Investing in Social Programs to Support Children and Families

Family and Child Care Connections Receive Over $11,000 to Meet Increasing Demand for Family Child Care Services

Family and Child Care Connections will receive an investment of approximately $11,300 to further support the growing demand for regulated family child care services in St. John’s and surrounding areas. The Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, made this funding announcement today while attending a play group at Family and Child Care Connections located in St. John’s.

“Our government continues to make priority investments in programs and services that focus on meeting the needs of children and families. Through the Family Child Care Initiative, a key component under Caring for Our Future: Provincial Strategy for Quality, Sufficient and Affordable Child Care in Newfoundland and Labrador, we are pleased to provide just over $11,000 to Family and Child Care Connections, an organization that provides education, support and resources to children, families, and family child care providers.”
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services

The Family Child Care Initiative assists with the creation of regulated child care spaces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador with an emphasis on creating spaces for infants. This initiative is helping to further stimulate the economy by providing people with opportunities to enter and remain in the labour market either by becoming a regulated family child care provider or by availing of the regulated family child care spaces.

Family and Child Care Connections is a community-based, non-profit organization that provides programs and services designed to support children from birth to 12 years of age, their families, and the child care community. As a licensed family child care agency, Family and Child Care Connections is responsible for visiting, monitoring and supporting regulated family child care homes.

“Since the Provincial Government first introduced the Family Child Care Initiative in 2011, we have seen continuous growth in family child care − the number of regulated family child care homes has more than doubled. In order to accommodate this growth, Family and Child Care Connections is very excited to accept additional funding to bring our annual budget to over $428,400.”
- Valerie Collins, Co-ordinator, Family and Child Care Connections

The Government of Newfoundland Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government will provide an additional investment of just over $11,300 to Family and Child Care Connections to assist the organization with the growing demand for regulated family child care services.
• Since 2003, the Provincial Government has increased the number of regulated child care spaces throughout Newfoundland and Labrador by 70 per cent, from 4,609 spaces to 7,823.
• Currently, there are 750 regulated child care spaces in 133 regulated family child care homes throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
• In Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future, the Provincial Government allocated an investment of $31.1 million for child care in Newfoundland and Labrador with a focus on continuing the implementation of Caring For Our Future. A key investment under the strategy includes $1 million to continue the Family Child Care Initiative.
• For more information on how to become a regulated family child care provider, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/cyfs/childcare/family_child_care.html.

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2014 02 12                                      2:10 p.m.