Targeted School-Aged Emergency Child Care in Timiskaming
/The District of Timiskaming Social Services Administration Board, in collaboration with our Licensed Child Care Centres and Licensed Home Child Care Providers, will be implementing emergency childcare during Ontario's temporary move to shift schools to virtual learning, in response to concerns surrounding the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The Emergency Child Care has a tentative start date of January 10th, 2022, pending further direction from the Ministry of Education.
The Ontario government has opted to move elementary and secondary schools to remote learning following the Christmas break. The move has been made as a preventative measure in response to the rapid increase of community transmission of COVID-19 cases, and the increasing risks posed to the public by the Omicron variant across the province.
Licensed childcare programs will continue for non-school aged children from ages 0-4. Childcare programs that are co-located within a school may continue as approved by individual school boards. Early ON programs will pause in-person programming.
The Targeted School-Aged Emergency Child-Care will provide childcare services for children aged 3.8 to 12 years old, at no cost for provincially identified essential workers who are not able to acquire alternative child care and/or are unable to accommodate care at home for their school-aged children. Eligibility will be determined according to the Province's Individuals Eligible for Emergency Child Care list available here: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/200263.
The DTSSAB will continue to work closely with the Timiskaming Health Unit, Licensed Child Care providers and local school boards to identify interest and prepare for the opening of emergency childcare locations for school-aged children. Applications can be completed using the following link:
Inquiries can be directed to DTSSAB Children's Services at our toll-free number 1-888-544-555 or 1-800-627-2944.
