By Cecilia Nasmith
In accordance with the provincial government directive, Northumberland County is ensuring emergency child care is available to eligible health-care and front-line workers starting April 6.
The county is working closely with local child-care providers in support of this initiative to provide reliable professional child care to those essential workers who are helping to keep the community safe.
The county is proud to support them, Warden Bob Sanderson said in the press release.
“Local health-care and front-line personnel are at work for our community, protecting our health and safety and ensuring essential services are in place during this pandemic,” the warden stated.
“We also recognize our Early Childhood Educators for responding to this need and making safe and welcoming emergency child-care spaces accessible to local families. We ask that participating families support child-care staff by carefully observing all screening and sanitation requirements in place.”
Professions approved for access to the emergency child-care spaces include animal-welfare inspector, Compass Group Canada Ltd. Employee (cook-chill food production), coroner, correctional-service worker, essential-service worker for a municipal or First Nations, essential-service worker for the Ministry of Education, health-care professional, paramedic, fire protection and prevention, police services, and those employed under the Direct Operated Facilities Branch of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Service as well as under the Young Offenders, Youth Criminal Justice or Child, Youth and Family Services Act.
As well, the list includes child-care workers working in emergency child-care centres.
Licensed child-care centres were legally required to close March 17. This service is intended for those front-line workers with no other options for child care, and only licensed centres or homes that are approved to operate emergency care will open. Rigourous health and safety procedures will be in place at each location to reduce transmission of COVID-19, including limiting the number of children and staff on-site, entrance screening for staff and family members, and daily facility-sanitation protocols.
Though the safest option for children is to remain at home if possible, the county's Community and Social Services Department is working closely with local child-care providers, health partners and the provincial government to protect the health and safety of children, parents and staff engaged with this service.
As spaces are limited, the county may have to prioritize care based on the parent's occupation and type of care required. Parents may be asked to verify employment to ensure eligibility for this service.
To apply, or for further information, visit Northumberland.ca/CommunityResources.
