In-Home Emergency Child Care Services for health care and other eligible frontline workers has been approved. In an April 28 media release, Bruce County staff worked with Grey Bruce Public Health to create a strategy and on April 21 the Ministry of Education granted approval for their plan which allows eligible health care and other frontline workers to have the childcare support they need to continue protecting the health and well being of county residents during this COVID-19 outbreak.
Bruce County Children’s Services is piloting the initial phase of its emergency childcare program for hospital staff with the South Grey Bruce Health Centre.
“We sincerely appreciate the efforts of Bruce County Children’s Services and the Grey Bruce Health Unit to secure this support for our health care workers,” said Michael Barrett, South Bruce Grey Health Centre President and CEO. “Having a trusted resource available for our staff that do not have family or friends close by to help out with childcare will be one less worry for them during this challenging time.”
“I congratulate Bruce County and the South Grey Bruce Health Centre in supporting this collaborative effort to develop an innovative solution in an emergency situation," said Dr Ian Arra, Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health. “Together, we have come up with a local response to a locally-identified issue that puts safety at the forefront. Other jurisdictions may follow this lead.”
How to Apply
Eligible workers, as identified by the Ministry of Education (visit ontario.ca/page/child-care-health-care-and-frontline-staff) may submit their requests for emergency child care through Bruce County’s One-List child care application system.
Emergency child care services are reserved exclusively for children of eligible workers, who have no other alternatives; child care will be provided in the child’s home. Submitting a request does not guarantee emergency child care, this will be determined by the availability of providers.
To apply, visit onehsn.com/bruce and follow the “Emergency Child Care Related to COVID-19” prompts. Please note, submission of a request does not guarantee the availability of emergency child care. Bruce County Children’s Services will follow up with each applicant to confirm eligibility requirements and the availability of resources.
Recruitment of Registered Early Childhood Educators
Bruce County is seeking the support of Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE) who were working in licensed childcare as of March 1, 2020 and are interested in providing temporary contracted childcare in the home of an eligible family.
If you are an RECE interested in providing In-Home Emergency Child Care support, please contact Tina Metcalfe, Children’s Services Manager at tmetcalfe@brucecounty.on.ca.
“We are calling on Registered Early Childhood Educators in our community to provide support to medical staff and essential frontline workers. At times like these, it is important that we all pull together and provide support in any way that we can," said Bruce County Warden Mitch Twolan.
Emergency childcare guidelines and supports have been developed in order to promote the safety of the children, parents and childcare professionals in the provision of care.
