Applications are open for $50 million in funding in 2022-23 for non-profit groups interested in creating new child-care spaces and providing child care in a licensed child-care program in Alberta.
The $50 million is being invested to increase the number of non-profit child-care spaces, especially in communities with limited or no licensed child care, or in communities where there is a high demand for service.
This funding is provided through the Alberta Canada Early Learning and Child Care agreement.
The made-in-Alberta agreement invests $3.8 billion of federal funding over five years to strengthen child care for families by improving access to quality child care and lowering fees for parents with children kindergarten-aged and younger who access licensed child care.
Applications can be made through the Alberta Purchasing Connection website.
Quick Facts
- The Alberta Canada Early Learning and Child Care agreement was signed in November 2021. It includes a target to create 42,500 additional spaces in non-profit child-care programs by the end of March 2026.
- Alberta has committed to creating 10,000 new non-profit spaces this year.
- Between November 2021 and March 2022, more than 1,800 new non-profit spaces have been created in licensed programs that support children from birth to kindergarten.
- Budget 2022 includes $197 million for child-care quality and worker support. This includes funding to support licensed programs and certified early childhood educators.
Through the agreement, $3.8 billion will be invested in child care for children 0 to kindergarten age (in kindergarten and also attending child care during regular school hours):
- $2.865 billion to lower child care fees for Alberta parents
- $240.64 million to increase the number of childcare spaces
- $202.6 million to develop and fund child care options to support vulnerable and diverse populations, as well as children with extra needs
- $306.16 million to support licensed programs and certified educators in offering high-quality support for families in their communities
Improving affordability
If you are a parent of a child 0 to kindergarten age (in kindergarten and also attending child care during regular school hours), you will be paying less for licensed child care by January 2022.
Over the next 5 years of the agreement, we will:
- reduce licensed child care fees by an average of 50% for families with children 0 to kindergarten age (in kindergarten and also attending child care during regular school hours) (early 2022)
- lower average licensed child care fees to $10 per day for families with children 0 to kindergarten age (in kindergarten and also attending child care during regular school hours) (by 2025 to 2026)
- increase support for parents, childcare operators and staff
Expanding child care accessibility
To ensure families can choose the child care that works best for them, we will:
- add at least 42,500 new licensed child care spaces over the next 5 years
- support licensed child care – preschools, daycare and family day homes under a licensed agency
- ensure flexibility for families requiring drop-in or overnight childcare
- support children with specific learning, linguistic, cultural and other needs
Supporting high-quality childcare
Quality care starts with quality educators. The agreement provides funds for:
- professional development, training and improved certification levels for our early childhood educator workforce
- continued wage tops for child care educators – among the highest in Canada
https://ladiescorner.ca/2021/12/22/funding-for-child-care-operators-government-news/
