Accessing B.C.'s $10 a Day Child Care Program
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
$10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres are now coming into operation as part of the initiative to make child care a core service for B.C. families. For parents with children in these centres, families will pay no more than $200 a month per child for full-time enrolment during regular business hours, regardless of the care type. Some low-income families may also qualify for free child care, through additional funding programs, such as the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB).
Families are bound to have many questions about the new program and how to access it to meet their child care needs. The BC government’s website offers a list of FAQs for parents which we have expanded here for easy access.
How do I enroll in the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program?
Child care providers can apply to become a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre; parents do not need to apply. If parents want to enrol their child in a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre, they must contact an approved centre directly to learn about their availability and application process.
We recognize that many families are not able to access a child care space at a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre. We are working to expand the program as quickly as possible and will continue supporting non-$10 a Day child care operators and parents to lower fees through the existing Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) and the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB). Please see the CCFRI web page for a list of participating providers.
Where can I find a list of approved child care providers for the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program?
The $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre web page lists all approved $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres.
Newly approved centres will be added to the list as the current expansion evolves, with additional intakes to follow in the future.
I have recently learned that my child care provider has been approved to be a $10 a Day ChildCare BC Centre. Will my space automatically be converted into the $10 a Day program?
If your current child care provider has been approved for the program, your space will be automatically converted and there is no need to re-enrol at that centre. Your current provider will be able to share information specific to your space, hours of service, etc.
If I am on a waitlist for a specific child care provider that has been approved as a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre, will I maintain my order on that list?
Child care waitlists are kept and managed by individual child care operators. Please reach out to your child care provider to discuss their waitlist and enrolment policies.
Who is eligible for the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program?
Child care providers apply to participate in the program, and the eligibility criteria for each intake may differ. Once a centre has been approved, all of the families with children enrolled benefit. For more information on child care provider eligibility, please see the apply page.
Why is my private provider child care facility not being prioritized to become a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre?
Funding for expansion of the $10 a Day program comes from the Government of Canada under the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, signed in July 2021. Under this agreement, the Province is required to focus on public and not-for-profit sectors. However, for-profit providers are welcome to apply and will continue to benefit from government’s efforts to improve child care for families, including fee reductions, and to support recruitment and retention of skilled child care workers.
I have an urgent need for child care, or I am a single parent. Does this automatically qualify me for the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program?
Access to an approved $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre is based on each location’s licensed capacity and waitlist. If you are having difficulty obtaining child care and require support, your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre will be able to provide you with information and resources for obtaining child care based on your needs.
Additional supports may be available to you through the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) and the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB).
How many $10 a Day ChildCareBC spaces are available throughout the province?
At the beginning of the ChildCareBC plan in 2018, government committed to converting 2,500 child care spaces to the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program. Under Budget 2021, this number was increased to more than 6,500 spaces. In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Province has committed to convert a total of 12,500 child care spaces at facilities throughout British Columbia by December 2022.
I am considering unlicensed child care as an option. Are unlicensed child care providers able to apply for the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program and will they be eligible in the future?
Only licensed child care providers are eligible to apply to the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program. This means that if you enter into an agreement with an unlicensed provider, that space will not be converted to $10 a Day ChildCareBC space unless that provider becomes licensed and is subsequently approved under the program.
Do I have to fill out any forms to enroll in the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program?
If you have a child attending an approved $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre, that facility will go through any necessary paperwork with you. You do not need to forward any paperwork directly to the province for processing. Families that earn up to $111,000 may be able to have their fees further reduced by applying for the Affordable Child Care Benefit.
Why isn’t a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre available in my area?
Increasing the number of $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres is a top priority for government. There are currently more than 6,500 $10 a Day ChildCareBC spaces with more than 130 facilities throughout the province, and we are on track to increase that to 12,500 spaces by the end of 2022.
Visit the $10 a Day ChildCareBC web page for an up-to-date list of approved Centres, as well as information about upcoming intakes as more details become available.
I anticipate that I will need child care in a year or two and I would like to enrol in $10 a Day child care. Should I be going on a waitlist at my preferred facility now, or should I wait?
We recommend reaching out to your preferred child care providers to better understand their specific policies regarding waitlists and how they fill spaces. We also recommend speaking with your preferred licensed provider to see if they are interested in applying to become a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre in the future, as this may impact your decision to proceed with a specific provider.
Your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre can also provide you with information and resources for obtaining child care based on your needs.
Does the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program run throughout the summer?
Each $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre is different. Please contact the specific centre to learn more about their program offerings.
I can’t get a $10 a Day ChildCareBC space in my area. What other programs are available to help me reduce my child care costs?
Additional supports may be available to you through the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) and the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB). Your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre can also provide you with information and resources.
To improve child care affordability for families with children ages five and younger, by the end of this year, we will me making changes to the CCFRI to reduce average child care fees by half of what average out-of-pocket fees were for families in 2019. More information will be available on this change in the coming months.
Can I enrol my child in a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre if I am not a Canadian citizen?
We recognize the many challenges that newcomers face upon arrival to Canada, including the challenges related to obtaining inclusive and affordable child care. There are no restrictions to the program based on citizenship.
If parents want to enrol their child in a $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centre, they must contact the approved location directly to learn about their availability.
How can I stay up to date on child care initiatives in BC?
The ChildCareBC web page has a variety of resources available and it is updated regularly. We also encourage you to sign up for the ChildCareBC Bulletin, to receive regular ChildCareBC updates in your inbox.
I need help finding child care in my area. Is there someone who can help me?
If you need support finding child care, you can contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Centre. The centre will be able to provide you with information and resources for obtaining child care based on your needs.