Guest Spot - Province to Provide Childcare for Essential Workers

The province has launched a process to match parents, who are working on the front lines of B.C.’s COVID-19 response and have children up to five years of age, with child care in their communities. Child care spaces will be prioritized for children whose parents work in public health and health services, social services, law enforcement, first responders and emergency response sectors. Additional spaces will then be given to families working in other crucial roles, defined as essential service workers.

As of March 31^st, essential workers can fill out a new “parent” form to identify their need for urgent child care. Forms can be accessed by calling 1 888 338-6622 and selecting Option 4, or online:

www.gov.bc.ca/essential-service-child-care. Child Care Resource Referral (CCRR) centres will reach out to essential-service workers in their area who filled in the form to connect them with available licensed child care spaces.

For the full news release including frequently asked questions, please visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020CFD0017-000599.