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Early childhood care and education in Canada: Provinces and territories 1998

Early childhood care and education in British Columbia
Planning and development Provincial context Legislation History Related services Planning and development Standards and regulations Space statistics Provincial context Child care services Provincial official responsible for child care Legislation Recent developments History Standards and regulations Children with special needs Child care services Key provincial organizations Recent developments Municipal role Administration Funding Standards and regulations Aboriginal child care Children with special needs
Funding BC


 
CHILD CARE FEE SUBSIDY PROGRAM

Fee assistance is paid directly to service providers on behalf of eligible parents.

The number of fee subsidies is not capped.

Eligibility is determined through an income test.

Families eligible for fee subsidy may use it in for-profit, non-profit, licensed or unregulated child care but may not use child minding services. Families who use in-own-home child care may be eligible for subsidy when the caregiver is not a relative who resides with the family. If unregulated care is used, the parent must complete a checklist on the provider and submit it to the Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security. There is no minimum user fee.

Child care services may surcharge subsidized parents above the maximum subsidy rates.

Eligibility for fee subsidy (net income, 1998)
  Turning point Break-even point
1 parent, 1 child $18,984 $27,816
2 parents, 2 children 23,016 31,846
The turning point is the income level up to which full subsidy is available. Partial subsidy is available up to the break-even point at which income subsidy ceases.

Maximum subsidy by age of child (1998)
  Part-day monthly
(4hrs or less/day)		 Full-day monthly (more than 4hrs/day)
Family child care
0-18 months $219 $438
19-36 months 202 404
3-5 years 177 354
Centre-based
0-18 months 292 585
19-36 months 264 528
3-5 years 184 368
Kindergarten 204 255
School-age 147 173
In-own-home
1st child (0-18 mos) 197 394
1st child (over 18 mos) 159 318
2nd child (0-18 mos) 99 198
Each additional child 73 147

Average percentage of centre revenue from fee subsidies   38.5%

PUBLIC FUNDING FOR REGULATED CHILD CARE (1998)

One-time funding

Child care facilities and equipment grant program    Up to 50% of eligible capital costs available to assist with facility acquisition, renovation or purchase of furnishings and equipment. Available to non-profit child care services only.

Emergency repair, replacement and relocation grants    Up to $4,000 to non-profit centres to upgrade or repair facilities in order to continue to comply with Ministry of Health licensing requirements, and to assist with costs when a facility must move to another location.

Recurring funding

Child care compensation contribution program    Funds to enhance the wages of child care staff in non-profit and for-profit programs that met eligibility criteria, and assist with the additional costs associated with infant/toddler care in centres. It combines the former wage supplement initiative and infant/toddler incentive grant for group centres.

Infant/toddler incentive grant    Family child care providers who are members of a Child Care Resource and Referral Program are eligible to receive $3/day per occupied space to a maximum of two spaces for children under 3 years old.

Supported child care    Funds to assist with the additional costs for caring for children with special needs in the program of the parents' choice. It is intended to cover equipment and additional staffing costs.

Other funding

Child care support programs    Annualized funding for non-profit child care support programs to assist in recruitment, support and training of both licensed and unlicensed family day care providers and the development and operation of child care operation manuals, financial counselling by telephone or on-site, training and workshops.

Financial management and administration support program  Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre is funded to assist non-profit programs in developing and maintaining sound financial management practices. Projects funded include the development of manuals, training for board and community members, and financial counselling.

Average percentage of centre revenue from government grants   8.9%

PROVINCIAL ALLOCATIONS FOR REGULATED CHILD CARE (1998)

Fee subsidy (estimate) $61,665,000*
One time funding 2,500,000
Recurring funding 16,880,000
Other funding 47,820,000
Total $128,865,000

*Other subsidies in unregulated child care(estimate) $61,665,000

Annual regulated child care allocation for each child 0-12yrs (1998)  $201.35
(estimate based on provincial budget)

FEDERAL FUNDING

Entitlements on child care expenditures No longer available
(See FEDERAL ROLE for more information)

SALARIES (1998)

Mean gross hourly wage for child care staff
(full and part-time staff combined)
Centres
Assistant Teachers $10.55
Teachers 12.07
Teachers Directors 14.41
Administrative Directors 18.73
Family day care
Information not available

Average percentage of centre budget spent on wages and benefits  82.5%

FEES (1998)

Median monthly parent fees for full-time care
Centres
Infants (Age 0-17 mos) $650
Toddlers (Age 18 mos - 3 yrs) 547
Preschoolers (Age 3 yrs -5.11yrs) 460
School-age Information not available
Family day care
Age three

$29.61

Average percentage of centre revenue from parent fees  49.4%

 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA   1   2    3    4   5   6   7
INTRODUCTION | FEDERAL ROLE  | THE BIG PICTURE | THE LONG VIEW  | NOTES AND REFERENCES

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