More young parents in B.C. can now access free child care while they finish high school, announced federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Yves Duclos.
The Province is investing an additional $3 million over the next three years - on top of its annual funding of $1.6 million - to boost the monthly subsidy amount available to eligible young parents to up to $1,500 a month per child.
To be eligible for the Young Parent Program, parents must be under the age of 24 years, have had their child on or before their 20th birthday and meet the eligibility criteria for the Child Care Subsidy program. Infant and toddler care is the most expensive type of child care in B.C. at a median cost of $1,250 per month. The majority of young parents in YPP have children up to 18 months old, and need access to infant and toddler care.
Centres that offer YPP may provide other supports to help the young parents, including: meals or nutrition and health-education supports; housing supports; counselling or access to counselling; transportation; or help with referrals to other community agencies. Through their time at the child care centres, parents spend time with and build strong bonds with their children.
In February 2018, the Ministry of Children and Family Development signed a $153-million, three-year Early Learning and Child Care partnership agreement with the Government of Canada. This agreement enriches annual YPP program funding by 63% to $2.6 million. The increase in funding will help to serve the child care needs of approximately 220 young-parent families per year. Under Childcare BC, the Province is investing more than $1 billion into child care over the next three years to lay the foundation for a universal child care system that will provide access to affordable, quality child care for anyone in B.C. who wants or needs it. Investments under the ELCC agreement complement the Province's Childcare BC goals to improve access to child care by supporting British Columbians who need them most - from young parents, to children with special needs and Indigenous communities.