Durham Region receives investment to support high-quality and inclusive child care

Whitby, Ontario – The Regional Municipality of Durham received $277,625 in funding from the Government of Canada under the Social Development Partnerships Program for a research and innovation project, Rebuilding a village: A novel approach to inclusive early learning and child care environments.

“This financial commitment ensures that Durham families continue to have access to high-quality child care,” said John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer. “The early years of a child’s life are critical to their overall development and future success. This innovative project is another example of how we are supporting children with diverse needs, helping them to develop the social and emotional skills to thrive.”

One of seven innovation projects selected in the Greater Toronto Area, the Region will establish a simulated environment to assist educators who are working with children exhibiting at-risk behaviours and children with mental health needs. The environment will recreate everyday scenarios, allowing participants to test and evaluate concepts in a safe space.

Following a request from the federal government for new and innovative ways to improve early learning and child care service delivery, The Regional Municipality of Durham, Social Services Department, Children’s Services Division partnered with Fairy Glen Day Care Centre and other service organizations to develop a creative solution to better serve Durham families.

“We are very excited about this project, and its implications for the broader early learning and child care community,” said Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou, Commissioner of Social Services. “It reflects our strong commitment to strengthen quality early learning and care programs, and build capacity to support the children, families and educators who work with them. Through Rebuilding a village, we will generate concrete tools and strategies to encourage inclusive environments—so everyone has a place to grow, learn and succeed in Durham.”

The Children’s Services Division will submit a report to the federal government by March 2020 that summarizes the project scope and final outcomes.

Learn more about the Region’s early learning and child care programs, and view its Early Learning and Child Care Service Plan: 2018-2022, at durham.ca/ChildrensServices.

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For more information, please contact Corporate Communications.