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April 14, 2009
Accreditation supports quality child care for children aged 6 - 12
Edmonton... The Alberta government is allocating $12.6 million from the child care budget to expand the child care accreditation program to licensed out-of-school care programs. Accreditation gives parents with children needing care before and after school an additional tool to help them identify programs with standards of excellence over and above Alberta’s regulated requirements.
“Knowing that a program is participating in accreditation assures parents that their children will be cared for in a constructive and caring environment, by skilled professionals,” said Janis Tarchuk, Minister of Children and Youth Services. “Extending accreditation to the out-of-school care community is an important part of our commitment to quality child care and to Alberta’s children and families.”
Alberta’s child care accreditation program is the only one of its kind in Canada. Introduced to licensed day cares and approved family day home agencies in 2004, this voluntary program has now been tailored to work for the out-of-school care sector. Programs interested in participating are required to establish an accreditation team that will be responsible for conducting an extensive self-examination of its programming, staff and operations, and have its findings assessed by independent child care professionals.
The following pre-accreditation funding is available to participating programs:
- Quality Funding Grant - to improve quality programming and resources for staff and children (i.e. recreational equipment and staff training);
- Staff Support Funding - wage top-ups are paid to staff, over and above what employers pay;
- Professional Development Grant - to assist staff in obtaining their next level of certification; and
- Child Care Staff Attraction Incentive Allowance - to help operators attract new and experienced child development workers and supervisors to the out-of-school care sector.
“This is great news for the out-of-school care sector,” said Diane McKean, President of Adventurers School-age Care Ltd in Calgary. “Access to accreditation has many benefits as it not only supports the delivery of high-quality care, it also ensures that there’s a continuum of care when children move from day cares to school-age programs, resulting in great outcomes for children and families.”
Alberta Children and Youth Services is contracting with the Canadian Accreditation Council of Human Services to deliver the Out-of-School Care Accreditation Program. Once a program achieves accreditation, it will be eligible to receive enhanced Quality Funding Grants and higher wage top-ups.
To apply for a self-study guide or to get more information, call 780-424-4498 or visit www.oscprogram.com. Operators that apply by May 15 may be eligible for funding, retroactive to April 1.
The Out-of-School Care Accreditation program is part of Alberta’s Creating Child Care Choices plan. This plan was put in place to help communities create 14,000 new child care spaces by 2011.
Backgrounder: Details on the out-of-school care accreditation program
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Cathy Ducharme, Communications, Alberta Children and Youth Services
780-427-4801
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
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New accreditation program supports children attending out-of-school care
- The Out-of-School Care Accreditation program introduces standards of excellence, specifically related to school-aged children. These standards are intended to complement the students’ school program, emphasize recreation and involve students in planning and carrying-out activities. They also recognize that out-of-school care programs operate on a part-time basis and often share their space with other organizations.
- Programs that apply to the Canadian Accreditation Council of Human Services for a self-study guide and to Alberta Children and Youth Services for accreditation funding by May 15 may be eligible for funding, retroactive to April 1.
- Programs that apply after May 15 may qualify for funding at the beginning of the month their applications are received by the Canadian Accreditation Council of Human Services and Alberta Children and Youth Services.
- Alberta has 552 licensed out-of-school care programs.
- 76 per cent of Alberta’s day cares and family day home agencies are accredited (444 of 586 programs).
Overview of Out-of-School Care Accreditation Funding
Types of Funding |
Pre-Accredited Programs |
Accredited Programs |
Quality Funding Grant |
$2,000/yr |
$3,750/yr |
Staff Support Funding1 (Wage top-ups)
|
$1.44/hr |
$2.14/hr |
Professional Development Grant - to help child development assistants and child development workers offset some of the costs related to education that will support certification at a higher level. |
Up to $600/yr/staff |
|
Child Care Staff Attraction Incentive Allowance - to recruit certified child development workers and/or supervisors. |
New Staff - after one year of service $2,500 |
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1The new wage top-ups of up to $6.62/hour will replace the Retention Stability Grant of $144/month that was introduced in September 2008 to staff working in licensed out-of-school care programs.
For more information about Alberta’s Out-of-School Care Accreditation Funding Program, visit www.child.alberta.ca/childcare.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Cathy Ducharme, Communications, Alberta Children and Youth Services
780-427-4801
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
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