What's new at CRRU...
This past June, CRRU and Child Care Now, both community partners on Re-imagining care/work policies, a SSHRC Partnership Grant project, along with other members of the project team, co-organized and hosted What now for child care? A two-day policy symposium that gathered researchers, Indigenous experts, advocates, and child care sector stakeholders from across Canada to discuss the intersections between the new Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreements, Indigenous early learning, parental leave, and employment for diverse families. CRRU has created an Issue File to provide readers with materials from the symposium. This will include presentations from panelists, a forthcoming report, photos, and more. In the coming weeks, CRRU will be developing an entirely new resource to provide ongoing information, research and tools to be used by researchers, advocates, policymakers and the child care sector in this next phase of implementing the ELCC agreements.
Featured
Creating wage parity in community care
Ontario Nonprofit Network, 24 June 2022
This report brings recommendations for the government and the nonprofit sector to create wage parity for community care workers, citing wage disparity as one of the key factors for the current nonprofit labour force crisis in Ontario. Recommendations include developing a comprehensive workforce strategy that includes pathways into the sector, promotion of care work, and access to training; redesigning funding agreements so funding for nonprofit organizations is on par with that of other service providers, like municipalities or school boards, and prioritizing nonprofit community-based care for care service expansion.
Developing leadership in early childhood education and care through the integration of theory, policy engagement, and advocacy
Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 13 August 2020
This study compares the learning outcomes of students in two child development courses: an intervention course with a community-based/experiential-learning focus on policy and advocacy, and a control course with traditional research on advocacy and policy. The study suggests that students in the intervention course showed a greater increase in awareness of social policy and were more engaged during in-class sessions than students in the control group. The author suggests that training in policy engagement and advocacy that uses experiential learning could help better prepare early childhood students as leaders.
ON: Ontario’s for-profit child-care owners demonstrate why they can’t be trusted to build Canada’s $10-a-day child-care system
The Star, 5 July 2022
NT: Indigenous workers in N.W.T. get set for upcoming $10 daycare
APTN News, 4 July 2022
Research, policy and practice
Low-income families should not lose child-care subsidies while on parental leave
The Conversation, 30 June 2022
In this article, authors explain how child care subsidy policies in Ontario increase the likelihood of child care instability, especially for children from low-income families. With current policies in place, parents can lose their subsidy for any number of reasons, including job loss and taking parental leave. Authors highlight that the new Canada-Ontario ELCC agreement does not fix this issue, as low-income families who cannot afford the reduced fees will still be subjected to punitive restrictions imposed by the existing rules, and call for changes in subsidy eligibility.
Early childhood education and care policy change: Comparing goals, governance and ideas in Nordic contexts
Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 28 June 2022
This article compares the evolution of ECEC in Finland and Sweden and explores shifts in goals, governance mechanisms and policy ideas that have characterized reforms in the sector. Drawing on an analysis of policy documents, authors argue that the incremental changes achieved over the last 50 years have been in response to changing goals assigned to ECEC and ideas about its role and function as part of welfare and education systems. The authors conclude that the comparison of ECEC provisions in the two countries demonstrates the significance in understanding the connections between policy, legislation, governance structures and ideological frameworks which shape ECEC systems.
Accuracy of parental perceptions about licensed child care in Canada
Statistics Canada, 22 June 2022
This study examines the ability of parents to accurately identify regulated child care services in Canada. Data from the General Social Survey and the Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements (SELCCA) are used to inform the study. Results suggest that factors such as age of the child, education level of the parent and household income influence the accuracy by which parents identify regulated child care services. The study highlights that approximately 20% to 30% of parents surveyed believe their child to be in regulated care when they are not. Findings suggest the need to improve the visibility of information on regulated/ licensed status so families are able to make well-informed decisions related to regulated child care.
Child care in the news
US: Allyson Felix's childcare initiative: The lasting legacy of an Olympic great
Olympics.com, 1 July 2022
UK: Drive to reduce the cost of childcare for parents
Government of United Kingdom, 4 July 2022
UK: Childcare is a looming political battle that is long overdue
Financial Times, 29 June 2022
NL: YMCA-NL to act as not-for-profit operator of pre-kindergarten pilot locations; Minister Osborne available to media
Government of Newfoundland, 21 June 2022
NS: Acadian families in Nova Scotia worry English-run preschools will stifle language learning
The Coast, 5 July 2022
NS: Change to daycare hours leaves some health-care workers in a bind
CBC News, 4 July 2022l
NB: Inclusion support workers receive hourly wage increase in line with early childhood educators
Government of New Brunswick, 29 June 2022
ON: As deadline to opt into $10-a-day child-care program looms, Ontario participation lags
Global News, 4 July 2022
ON: 'We just don’t have clear information': Nearly 250 GTA child care centres have applied for $10 a day program
CTV News, 3 July 2022
ON: This Toronto daycare doesn’t plan to offer $10-a-day child care under the new federal program. Instead, it’s hiking its prices
The Star, 3 July 2022
ON: Joy and laughter ring loud at Nshwaasnangong child care and family centre in London, Ont
CBC News, 21 June 2022
MB: Helping Indigenous families in Winnipeg benefit from innovative early learning and child care practices
Newswire, 27 June 2022
AB: Alberta announces increased aid program, child-care subsidy for arriving Ukrainians
CBC News, 4 July 2022
AB: Overnight daycare approved for Fort McMurray, Wood Buffalo
CBC News, 29 June 2022
BC: 'Wonderful step' as Metis child-care centre opens
Times Colonist, 26 June 2022
Event
ON: Scarborough: A free screening for ECEs and early years staff
The Toronto Community for Better Child Care & the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario, 10 July 2022
The Toronto Community for Better Child Care (TCBCC) and Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario (AECEO) are hosting a free screening of the film "Scarborough", dedicated for early childhood educators, other early years and family support professionals, and the early learning community. "Scarborough" is directed by Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson and adapted from Catherine Hernandez's homonymous novel, published in 2017.
NS: Introduction to requirements for entry level employment in licensed child care & pre primary programs
Opportunity Place - Nova Scotia, 19 July 2022
This information session is an opportunity for those interested in a career in early childhood education with information about the requirements for entry level employment in licensed child and pre-primary programs in Nova Scotia. Participants will get an overview of the process for the required documentation for employment, review how to establish goals, and identify possible employers in the area.
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