profit sectors and Aboriginal partners to prevent and reduce homelessness by helping to establish the structures and supports needed to move homeless and at-risk individuals towards self-sufficiency and full participation in Canadian society.

Students and Families
HRSDC offers student loans and grants to full and part-time post-secondary students who demonstrate financial need in most provinces and territories across Canada. HRSDC also provides incentives to modest and middle-income families which help parents save for their children's education after high school.

Workers (with and without jobs)
HRSDC supports human capital development by helping Canadians prepare for re-entry into the labour market and for finding and keeping work, fostering a work environment that is fair, safe, cooperative and productive, and encouraging lifelong learning. In this regard, the Department oversees Employment Insurance, as well as Labour Market programs, Lifelong Learning, the Youth Employment Strategy, Aboriginal Human Resources Development agreements, Sector Councils, and the Workplace Skills Strategy. In addition, the Department contributes to the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities and to initiatives under the Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities.

Service Canada
Service Canada is a government-wide initiative mandated to improve the quality and delivery of government services.

Through a one-stop, integrated service delivery network, Service Canada provides Canadians with one-stop access to the full range of government services and benefits.

With more than 620 points of service located across the country, a national 1 800 0-Canada call center and a range of on-line services including the Government of Canada site, Service Canada is able to offer single-window access to services and benefits in person, by telephone and over the Internet.