Ontario Caregivers - daycare announcement due today

[username]

Here is what I am sending:

I am concerned about the proposed changes:

- having a 6th child is not an incentive for me to join an agency (their age restrictions are prohibitive and the fact that upwards of 20% of the daily fee remains with the agency)
- it will not create more licensed spaces because the age limits cap it at 3 under 3 years old. It may open 2-3 spaces for after school/PA day/summer care but for not children ages 1-3 where there is already a shortage and the schools will be taking over before and after school care for the most part. This situation creates an environment for illegal daycares to open up and be successful.
- under the new proposed restrictions for private care givers I imagine several home daycares will close, many new moms will not be starting up home daycares, fees will increase dramatically, part-time children will not be accommodated and some parents will need to "be let go" in order to be in compliance with the proposed changes

Some things that I would like to see are:

- increasing ratios for infants in centres to create more spaces. The ratios were created when an "infant" could be under 6 months when maternity leaves were shorter. Currently, they can care for 10 infants with 3 providers. That should be increased to 12 infants since they likely around 12 months plus and with devices like 6 seater strollers it is manageable and good help centres stay in good financial standing. Perhaps the toddler room ratios could be slightly increased as well to allow more subsidized/licensed spots to become available.
- home providers and licensed providers with an agency should be able to care for 7 children with minimal age restrictions. Assuming most moms have an average of two children that would mean that many have been functioning well with 7 children in their care (two of their own). The provider's own children under the age of 6 should count in the numbers. Once their own children are over the age of 6 they could care for 7 children. This would help with coordinating moms returning from mat leaves, PA/summer holidays and transitioning new children to care with some flex in the current allowable limits. Much of the difficultly with home child care is the juggling of part-time schedules, accommodating maternity leaves, holding spots for moms returning from a maternity leave, PA days and holiday care. Extra flexibility would solve this problem for both providers and parents.
- these deaths that happened in the Toronto area speak loudly to the child care crisis in Toronto more so than the entire province. These tragedies are not happening in home where there are 5, 7, or 8 children. It is happening in severely crowded homes where there are dozens of children where the providers are motivated by greed.
- Allowing up to 7 in some homes where providers have some minimal training and basic standards are being met would shift some of those children from the overcrowded homes and those homes that are not offering quality care. It would create more choice for parents and allow the parents to determine the better home daycares for themselves.
- up to 7 children would also allow care givers to make a decent wage in a profession that is severely undervalued and hopefully allow them to invest back into the daycare to create a quality environment for children. This could allow for some of those larger purchases needed to care for a group of young children.
- the limit should be two under 18 months (where the provider’s children count in those limits). Because of full day kindergarten the turnover of children is much faster now in home daycares. Often a maternity leave in between age one and age 4 when they go off to school also creates a quick turnovers and makes scheduling difficult. Two under 2 years would create a bias against mothers returning from a maternity leave and looking for care being accepted into a home daycare.

- I would like to see a voluntary registry (registering verses licensing) whereby a provider could apply to have up to 7 children should they meet some basic requirements: CPR training, annual training, police check, fire inspection and perhaps a site visit to be allowed up to 7 children. Documentation could be mailed or submitted electronically to a governing body and a permit could be issued. Then the provider would be mailed a permit to be placed in their front window. Parents could see the capacity limitations and so could curious neighbours to avoid false reporting and save time for inspections of those bending the rules. It could also include a phone number for those concerned to call. Registered providers should have current first-aid and CPR certificate and complete Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the Family Child Care Training Course, which is available through the Canadian Childcare Federation or equivalent. The license applicant must provide 3 personal references and written authorization for criminal record screening for themselves as well as any other adults residing at the residence on an annual basis. Proof of liability insurance would be required. Registration would be renewed annually and would include an inspection by the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal. Other recommendations would be welcomed.

The Day Nurseries Act does not allow two adults to care for more children in one home. Home child care can be an extremely isolating profession. Being able to work with another individual allows for adult interaction and someone to plan with. It also enhances safety and accountability. While one is making the lunch or toileting children the other can be reading, playing, painting or taking the children outside. While smaller children are napping, one provider can be at home with the children and the other can take older children to the library, museum or park etc. It allows for both age groups to have their needs met and to enhance programming. This option should also be considered.

Parents need choices and options and children need to have their needs met with their best interests in mind. Any good provider would advocate for that. I receive several emails and phone calls from parents that are eagerly seeking quality care only to find out that I am full and carry a long waiting list. There are several quality home childcares in our city that I often refer these parents to and they are often told that they are full as well. The great ones are always full leaving parents to choose substandard care. Their ability to choose quality care and attain their first choice (or often second and third choice) for care is not always possible and they are left having to settle for the first place that has an opening in order to be able to return to work (often an illegal daycare or in the care of someone who is not properly trained or offering a quality environment)

I firmly believe that we should be overseen for quality and minimum standards. By providing a means of licensing home child care parents could rest assured that they were some minimum requirements required in order to open your door and welcome children in the morning. We would all like to help make a difference in supporting families in Ontario. Please advocate to protect parents for the right to chose the child care option that works best for them by providing more choices and not limiting them.

About 80% of children are cared for providers like myself and I would hate to see the government not include us in this discussion. The media witchhunt against home child care providers is insulting to our work. The dedication many of us bring to this profession early each morning as we open our doors to these young children should be praised. We are the ones planning crafts, shopping on weekends for groceries, cleaning the space after hours, meal planning, interviewing families, and thinking of these little people as we fall asleep. We allow parents to go to work, for the economy to function and for some of us it has allowed us to raise our own children while making an income. We are business women who pay taxes and write receipts for parents. Yes, there are some providers who have ruined our credibility but the majority of us would like to reinstate the public’s trust and become accountable through a registration process.

I would really like to see the province get this right and make the system work for everyone!

[giraffe]

Here is what I am sending:

I am concerned about the proposed changes:

- having a 6th child is not an incentive for me to join an agency (their age restrictions are prohibitive and the fact that upwards of 20% of the daily fee remains with the agency)
- it will not create more licensed spaces because the age limits cap it at 3 under 3 years old. It may open 2-3 spaces for after school/PA day/summer care but for not children ages 1-3 where there is already a shortage and the schools will be taking over before and after school care for the most part. This situation creates an environment for illegal daycares to open up and be successful.
- under the new proposed restrictions for private care givers I imagine several home daycares will close, many new moms will not be starting up home daycares, fees will increase dramatically, part-time children will not be accommodated and some parents will need to "be let go" in order to be in compliance with the proposed changes

Some things that I would like to see are:

- increasing ratios for infants in centres to create more spaces. The ratios were created when an "infant" could be under 6 months when maternity leaves were shorter. Currently, they can care for 10 infants with 3 providers. That should be increased to 12 infants since they likely around 12 months plus and with devices like 6 seater strollers it is manageable and good help centres stay in good financial standing. Perhaps the toddler room ratios could be slightly increased as well to allow more subsidized/licensed spots to become available.
- home providers and licensed providers with an agency should be able to care for 7 children with minimal age restrictions. Assuming most moms have an average of two children that would mean that many have been functioning well with 7 children in their care (two of their own). The provider's own children under the age of 6 should count in the numbers. Once their own children are over the age of 6 they could care for 7 children. This would help with coordinating moms returning from mat leaves, PA/summer holidays and transitioning new children to care with some flex in the current allowable limits. Much of the difficultly with home child care is the juggling of part-time schedules, accommodating maternity leaves, holding spots for moms returning from a maternity leave, PA days and holiday care. Extra flexibility would solve this problem for both providers and parents.
- these deaths that happened in the Toronto area speak loudly to the child care crisis in Toronto more so than the entire province. These tragedies are not happening in home where there are 5, 7, or 8 children. It is happening in severely crowded homes where there are dozens of children where the providers are motivated by greed.
- Allowing up to 7 in some homes where providers have some minimal training and basic standards are being met would shift some of those children from the overcrowded homes and those homes that are not offering quality care. It would create more choice for parents and allow the parents to determine the better home daycares for themselves.
- up to 7 children would also allow care givers to make a decent wage in a profession that is severely undervalued and hopefully allow them to invest back into the daycare to create a quality environment for children. This could allow for some of those larger purchases needed to care for a group of young children.
- the limit should be two under 18 months (where the provider’s children count in those limits). Because of full day kindergarten the turnover of children is much faster now in home daycares. Often a maternity leave in between age one and age 4 when they go off to school also creates a quick turnovers and makes scheduling difficult. Two under 2 years would create a bias against mothers returning from a maternity leave and looking for care being accepted into a home daycare.

- I would like to see a voluntary registry (registering verses licensing) whereby a provider could apply to have up to 7 children should they meet some basic requirements: CPR training, annual training, police check, fire inspection and perhaps a site visit to be allowed up to 7 children. Documentation could be mailed or submitted electronically to a governing body and a permit could be issued. Then the provider would be mailed a permit to be placed in their front window. Parents could see the capacity limitations and so could curious neighbours to avoid false reporting and save time for inspections of those bending the rules. It could also include a phone number for those concerned to call. Registered providers should have current first-aid and CPR certificate and complete Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the Family Child Care Training Course, which is available through the Canadian Childcare Federation or equivalent. The license applicant must provide 3 personal references and written authorization for criminal record screening for themselves as well as any other adults residing at the residence on an annual basis. Proof of liability insurance would be required. Registration would be renewed annually and would include an inspection by the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal. Other recommendations would be welcomed.

The Day Nurseries Act does not allow two adults to care for more children in one home. Home child care can be an extremely isolating profession. Being able to work with another individual allows for adult interaction and someone to plan with. It also enhances safety and accountability. While one is making the lunch or toileting children the other can be reading, playing, painting or taking the children outside. While smaller children are napping, one provider can be at home with the children and the other can take older children to the library, museum or park etc. It allows for both age groups to have their needs met and to enhance programming. This option should also be considered.

Parents need choices and options and children need to have their needs met with their best interests in mind. Any good provider would advocate for that. I receive several emails and phone calls from parents that are eagerly seeking quality care only to find out that I am full and carry a long waiting list. There are several quality home childcares in our city that I often refer these parents to and they are often told that they are full as well. The great ones are always full leaving parents to choose substandard care. Their ability to choose quality care and attain their first choice (or often second and third choice) for care is not always possible and they are left having to settle for the first place that has an opening in order to be able to return to work (often an illegal daycare or in the care of someone who is not properly trained or offering a quality environment)

I firmly believe that we should be overseen for quality and minimum standards. By providing a means of licensing home child care parents could rest assured that they were some minimum requirements required in order to open your door and welcome children in the morning. We would all like to help make a difference in supporting families in Ontario. Please advocate to protect parents for the right to chose the child care option that works best for them by providing more choices and not limiting them.

About 80% of children are cared for providers like myself and I would hate to see the government not include us in this discussion. The media witchhunt against home child care providers is insulting to our work. The dedication many of us bring to this profession early each morning as we open our doors to these young children should be praised. We are the ones planning crafts, shopping on weekends for groceries, cleaning the space after hours, meal planning, interviewing families, and thinking of these little people as we fall asleep. We allow parents to go to work, for the economy to function and for some of us it has allowed us to raise our own children while making an income. We are business women who pay taxes and write receipts for parents. Yes, there are some providers who have ruined our credibility but the majority of us would like to reinstate the public’s trust and become accountable through a registration process.

I would really like to see the province get this right and make the system work for everyone!

Just wanted to say that they have introduced a two provider model for agency providers

[Artsand crafts]

Just wanted to say that they have introduced a two provider model for agency providers

I heard that in another forum, but no one provided a link to read this. Could you share your source? Thanks

[giraffe]

I heard that in another forum, but no one provided a link to read this. Could you share your source? Thanks

Arts and crafts... Part 2 PROTECTIVE MEASURES; home child are; B

[Artsand crafts]

This is what it read about 2 caregivers model. So if this part is approved seems that a home daycare affiliated to an agency could have up to 12 kids if there are 2 caregivers. That also could be an option.

home child care

1. The child care provided at the premises meets the following criteria:

i. The child care is provided,

A. by one child care provider for no more than six children or, if a lesser number is prescribed in accordance with subsection (6), no more than the prescribed number of children, or

B. if the regulations so provide, by two child care providers for no more than twice the number of children that applies for the purposes of sub-subparagraph A or, if a lesser number is prescribed, no more than the prescribed number of children.

[playfelt]

Arts and crafts... Part 2 PROTECTIVE MEASURES; home child are; B

This is in the act which makes it sound like we can't have two providers and double the kids.

(8) For greater certainty, the number of child care providers at a premises shall not affect the number of children for whom child care may be provided in the circumstances set out in paragraph 2 of subsection (3).

[Artsand crafts]

This is in the act which makes it sound like we can't have two providers and double the kids.

(8) For greater certainty, the number of child care providers at a premises shall not affect the number of children for whom child care may be provided in the circumstances set out in paragraph 2 of subsection (3).

Take another look at that section Playfelt. It even continues with :

iv. The group of children does not include,

A. in the circumstances described in sub-subparagraph i A, more than two children who are younger than two years old,

B. in the circumstances described in sub-subparagraph i B, more than four children who are younger than two years old or, if a lesser number is prescribed, more than the prescribed number, or

It seems that if you are affiliated to an agency you could have up to 4 kids under 2yo. and total the double allowed (12 kids) if there are 2 caregivers.

[playfelt]

Before anyone starts a writing campaign we need to get the ratio information correct. It appears the 3 under 3 rule for example is gone. That will help most of us out at least somewhat. They have added the 2 under 2 for private care as well as now we have to count our own under age 6 in those 5. It sounds like our own over 6 don't matter. The rule about the over age 10 not counting is deceiving too because there is a place that defines a "child" as anyone under age 13 so we need to make sure of that rule too as it effects after school kids. The assumption then is that kids under that age ie school age kids not your own may have to be part of the 5 daycare - ie one over age 6 for everyone of our own under age 6 like agency care does now. In effect both private and agency have the same age rules in effect.

I did think of one scenario that could help us being licensed though although a lot to go through. We don't make enough to let agency take a cut on all 6 spaces but if registered, placed 5 in of our own privately and then let the agency give us the 6th child and only took a pay cut for that child it could work to our benefit but a lot of hassle for an extra few dollars a day.

[Artsand crafts]

I did think of one scenario that could help us being licensed though although a lot to go throuegh. We don't make enough to let agency take a cut on all 6 spaces but if registered, placed 5 in of our own privately and then let the agency give us the 6th child and only took a pay cut for that child it could work to our benefit but a lot of hassle for an extra few dollars a day.

That is a great idea Playfelt. That could work. When I worked for an agency I was allowed to have private clients and kids from other agencies. They preferred to take on providers that have the under 2 spots available since these spots are high demand with agencies, but we could find the 6th kid through our usual marketing tools and then presented them to the agencies to be enrolled through them. We can even include in our marketing that we are licensed since many providers that are currently affiliated to agencies do that since most parents don't know that the agency is the one with a license.