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Today, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced step three in the transformation of early years programs in Ontario. Introducing the Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centres (OEYCFCs), the Premier, along with the Minister of Education, Liz Sandals, committed to providing families and children with an integrated and coordinated system of services in communities where they live through the establishment of the new centres.
Currently, the Province funds four programs that offer a variety of services:
- Ontario Early Years Centres
- Parenting and Family Literacy Centres
- Child Care Resource Centres
- Better Beginnings, Better Futures
Families and children do not benefit from the opportunity to access these services at the same location. Now, these four programs will be transformed and combined into one suite of integrated services offered at OEYCFCs and as part of Ontario's early years modernization plan.
Moving to the integrated system offered through the new OEYCFCs is intended to provide families and children across Ontario with a core and standardized system of services. However, local flexibility and responsiveness will also come into play with the establishment of the new centres. Transformation will occur over 2 years.
Following the introduction of the Child Care and Early Years Act and the current regulation development process under the legislation, the OEYCFCs provide an important and third step in transforming Ontario's early years programs.
Today's announcement provided the following information on the role of Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSMs) and District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSABs):
Enhancing the role of Consolidated Municipal Service Managers and District Social Services Administration Boards
CMSMs/DSSABs already play a leading role in local early years service planning, possess knowledge about community needs, and are well-positioned to work with local partners and families to determine appropriate program delivery approaches. Some municipalities also already have responsibility for some child and family programs.
CMSMs/DSSABs will be required to manage the delivery of a suite of core OEYCFC services and will have the flexibility to determine how these core services are delivered and by whom, through local service planning. Planning and engagement between CMSMs/DSSABs, school boards and other community partners in the planning of OEYCFC services and sites will be essential to supporting the development and delivery of programs that are responsive to the needs of the community.
Creating a new funding framework
The government is committed to maintaining its current investment in child and family programs and will develop a new transparent and responsive funding approach to redistribute funding to CMSMs/DSSABs by 2018.
The Premier indicated that the current amount of funding in the system will remain the same. Distribution of funding will be developed within the new funding framework and approach. The Premier and Minister committed to working with CMSMs, DSSABs and relevant partners on the transformation.
OMSSA looks forward to working with the Province on moving this important initiative forward and ensuring that CMSMs and DSSABs are well positioned to support OEYCFCs and families and children in their communities.
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