By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
As in previous COVID-19 shutdowns, Northumberland County is working with local child-care providers to offer eligible health-care and other front-line workers free targeted Emergency Child Care services for school-aged children, starting April 19.
On April 12, the Government of Ontario announced all elementary and secondary schools in the province are to move to teacher-led remote learning by that date to limit the spread of COVID-19. Timelines for returning to in-person learning will be based on on-going data assessments and consultation with health officials.
During the remote-learning period, licensed child-care centres and homes serving younger (below school-age) children may remain open. However, care for school-aged children (including before- and after-school programs) will be closed.
The province has established a list of essential health-care and front-line professions who will be eligible for no-cost emergency child care for school-aged children as of April 19.
“Northumberland County is pleased to be coordinating with local child care centres to provide eligible essential workers with access to emergency child care services to support these families as they continue to perform critical roles in the fight against COVID-19,” Director of Community and Social Services Lisa Horne said in the announcement.
“To facilitate health and safety measures, limited spaces for emergency child care will be available, and care may need to be prioritized based on the occupation and type of care required, in alignment with provincial criteria.”
A list of approved professions for emergency child care is available on the province’s website at www.news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/61162/ontario-provides-emergency-child-care-for-critical-frontline-workers.
To apply for Emergency School-Age Child Care starting April 19, residents are invited to complete an application at Northumberland.ca/ EmergencyChildCare/.
