Welcome to the Family and Child Care Connections WebSite.
We are a community-based, non-profit family resource centre located in St. John's, NL. We believe that all children have the right to quality early learning and family child care. Our early childhood experts are ready to share many resources and programs to help foster your child's early learning. We can assist in your parenting and child care needs and build quality in family child care together. Come in and get to know us. Thank you for visiting. Please check out our Calendar or scroll down below to our blog to see upcoming events.
Christmas and New Years Schedule
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL. Our office will be closed from December 24, 2011 to January 3, 2012. Should you need to leave a message for us, you are welcome to call 754-7090 ext. 222. We will be checking our calls throughout and will respond to emergencies only. Our drop in playgroups will begin on Tuesday January 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN 2012
Weekly Drop in Playgroups
Our weekly playgroups are held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Tuesday and Thursday playgroups are for the general public with children from infancy to age 6 years. The Wednesday morning playgroup is open to child care providers with children from infancy to 6 years old. Parents, grandparents, child care providers and other adults caring for the children are welcome. There is no fee, however we do have a "piggy bank" that graciously accepts small donations. The playroom is set-up with a variety of child centered activities that encourage children to explore and play. Parents, child care providers and others adults stay and play during this time while interacting with the children during their play and with other adults attending. Ask about our family child care agency while you are here and other information that supports you as a parent or child care provider.
Funding Announced to Support Child Care Sector
The Provincial Government has provided $30,000 to the Early Childhood Educators Human Resource Council to assist in finalizing a human resource manual and providing training workshops for the child care sector. For more details, follow the link provided
NEW AND EXCITING
The following announcement was made during the provincial government's Budget 2011,
Family Child Care Initiative
Building upon the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Capacity Initiative, the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services is introducing a two-year pilot project focused on the development of spaces in family child care homes throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Over the next two years, the department will work to support the development of a targeted 400 new spaces in regulated family child care.
“One issue facing young families in our province is the need for more regulated child care,” said Minister Johnson. “Our government has listened carefully to the concerns of parents, and as part of Budget 2011 is introducing a new initiative to specifically target the shortage of regulated spaces, particularly in rural communities and for children under the age of two. The new Family Child Care Initiative will stimulate economic growth by providing people, especially women, with opportunities to enter and remain in the labour market by availing of these spaces or by becoming a regulated provider.”
Highlights include increased start-up grants from $2,500 to $5,000 to become a regulated family child care provider, and infant start-up grants of $7,500 for homes that care exclusively for children up to the age of two. In addition, an annual infant stimulus grant of $2,400 per infant space ($200/month per infant) will be available to family child care providers who care exclusively for children up to two years of age, to help offset the loss of revenue associated with having the smaller group size required in these homes. http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2011/cyfs/0419n05.html
Office Hours
Our Fall Office hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Calendar of Events!!!
Our calendar of Events will be up to date soon in order for you to get additional details.
Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador (AECENL)
Check out AECENL's website for online professional development courses. www.aecenl.ca
