In response to the Province’s decision (external link) to move all Ontario students to remote learning until at least January 17, Halton Region has partnered with the Ministry of Education and select operators in Burlington, Georgetown, Milton and Oakville to provide free emergency child care services. Currently there are six different emergency childcare providers throughout the region, with at least one location in each municipality. Eligible workers will also have access to licensed home childcare providers in all four municipalities. Full-day spaces will be available starting on or before Monday, January 10 for eligible health care and frontline workers (external link) with children aged four to 12 who are registered for school in Halton.
“Throughout the pandemic, our healthcare and frontline workers have worked around the clock to keep our community safe,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We will continue to ensure our critical workers have the support they need as they respond to COVID-19. Thank you to our Children Services team, the Province and our local childcare providers for working together to provide this essential service.”
The targeted emergency child care spaces are fully funded by the Province to eligible healthcare and frontline workers (external link) who may not be able to support their children’s learning/care at home and who have no other childcare alternatives. Childcare for infants up to four years of age remain open.
To apply for emergency childcare, eligible workers can contact one of the approved emergency childcare operators directly. Residents who previously applied for targeted emergency childcare will need to reapply. Spaces are limited.
Halton Region Public Health is working closely with the Ministry of Education to open these childcare spaces and are taking extra measures to maintain a safe and healthy environment, including daily screening of children and staff and regular cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched objects and surfaces.
For more details including, eligibility criteria, approved childcare providers and how to apply, please visit Halton Region’s Childcare Services webpage or call 311.
For more information on COVID-19 and current public health direction, please visit halton.ca/COVID19 or ontario.ca/exposed (external link).
The Regional Municipality of Halton serves more than 595,000 residents in the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Halton Region is committed to meeting the needs of its residents through the delivery of cost-effective, quality programs and services, including water and wastewater; Regional roads and planning; paramedic services; waste management; public health; social assistance; children’s and seniors’ services; housing services; heritage programs; emergency management and economic development. For more information, call 311 or visit Halton Region’s website at halton.ca.