EXCERPTS
The Dufferin County Children’s Services division has been renamed Early Years and Child Care.
The new name reflects the division’s service realignment to modernize its current and future services and programs, including pandemic-related changes and implementation of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care System.
“Our team conducted a full-service review and redesigned service delivery to ensure we meet the needs of the community and provincial requirements,” says Lori-Jane Del Medico, Program Manager.
“We remain committed to supporting Dufferin families through our role as the service system manager for Early Years programs and services, and licensed child care. To enhance our continued commitment to professionalism in the sector, we look forward to hosting a County-wide professional learning day on June 3rd, to support the important work of Registered Early Childhood Educators and other early learning professionals.”
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Early Years and Child Care division adapted and continued to support families by delivering EarlyON and other core programs and services remotely, virtually, and outdoors.
In addition, the division supported licensed child care with sustainability funding and the implementation of Emergency Child Care at no cost to eligible essential workers when child care closures were mandated.
The Early Years and Child Care division provides and supports a wide variety of programs and services in Dufferin County.
These include EarlyON Child and Family Centre free programs and resources for parents, caregivers and children; lowering the cost of licensed child care for eligible families through reduced fees; funding supports to ensure the sustainability of licensed child care; continuous professional learning of Early Years professionals; and supports for children with additional needs in licensed child care.