Minister Announces Funding Support for The Children’s Centre

As announced in Budget 2012: People and Prosperity, the Provincial Government will invest in regulated child care through the implementation of the 10-Year Child Care Strategy. The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, announced today over $67,000 in funding for The Children’s Centre, which is located in St. John’s.

“The 10-Year Child Care Strategy will provide a planned, systematic approach for the growth and enhancement of child care services across the province with a focus on improving sufficiency, affordability and the quality of child care for families with young children,” said Minister Johnson. “Our government firmly believes that working collaboratively with organizations such as The Children’s Centre, has a positive affect on child care in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Funding for The Children’s Centre was established through the Child Care Capacity Initiative. This initiative was introduced by the Provincial Government in 2006 to assist with the development of child care spaces and will continue as a key component of the 10-Year Child Care Strategy. The initiative provides start-up and operational funding to not-for-profit organizations willing to develop child care centres.

The investment announced today will assist The Children’s Centre with ongoing operational funding, as well as funding to furnish and supply a new full-time child care room and complete required renovations. As a result, the centre has been able to increase total capacity from 26 to 40 full and part-time child care spaces. As a condition of receiving the operating grant, parent fees will also be capped at the subsidy rate of $30 per day for full-time and $16 per day for part-time.

“Thanks to this investment, The Children's Centre has been able to increase its child care spaces in a one-of-a-kind, natural playscape that inspires children to learn through play,” said Lisa Pinhorn, Co-chair of The Children’s Centre. “Our employees and volunteers work hard to ensure the sustainability of these quality spaces and are delighted that this government shares our commitment to offering quality child care at affordable rates.”

The Children’s Centre, established in 1968, is a not-for-profit facility operated by parents and administered by early childhood educators that offers play-based programming for children aged two to five years old.

“Overall, the Child Care Capacity Initiative has provided tremendous support to the child care sector with the creation of 346 new child care spaces to date,” said Minister Johnson. “Our government is committed to advancing the development of a quality child care system that directly benefits children, parents, and early childhood educators as we move forward with the implementation of the 10-Year Child Care Strategy, which is anticipated to increase regulated child care spaces by over 4,800.”

Budget 2012: People and Prosperity commits to increasing child care funding, doubling its investment by 2021-22 to approximately $56 million per year under the 10-Year Child Care Strategy.

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Photo: The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services makes funding announcement while children enjoy the natural playscape at The Children’s Centre.

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2012 04 27             11:55 a.m.