Day home operators in Alberta can apply for funding to create more spaces, February 16, 2023. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Applications open to expand day home spaces in Alberta

Feb 16, 2023 | 3:55 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Day home operators in Alberta can now apply for funding to offer more spaces.

The Government of Alberta says the Space Creation Grant will result in 5,500 additional day home spaces becoming available.

The grant is part of the $3.8 billion Alberta-Canada Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which aims to add a total of 68,700 child care spaces by 2026.

Organizations can apply for up to $1,350 per space for licensed family day home agencies. The money can be used to recruit, train, and support new providers, as well as to help new providers with startup costs.

Alberta Minister of Children’s Services Mickey Amery says parents across the province deserve access to safe, affordable and high-quality child care that works for their family.

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“By expanding the space creation grant to licensed family day home agencies, we will create new child care spaces in communities with limited or no child care options, including small, rural and remote areas,” says Amery. “This will help reduce licensed child care fees and make high-quality child care affordable and flexible for Alberta families.”

A media release from the government states that family day homes play a critical role in providing childcare, especially in rural and remote communities.

Alberta Family Child Care Association Co-Chair Sonia Grams says she is pleased to see day homes being recognized in the provincial-federal child care arrangement.

“The inclusion of licensed family day homes to access funding will be an important recruitment tool,” says Grams. “The funding can help offset startup costs for day home educators, incentivize unlicensed homes to become licensed, and increase accessibility to affordable licensed child care spaces for families, particularly in rural and remote communities.”

The province says it is on track to meet the commitment in the Alberta-Canada Early Learning and Child Care Agreement to reduce child care fees to an average of $10 per day by 2026.

Day home operators can apply for the Space Creation Grant on the Government of Alberta website.

READ MORE: Private operators to also be included in Alberta child care expansion