By Veronica Beltran

child care continues

YMCA’s Essential Child Care service rolls out next month

Mar 26, 2020 | 12:00 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—The YMCA of Northern BC will continue its child care services in a new way, starting April 1st.

The YMCA Essential Child Care program will include care continuing at multiple YMCA Early Years Child Care locations, while YMCA Before and After School Child Care programs will expand to offer full day care.

“With the help of the Province of BC’s temporary emergency child care funding, the YMCA will be able to continue to provide child care services, expand our program hours and meet the childcare needs of families who work in essential services.”— Amanda Alexander, CEO, YMCA

BC’s Provincial Health Officer is encouraging parents who can care for their children at home, to do so.

YMCA Child Care spots will be reserved for families who choose to keep their children at home or who cannot attend YMCA Child Care due to COVID-19.

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“We are opening up child care spots where they are available to any parent or caregiver who needs child care during the pandemic.”

Full day child care will continue at the YMCA Highland Family Development Centre, YMCA St. GIles Care and Learning Centre on Massey Drive from 7:45 am until 5:30 pm.

Preschool and regular Before and After School Care Programs will be closed.

Enhanced health measures have been implemented by the YMCA in order to enable continued operations such as:

• In compliance with public health recommendations, if a child or staff has had symptoms recently, such as a fever, sore throat, coughing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, they must self-isolate for 10 days from the onset of the symptoms before returning to chid-care
• Health screenings are being carried out and all families are asked to complete a Health Declaration Form at drop-off/sign-in each day
• If anyone develops symptoms or has a fever during a program, they will be asked to self-isolate for 10 days before returning to the YMCA program
• Regular handwashing for children and staff is taking place throughout the day
• Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing of high touch surfaces are completed at regular intervals
• Use of the sign-in and sign-out table int he main entrance of each centre which restricts public access to the program space

The YMCA is encouraging families who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to reach out to the Affordable Child Care Benefit Program for reconsideration of their application.