By Cecilia Nasmith
In partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Education, the County of Northumberland is supporting parents hit by the high cost of licensed child care by providing a one-time benefit of up to $4,000.
This month, the county will distribute funding from the provincial government to local families in the form of a one-time subsidy of child-care fees paid between Jan. 1, 2018, and Oct. 31, 2018, for children aged four and under (before-school eligibility).
In order to be eligible for this subsidy, families must have used licensed care in Northumberland – centre-based or home-based.
This funding will be provided to qualifying licensed child-care operators in the community, who will distribute the funds to their clients - $20 per day for full-day infant care (and $10 per day for half-day care); $15 per day for full-day toddler care (and $7.50 per day for half-day care); and $10 per day for full-day pre-school care (and $5 per day for half-day care). Families are encouraged to contact their licensed child-care providers for more information.
Northumberland community and social services director Lisa Horne stated in the press release that this benefit supports families at a time of increasing financial need.
“Northumberland County continues to examine opportunities to further ensure quality child care, and early-years programming is accessible to local families.”
