NLIS 2
February 25, 2005
(Health and Community Services)
 

Increased support for children and families with new investment in early learning and child care

Investing in the province�s children today will help them realize their promise for tomorrow," said Health and Community Services Minister John Ottenheimer as he today unveiled new investment plans for three areas in early learning and child care.

"Children of all abilities and socio-economic backgrounds deserve to be given every chance to succeed in life," added Minister Ottenheimer. "Supporting families and providing more inclusive, high-quality early learning and child care strengthens our social foundation."

Government will invest $1.6 million this year and a total of $16.8 million of federal funding over five years to increase the number of low-income families accessing the Child Care Services Subsidy program, enhance the quality of child care, make child care more accessible to families with the greatest need and improve child care services for children with special needs and their families.

The eligibility threshold for the Child Care Services Subsidy program supporting low-income families requiring child care services will rise from $13,800 to $20,280 this year, with a further increase to $22,080 in 2007-08. This marks the first increase in the child care services subsidy program since 1998-99 and will enable as many as 600 additional children in low-income families to benefit from more learning opportunities. Additionally, more parents and families will be supported as they access the work force or education.

"My department is focused on ensuring our clients can avail of all opportunities to gain long-term meaningful employment," said Joan Burke, minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and the minister responsible for the Status of Women. "The lack of affordable child care can often prevent people from getting work. However, the new threshold will allow a greater number of people to pursue training and work experience without having to struggle to access child care. This is the kind of targeted funding that can make a real difference in the day-to-day lives of many of our women and families and contribute to a stronger Newfoundland and Labrador, both from a social and economic perspective."

Investments will also focus on enhancing the quality of child care environments including more professional support services for early childhood educators and family child care providers, augmented professional support services to assist special needs children, enhanced quality programming and the availability of more specialized equipment for children of different abilities.

"Children with special needs and their families must overcome challenges every day. They are not children with disabilities, rather children with different abilities," added Minister Ottenheimer. "These investments will lead to improved developmental outcomes for children and promote a more fully inclusive environment."
This initiative builds on the recent establishment of the Ministerial Council on Early Childhood Learning, chaired by Education Minister Tom Hedderson. The council was created to focus on the learning needs of children and their families. "Increased support for families, children, early childhood educators and family child care providers and demonstrate our recognition that early learning forms the foundation for a child�s future success."

The $16.8 million supporting this initiative is Newfoundland and Labrador�s share of the 2003 federal-provincial and territorial framework for early learning and child care aimed at improving access to affordable, quality, regulated early learning and child care services for children under six years.

Media contact: Carolyn Chaplin, Communications, (709) 729-1377, 682-5093

2005 02 25                   11:00 a.m.


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