New survey reveals Canadian developmental services sector under pressure as admin burden grows

2026 Canadian Developmental Services Sector Pulse Check GNW

Article content

AlayaCare survey of 164 professionals reveals nearly 7 in 10 organizations say staff time lost to admin is their biggest barrier to quality care 

Article content

TORONTO, June 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AlayaCare, a leading provider of cloud-based home care solutions, supporting developmental services organizations and children’s treatment centres across Canada, released its 2026 Canadian Developmental Services Sector Pulse Check. The survey, conducted in early 2026, gathered responses from 164 professionals spanning executive, operational, clinical, and frontline roles across adult developmental services, children’s treatment, and mixed-service organizations nationwide. Over 60% of respondents were senior leaders or decision-makers.

Article content

Article content

Article content

The findings reveal a sector under significant and sustained pressure — one that is committed to its mission but constrained by outdated tools, disconnected systems, and an administrative load that is pulling staff away from the people they support. 

Article content

Article content

Key findings 

Article content

Staff time is the most urgent constraint 
68% of organizations identified limited staff time and capacity as their single biggest barrier to quality care — ahead of funding, staffing levels, and technology. Staff are not simply short in number; they are stretched by the systems around them, spending hours on documentation and manual data entry that should be spent with clients. 

Article content

Family engagement remains stuck in an outdated loop 
Despite operating in 2026, 81% of organizations still rely on phone and email to keep families informed, and 41% use paper-based logs. Only 16% of organizations use an online portal or digital tool for family updates. Staff cited limited time as the primary barrier to more consistent communication. 

Article content

Complex funding is a daily challenge 
Most organizations report to multiple funders simultaneously — provincial developmental services ministries, children’s ministries, health authorities, and philanthropic sources — each with distinct requirements, timelines, and templates. 34% identified manual data entry and reconciliation as their biggest source of billing and reporting friction. 

Article content

Article content

Disconnected systems are commonplace 
More than a third of organizations use multiple platforms that do not connect with one another, creating data silos and compounding reporting challenges. Nearly a third still rely on spreadsheets, and 16% operate primarily on paper. 

Article content

There is practical interest in AI 
50% of respondents see a near-term role for AI in reducing documentation time. 70% said that getting time back from administrative work is their most important goal for the next 12 to 18 months. The sector is not looking for transformation — it is looking for relief. 

Article content

“The commitment in this sector is extraordinary, and the demand is growing. But the tools haven’t kept pace. When staff spend more time navigating processes than supporting people, something has to change. Our focus is simple: give that time back.”
— Aleem Bhanji, Canadian Market Leader, AlayaCare 

Article content

A sector ready for change 
The report also highlights a structural challenge specific to the Canadian developmental services landscape: nearly one in three organizations supports individuals across their full lifespan, from infancy to older adulthood. As young people move from children’s treatment programs to adult developmental services, their history, goals, and support plans often do not follow them. Staff are forced to rebuild context from scratch, creating risk, delays, and frustration for everyone involved. 
  
Three priorities emerge from the data: