Since February 2018, the BC provincial government has invested millions of dollars into Child Care with the goal of achieving $10-a-day child care. These programs have been rolled out throughout the year, and by now most programs are now accessible to the public. Here is a summary of their main areas of investment and how you/your organization can access them.
All information provided below was taken from and can be found on the government website (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children). This information will also be published in our Winter 2019 Early Years Newsletter in January.
Please feel free to contact the CCRR for further information or assistance with applications. Office hours are Thursdays 9:30am – 5:30pm for drop in, or email (ccrrfamilyresource@gmail.com) / call (250)559-4711 to make an appointment at an alternative time.
For Families
Affordable Child Care Benefit
Since September 2019, the government has released the Affordable Child Care Benefit (to replace Child Care Subsidy). Families making up to $111,000 annually may receive some amount of ACCB. Visit http://myfamilyservices.bc.ca for more information. Ensure you have all supporting documents and have chosen a Child Care Provider prior to applying.
For Educators
Early Childhood Education Training
The government is investing $7.4 million over three years to add 620 more ECE graduates to the current education system.
Bursaries – The government is increasing the ECE Bursary Program with funding increasing from $300 to $500 per course. Students will also be able to access 60% of the funding prior to beginning classes and receive the final 40% once they have completed their course.
Funds for existing child care staff – ECEs, ECEAs and Responsible Adults (as defined in the Child Care Licensing Regulation) who work with children in a licensed child care setting may access the ECE Workforce Development Fund. These funds may be used to gain, re-establish, maintain or upgrade ECE credentials. Up to $5000 per semester is available for tuition, books, materials, ravel and child care costs. This may also include partial wage replacement if the individual must take time off work to complete practicum requirements.
Flexible education options. In partnership with public post-secondary institutions, the government is also working on funding work-based education and training options to provide more flexible education opportunities for learners.
Early Childhood Educators Wage Enhancement
Most ECEs in licensed group child care facilities earn about $18/hour ($38,000 per year)
Starting in January 2019, the government will be providing a $1/hour wage enhancement for front-line ECEs working in eligible licensed child care facilities. Another $1/hour wage enhancement is scheduled for April 1, 2020.
Professional Development
The Community Early Childhood Facilitators Program will be expanded to help ECEs stay up-to-date with best practices. Child Care professionals will be able to join peers and s study best practices. A new online platform will also be developed to provide resources nada earning tools so ECEs can continue their professional development from anywhere in the province.
For Facilities
Childcare BC Maintenance Fund
The Childcare BC Maintenance Fund (formerly known as the Minor Capital Funding Program) offers funding for existing licensed spaces to ensure they are properly maintained.
Non-profit licensed Group child care providers are eligible for up to $10,000/year.
Private licensed Group child care providers are eligible for up to $5,000/year.
Licensed personal residence child care providers are eligible for up to $2,000/year.
Eligible Group, Preschool or School Age child care facilities that are required to relocate can be supported with up to $25,000.
Child Care Operating Fund
The Child Care Operating Fund (CCOF) assist with day to day costs of running a licensed child care facility. This helps child care providers keep parent fees affordable, provide fair salaries to child care staff and maintain quality child care. *This program is optional*
Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative lowers the cost of child care for parents each month. Parents do not need to apply for the fee reduction. Child care providers that are approved to opt in receive funds to reduce parent fees.
*Child Care facilities must be receiving CCOF funding to opt-in to the CCFRI.
Funds for New Spaces
Childcare BC New Spaces Fund
The Childcare BC New Spaces Fund (formerly known as the Child Care Major Capital Funding Program) is helping to fund the creation of 22,000 new child care spaces in BC over the next three years.
Funding is available for care providers to create affordable licensed child care spaces in the following categories: infant and toddler (under 36 months), group 3-5 (30 months to school age), school age (kindergarten to age 12) and preschool.
Priority will be given to applications that support priority areas including: new licensed infant-toddler spaces, vulnerable and underserved communities, projects undertaken by public-sector partnerships with non-profit child care providers, child care services outside of core business hours.
Community Child Care Planning Grants for Local Communities (UBCM)
To help governments identify their child care space needs, the Province is providing Community Child Care Planning grants of up to $25,00 per applicant. The program is targeted to communities interested in creating new child care spaces over the next 10 years.
If two communities are interested in collaborating, the maximum funding that would lie available is based on the number of eligible applicants included in the application.
This grant is intended to help communities create an inventory, needs assessment and action plan that outlines short-, medium-, and long-term space creation goals. Local governments receiving these grants will work with child care stakeholders to understand their specific needs, identify areas where child care is needed, the number of spaces and the types of child care required. Plans will also help to identify whether current spaces are meeting the unique needs of underserved populations.
Work is also underway to make sure that Indigenous communities in BC also have support to improve access to early learning and child care. The Province will announce new partnerships in the coming months.
The deadline to apply is January 18, 2019
Community Child Care Space Creation Program for Local Governments
BC municipalities and regional districts can now access $13.7 million in funding through the Community Child Care Space Creation Program.
The fund provides local governments with up to $1 million per project to create new licensed child care spaces on local government-owned property for infants, toddlers and preschool age children.
Priority will be given to projects that build spaces that serve infants and toddlers, offer care out of regular business hours, are operated by a public body or not-for-profit and/or benefit underserved populations (including Indigenous families and communities, children with extra support needs, lower-income families, parents under the age of 25 who are completing their secondary education and minority language and cultural groups).
The deadline to apply is January 18, 2019.
Start-Up Grants
As of June 20, 2018, one-time Start-Up Grants will be available to help eligible unlicensed child care providers (Registered License-Not-Required or License-Not-Required) become licensed child care facilities under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act. Start-up grants will be subject to availability of dollars within the budget, set at $750,000 per year over the next three years.