Child Care Investment Announced for Benoit’s Cove

St. Peter’s Academy in Benoit’s Cove will now have a licensed child care centre for after school care as a result of an investment by the Provincial Government. Under the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Capacity Initiative, Humber Community YMCA has received more than $20,000 in start-up funding for the development of an after school child care program.

“This investment will provide much needed regulated child care spaces to the communities in this area,” said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services. “Our government is committed to supporting children and their families by increasing the availability of quality child care throughout the province. Our ELCC initiative provides funding to non-profit organizations willing to develop programs, particularly within rural areas of our province that require regulated child care spaces.”

This funding will create a 16-space after school program for families in Benoit’s Cove and communities in the surrounding area and it is expected to be fully operational by September 2011.

“This announcement proves once again how our government is responding to the needs of working families in our area,” said MHA, Terry Loder. “This investment provides parents the opportunity to continue to be a part of the work force and at the same time reassure them that the needs of their children are being met.”

Since the fall of 2006, the ELCC initiative has contributed to the development of seven new child care centres and the expansion of six existing child care centres throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. This represents the creation of 168 additional child care spaces within the province.

“The Humber Community YMCA is very excited to receive funding assistance for the expansion of the after school child care program to these communities,” said Christine Young, CEO of Humber Community YMCA. “This will address a very real need that was identified by families.”

There are currently 21 projects in development or being considered for development under the ELCC initiative, with the potential to create an additional 462 child care spaces province-wide.

“The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services is continuing to make meaningful investments in child care throughout the province,” said Minister Johnson. “We certainly recognize the correlation between available child care and economic development for the province. Having adequate child care spaces available for families provides early learning opportunities for children and helps to stimulate the economy by providing parents, especially women, with the option to enter or remain in the workforce.”

In Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Government committed to advancing the ELCC initiative by supporting additional projects such as the Family Child Care Initiative and a Child Care Tax Credit for families across the province.

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2011 04 29 9:55 a.m.