June 5, 2019
Governments Invest in Child Care for Families Seeking Counselling, Training and Other Community-Based Supports
The Canada and Manitoba governments have provided grant funding to enhance the quality of child care services provided when families access programs across the province, Federal Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and Manitoba Families Minister Heather Stefanson announced today.
“Vulnerable families often face barriers to accessing high quality child care. The Government of Canada is pleased to partner with the government of Manitoba to make child care a priority and help more families and children benefit from rich early learning experiences” said Duclos.
A total of $538,000 was provided to 12 community-based organizations that serve vulnerable families. The grant funding helps ensure a qualified child-care provider is available to look after children at no cost when parents are seeking supports and services such as therapy, counselling or skills training.
“When parents need to access supports to improve their own situation and the future of their family, it’s important they know their children are being cared for by someone with the right qualifications and expertise,” said Stefanson. “Our government recognizes that every family’s child-care needs are different, which is why we are investing in this opportunity to expand flexible child-care supports into community organizations.”
Each organization received funding to help cover staffing costs and other supportive materials like educational toys, nutritious snacks and other resources for children, staff and parents.
Organizations that have received support include:
- A Woman’s Place (Nor’west Co-op Community Health), Winnipeg;
- Bravestone Centre Inc., Winnipeg;
- Elmwood Community Resource Centre, Winnipeg;
- South Central Committee on Family Violence Inc. (Genesis House), Winkler;
- Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Network, Winnipeg;
- Pluri-elles (Manitoba) Inc., Winnipeg;
- Portage Family Abuse Prevention Centre Inc., Portage la Prairie;
- The Pas Committee for Women in Crisis (Aurora House and My Sister’s House), The Pas;
- Wahbung Abinoonjiiag Inc., Winnipeg;
- West Central Women’s Resource Centre Inc., Winnipeg;
- Western Manitoba Women’s Regional Resource Centre Inc., Brandon; and
- YWCA Westman Women’s Shelter, Brandon.
“Wahbung Abinoonjiiag is honoured to incorporate an early childhood educator into our centre, which focuses on empowering children and their families who’ve witnessed or experienced family violence,” said Dana Riccio-Arabe, executive director, Wahbung Abinoonjiiag Inc. “The funding allows our centre the opportunity to empower holistic healing for families while ensuring our facility meets the needs, health and safety standards for the children in our care through an Indigenous lens.”
This grant funding is provided through the Canada-Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Agreement. The province is currently working with eligible community organizations on applications for 2019-20 funding.
More information about early learning and child care in Manitoba is available at www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childcare.
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