Emergency child care offered to health care and frontline workers in Durham Region

Whitby, Ontario – Under the directive of the Provincial Government, emergency child care will now be offered to eligible healthcare and frontline workers in Durham Region.

The Regional Municipality of Durham is working with local licensed childcare operators to offer emergency child care, free of charge to parents. These child care centres will be exempt to the order issued by the Provincial Government to close all licensed centres pursuant to the state of emergency.

The Region of Durham’s Social Services Department, Children’s Services Division has been working closely with the Durham Region Health Department, Provincial Government and other provincial partners to ensure that the health and safety of children, parents, and staff are at the forefront of service delivery. Stringent policies and procedures will be mandated in all emergency child care centres to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. This will include screening, surveillance, enhanced sanitization practices, and protocols if a child or staff have symptoms.

Through partnerships with licensed child care centres and licensed home child care agencies, the Region will be able to provide 24-hour care for children, from birth to 12 years of age.

An online survey has been launched to help families identify if they are eligible for emergency child care, and to easily apply.

For more information, please visit durham.ca.

Quotes

“We are proud to help support frontline workers by offering emergency child care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Registered Early Childhood Educators are stepping up to help give these essential workers piece of mind that their children are being cared for by professionals in a welcoming environment.”

- Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou, Commissioner of Social Services

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For more information, please contact Corporate Communications.