Investment in Child Care Supports Vibrant Communities

Provincial Government Invests Over $121,000 Under the Child Care Capacity Initiative

To help further strengthen child care services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, was in Dildo today to announce over $121,000 under the Child Care Capacity Initiative.

“The Provincial Government remains committed to providing quality, sufficient and affordable child care to families with young children in Newfoundland and Labrador. Through our Child Care Capacity Initiative, we are investing over $121,000 to assist with the potential development of new regulated child care centres in the areas of New Harbour and Gambo; as well as assisting with the operations of child care centres in Bay Roberts, Harbour Breton, and Lourdes.”
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services

The Stepping Stones Family Resource Centre will receive approximately $13,400 to support the Upper Trinity South Steering Committee, a parent group from the New Harbour area. Through this funding, the committee will explore child care opportunities with the aim of creating a new regulated child care centre in their community.

“I am pleased that the New Harbour area is receiving approximately $13,400 to assist the Upper Trinity South Steering Committee with its application to determine the need for child care in this community. The Provincial Government remains committed to providing the best possible care for children in our province and this funding is certainly a positive step forward for Bellevue area.”
- Calvin Peach, MHA for Bellevue

The Child Care Capacity Initiative is a key component of the 10-year child care strategy, Caring For Our Future: Provincial Strategy for Quality, Sufficient and Affordable Child Care in Newfoundland and Labrador. This initiative provides start-up and operating grants for non-profit community-based organizations to help create more regulated child care spaces throughout the province.

“The Upper Trinity South Steering Committee would like to extend our appreciation to the Provincial Government for approving our application to hire a developmental worker. We are quite excited to avail of this funding since this is the first step in the process towards potentially opening a child care centre in the Whitbourne to New Harbour area.”
- Juanita Newhook, Upper Trinity South Steering Committee

In addition, Minister Davis announced funding for four other child care service providers while visiting the New Harbour area:

• Dover and Area Community Family Coalition – approximately $11,500 to hire a developmental worker and obtain detailed quotes for renovations and start-up costs to potentially create a new regulated child care centre in Gambo.
• Ascension Collegiate High School’s Infant Care Centre, Astros – $70,700 to support the continued operation of a six-space infant child care centre located in Bay Roberts.
• Harbour Breton Community Youth Network – $13,475 to assist with the operation of additional regulated child care spaces in Harbour Breton.
• Community Education Network’s Lourdes Preschool Program – $11,950 to continue operating a 16-space part-time child care service in Lourdes for children ages three to four years old.

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

• Since 2003, the Provincial Government has increased the number of regulated child care spaces in the province by 70 per cent from 4,609 spaces to 7,823.
• To date, a total of 21 child care centres have been created representing 465 additional regulated child care spaces since the Child Care Capacity Initiative was introduced in 2006.
• The Ascension Collegiate High School’s Infant Care Centre, Astros, located in Bay Roberts has received more than $297,000 over the past four fiscal years from the Provincial Government.
• Since 2008, the Provincial Government has invested approximately $156,300 to assist the Harbour Breton Community Youth Network with child care services in that community.
• The Community Education Network’s Lourdes Preschool Program has received just over $67,800 from the Provincial Government since 2008.

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2014 02 13                                      11:15 a.m.