Child Care Operators program

Overview of the Child Care Operators program program:

The Funding for Child Care Operators program, administered by The Regional Municipality of York, offers financial support to eligible licensed child care providers and EarlyON Child and Family Centres operating within York Region. The objective is to ensure child care is high-quality, inclusive, affordable, and sustainable for York Region families. This funding supports a range of needs, including general operations, staff wages, professional development, affordability for parents, and facility improvements. The program is funded through a combination of provincial and federal transfers, including Ontario’s Child Care and Early Years System, and components of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system. There are multiple funding streams under this program: General Operating Grant: Helps with daily operations to ensure financial viability. Wage Enhancement Grant: Supports increased wages and benefits for program staff. Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) Funding: Helps reduce fees for families and improve compensation for staff. Repairs and Maintenance Funding: Supports urgent health and safety-related repairs. Transformation Funding: Assists with business transformation, mergers, or closures. Play-Based Material and Equipment Funding: Funds for learning materials and classroom enhancements.

Benefits of the Child Care Operators program program:

• Stabilizes licensed child care operations through core operational funding
• Increases compensation for early childhood educators
• Supports access to Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) benefits
• Improves affordability for families
• Funds repairs and health/safety improvements in child care spaces
• Supports transformation or closure planning to minimize disruption
• Funds materials and professional development to improve quality of care
• Enhances equity and access to inclusive child care for all families

Eligibility criteria of the Child Care Operators program program:

• To be eligible, applicants must:
• Be a licensed child care operator or EarlyON Child and Family Centre provider in York Region
• Hold a valid Purchase of Service Agreement with York Region
• Be in good standing with the Ministry of Education and local licensing requirements
• Operate within York Regions boundaries
• Provide required documentation and reporting based on funding stream
• Be willing to participate in quality assurance and compliance reviews