Squamish families take note — there may be some help on the way to creating more daycare spots.
The province is hoping that a $750,000-per-year grant program will help create more childcare providers get further accreditation, which would allow them to take care of more kids.
This annual funding will be given out for the next three years.
“Thousands of parents, providers and educators have told us that the availability of quality child care is the number one concern for them,” said Childcare Minister Katrina Chen, when announcing the program June 20 in a news release.
“This grant program will offer providers a new source of funding to become licensed, and it – along with other initiatives – will help to further enhance the quality of programs.”
Eligible unlicensed childcare providers are currently limited to providing care to a maximum of two children unrelated to them or a sibling group.
These providers can now apply for financial assistance to become licensed family or in-home multi-age (IHMA) child care providers.
This accreditation would allow child care providers to care for seven or eight children, depending on their licence.
Funds of up to $4,500 are available for providers pursuing an IHMA licence, and up to $4,000 for providers pursuing a family child care licence.
Funds include a $500 up-front payment, in addition to $500 per space, which will be provided to cover the costs of becoming licensed, including but not limited to:
training fees (i.e. Responsible Adult course, Mother Goose training, first aid);
application fees (i.e. licensing, re-zoning);
hiring replacement staff while taking a required course to become licensed; and
buying equipment for a child care facility.
