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Child, Youth and Family Services
February 15, 2013

Child Care Strategy Supports Children and Families Throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador

The 10-Year Child Care Strategy, Caring For Our Future: Provincial Strategy for Quality, Sufficient and Affordable Child Care in Newfoundland and Labrador was officially released today (Friday, February 15) by the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services. Along with the strategy, Minister Johnson announced over $329,000 in child care investments during her visit to the Neighbourhood of Friends Family Resource Centre in Clarenville.

“Our government is deeply committed to making advancements in child care as we understand the key role child care plays in the development of healthy, happy children, as well as the contribution it makes towards creating a vibrant economy,” said Minister Johnson. “Implementation of the 10-Year Child Care Strategy is well underway and we will continue to systematically improve child care by introducing new initiatives that provide quality, sufficient and affordable regulated child care spaces to families with young children.”

The 10-Year Child Care Strategy, which is in its first year of implementation, details a fiscally responsible approach to creating long-term improvement in regulated child care services by focusing on the three key areas of quality, sufficiency and affordability. A complete listing of the components and timelines outlined in the strategy are included in the backgrounder below.

In addition to the release of Caring For Our Future, Minister Johnson announced developmental and operational funding for a number of child care centres under the department’s Child Care Capacity Initiative. This initiative provides start-up and/or operating grants to non-profit community-based organizations to aid in the creation of more regulated child care spaces. Since its introduction in 2006, more than 380 spaces have been created through this initiative which will continue under Caring For Our Future.

Funding was announced for six child care service providers, including:

“On behalf of the Board of Directors for the Neighbourhood of Friends Family Resource Centre, I am pleased to share in today’s Child Care Capacity Initiative funding announcement, as well as the launch of the 10-Year Child Care Strategy,” said Garry Gosse, Vice-Chairperson of the Neighbourhood of Friends Family Resource Centre. “Clarenville is a thriving community with young families moving to our area; many of whom are in need of child care. Our Board is excited to be a part of this initiative and we will continue to provide quality programs and services to parents and children living in our community.”

For more information on the 10-Year Child Care Strategy, Caring For Our Future: Provincial Strategy for Quality, Sufficient and Affordable Child Care in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the What We Heard consultations summary report, visit www.gov.nl.ca/cyfs/publications/index.html

“As we continue to implement components of Caring For Our Future over the next 10 years, we anticipate that regulated child care spaces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will increase by approximately 70 per cent,” said Minister Johnson. “This strategy will not only increase the number of spaces, but will also support labour force participation by offering improved child care support to the many working parents with young children across the province. We are looking forward to exploring child care options with the business community to help further develop the labour market.”

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Media contacts:

Michelle Hunt
Director of Communications
Department of Child, Youth and Family Services
709-729-5148, 725-1593
michellehunt@gov.nl.ca
Garry Gosse
Vice Chairperson
Neighbourhood of Friends Family Resource Centre
709-466-1511
neighbourhood@nf.aibn.com


BACKGROUNDER
Components and Timelines of the 10-Year Child Care Strategy

The 10-Year Child Care Strategy, Caring For Our Future: Provincial Strategy for Quality, Sufficient and Affordable Child Care in Newfoundland and Labrador builds on three key pillars: quality, sufficiency and affordability. Over the next 10 years, the strategy will build on existing programs and services and introduce new initiatives as follows.

2012 – 13

2013 – 14

2014-15

2015-16

2017-18

2021-22

Ongoing

2013 02 15             1:15 p.m.

 
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