Child Care Owners/Operators
To assist school-age child care programs in addressing labour market pressures, funding supports are being made available to school-age child care staff.
Licensing a Child Care Program
A licence is required to operate a program with the purpose of providing child care to seven or more children.
Starting Approved Family Day Homes
Family day homes offer parents a formal child care service in a family setting where care meets specific standards for caregiver-to-child ratios, health, safety and child development.
Child Care Accreditation Funding Program
Alberta Children and Youth Services is supporting high quality child care through funding supports and the accreditation of child care programs.
Making Space for Children: Child Care Space Creation Innovation Fund
The Making Space for Children: Child Care Space Creation Innovation Fund provides a grant of up to $1,500 per new child care space ($2,000 in Fort McMurray and area). Grant applications are now being accepted. Applications will be considered for approval by your local Child and Family Services Authority.
Out-of-school child care programs are now eligible to apply for a Making Space for Children: Space Creation Innovation Fund grant!
NEW!
An Eligible Expenses List for allowable expenses under the Space Creation Innovation Fund has been posted. Click here to access the list.
Child Care Bursary Program
Bursaries are available to offset the educational costs for staff working in day cares, family day homes, out-out-of-school programs and nursery schools who have the desire to aspire to leadership roles in the child care field.
Alberta Child Care Professional Awards of Excellence
The Alberta Child Care Professional Awards of Excellence recognize child care professionals who create a quality care environment for children. Eligible recipients work in licensed day care, nursery school, out-of-school care programs or approved family day homes in Alberta's rural or urban communities. Each year, parents, child care owners/operators, child care professionals and other interested Albertans are encouraged to nominate an outstanding child care professional in their community. Nominees are assessed on their level of innovation and creativity in working with children.
Please check back in early 2009 for information and nomination forms for the 2009 Alberta Child Care Professional Awards of Excellence.
Infant Care Incentive
Starting September 1, 2008, licensed or approved child care programs will be eligible to receive an Infant Care Incentive of $150 each month for each infant up to 18 months of age who receives eight or more hours of care a month. This is intended to help with the costs of infant care for parents.
The Infant Child Care Incentive will be calculated using the monthly claim forms submitted by child care operators. The first payment will be made in October 2008 after processing the September 2008 claim form.
Subsidy Transaction FeeLicensed out-of-school care programs, licensed day cares and approved family day homes are eligible for the subsidy transaction fee. A Subsidy Transaction Fee Agreement must be completed prior to payment being processed.
Supporting High School Students Looking at Child Care as a Career of Choice
High school students who successfully completed the high school credit courses through Career and Technologies Studies (CMH 2050 and 3050), or take the free online Level 1 orientation course while in high school (available June 1, 2008) are eligible to receive a $2,500 scholarship. Students must attend an Early Learning and Child Care certificate, diploma or degree program and sign a service commitment agreeing to work in a licensed or approved child care program for one year.
Support an Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program
Alberta Children and Youth Services will work with the child care community to explore the development and implementation of an Alberta Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program.
Apprenticeship allows employees to get their training while they are working. Because the apprenticeship model integrates classroom knowledge with on-the-job training, it appeals to many people. Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship programs are offered in Ontario, United States and in the United Kingdom to assist with staff recruitment, and to increase the quality of care in child care programs and the level of professionalism in the early child care and education field.
The implementation of an early Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program will take the work and cooperation of the child care community and is an initiative that will show results over the longer-term.
