KITCHEN ROOM –
Soon, parents in the Waterloo region could cost significantly more money to send their children to a licensed day care home.
The region proposes a rate increase for the first time since 2017.
That could double the cost of the only licensed child care option for families who work nights, weekends and nights.
“This increase is really to respond to the growing demands of that profession essentially, and to be able to provide quality child care, which is not important to children in the long term,” said Kristen Bustamante, manager of family child care for the Region. of Waterloo.
She adds that half-day care is becoming unfeasible, so the changes would see them eliminate the infant, toddler and preschool fee schedule. Meanwhile, children six years and older would cost 12% more.
Here’s a breakdown of the proposed fees:
- School-age children (between 0 and 5 hours) – $ 26 (12%)
- Infant (between 0 and 10 hours) – $ 55 (88%)
- Small child (between 0 and 10 hours) – $ 49 (80%)
- Preschool (between 0 and 10 hours) – $ 47 (88%)
- School age (between 0 and 10 hours) – $ 45 (16%)
If approved, parents of young children could pay up to 80 percent more per day for up to 10 hours of care, even if their child does not stay the full 10 hours.
Bustamante says the biggest increases would only affect about 20 families and the region will work with those parents individually to find subsidies and supports.
“We see this as a way to support all families, but in particular, families who use these types of irregular hours or irregular hours of attention.”
Other increases represent less than one percent.
- Infant (between 10 and 18 hours) – $ 62 (0.2%)
- Small child (between 10 and 18 hours) – $ 60 (0.5%)
- Preschool (between 10 and 18 hours) – $ 58 (0.5%)
- School age (between 10 and 18 hours) – $ 56 (0.8%)
- Infant (between 18 and 23 hours) – $ 83 (0.1%)
- Young child (between 18 and 23 hours) – $ 81 (0.4%)
- Preschool (between 18 and 23 hours) – $ 79 (0.4%)
- School age (between 18 and 23 hours) – $ 77 (0.6%)
Bustamante says the proposed rate increases would go directly to the caregiver’s compensation.
The region expects more child care spaces to open.
“If rates go up, more caregivers stay in the profession and attract more caregivers to the profession,” says Bustamante. “Along these lines, we can maintain the spaces we have and expand the number of spaces.”
The proposed increases will be sent to the regional council on December 15, when the 2022 budget is expected to be finalized.
If approved, the changes would take effect on March 1.
Reference-kitchener.ctvnews.ca