Harbour Breton Community Youth Network Receives Over $77,000
for New Child Care Centre

The Harbour Breton Community Youth Network will receive over $77,000 in developmental funding from the Provincial Government to provide additional child care services in that community with the opening of a second child care centre.

“A key priority for our government continues to be ensuring that families with young children have access to quality, sufficient and affordable child care,” said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services. “As a result of an increased need for child care in Harbour Breton, the Provincial Government will provide an additional investment of up to $77,888 in developmental funding for the Harbour Breton Community Youth Network to open a second child care centre in its community.”

In 2008, the Provincial Government provided approximately $65,000 in developmental and operational funding for the establishment of the first centre, Building Blocks Quality Child Care Centre. This centre is currently licensed for 14 regulated child care spaces, but will be relicensed for 16 part-time spaces in the morning and 15 after school spaces once the second site is opened. The new centre will be licensed for 28 preschool spaces.

“The Harbour Breton Community Youth Network, as licence holder, and the Building Blocks Advisory Committee, are extremely happy with the approval of funding for this expansion,” said Marie Bungay, Executive Director, Harbour Breton Community Youth Network. “The additional space at this new location will enable enrollment to increase significantly and help to meet the current demand for child care services in Harbour Breton. Provincial Government support in this capacity is needed as stakeholders work together to provide continued quality child care for the community.”

The Child Care Capacity Initiative supports capacity building projects, such as the Building Blocks Quality Child Care Centre in Harbour Breton. As a key component of the 10-Year Child Care Strategy, Caring For Our Future, this initiative provides start-up and operational funding to not-for-profit organizations throughout the province. Since 2006, this initiative has created 465 additional regulated child care spaces.

Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future allocates 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.

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2013 09 13                                    11:25 a.m.