The ministry provides funding for child care services directed to Ontario Works participants and other low income families with young children. The ministry sets standards and licenses child care programs and agencies.
Funding supports fee subsidies, wage subsidies, special needs resourcing and resource centres.
Wage subsidies enhance the salaries and benefits of staff employed in licensed child care centres, private home day care agencies, resource centres and agencies that provide supports to children with special needs. They also increase payments made to home child care providers. Special needs resourcing provides staff, equipment, supplies or services to support children with special needs in integrated child care settings. Resource centres provide support services to caregivers of young children, enhance the quality of care provided in unlicensed child care settings, and provide information to parents to help them make informed choices about child care arrangements and options. In addition, the government provides funding for a Child Care Supplement for Working Families and a Workplace Child Care Tax Incentive.