MNO: COVID-19 Child Care Support Program

Press Release

The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) is pleased to offer the COVID-19 Child Care Support Program to help Métis families access safe high quality child care during the COVID-19 pandemic. All Métis families who meet the qualifications are encouraged to apply.

CONTACT: If you need help with your application or would like to learn more about the Program please contact the Early Learning and Child Care team at elccsupport@metisnation.org.

FAQ

1. Are there any supports for families who are affected by the closures of child cares due to COVID-19?

The Province of Ontario has worked with municipalities to open licensed child care for specific front-line workers.  However, not all families may qualify for this service but still require the child care supports for their children, or the child care available does not meet the needs of the family.

For families that do not meet the requirements for child care, the MNO could provide support for child care costs, until licensed child care and/or school reopens full time. Families will be reimbursed for child care costs according to MNO’s child care subsidy rates as of March 15, 2020.  Families must provide the following information:

a.    Children must be between the ages of 0-12 years.

b.    The parent/guardian must be a MNO citizen.

c.    The person providing care must be registered in good standing with the: College of Early Childhood Educators, Ontario Teacher’s College, or College of Social Service Workers.  Other designations may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

d.    The family does not qualify for emergency child care available in the community, or the emergency child care available does not meet the family’s needs (for example because of shift work)

e.    The parent(s) or guardian(s) must be employed and working outside the home.  Families with special needs for child care will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

f.     The child care provider must provide receipts for care.

g.    Parents will be reimbursed directly from the MNO and will need to provide banking information.

h.    Families do not need to be receiving MNO subsidy to qualify for this assistance.

2. We have lost income due to taking unpaid leave because of child care and/or school closures due to COVID-19.

If a parent or guardian is taking an unpaid leave of absence in order to care for children, MNO may be able to provide extra support during while schools and/or child care are closed. Families may qualify for a weekly stipend of $150, until schools/child care reopens full time.

Families must provide the following information:

a.    Children must be between the ages of 0-12 years.

b.    The parent/guardian must be a MNO citizen.

c.    The family does not qualify for emergency child care available in the community, or the emergency child care available does not meet the family’s needs (for example because of shift work).

d.    The parent(s) or guardian(s) must be employed as of March 15, 2020.  They are required to provide proof of unpaid leave.

e.    Parents will be reimbursed directly from the MNO and will need to provide banking information.

Families do not need to be receiving MNO subsidy to qualify for this assistance.

3. We have a family member or other person currently assisting us with or child care needs due to COVID-19.

If a family member or other person is assisting with child care while the parent(s) or guardian(s) are working, MNO may be able to provide extra support during while schools and/or child care are closed. Families may qualify for a weekly stipend of $150, until schools/child care reopens full time.

Families must provide the following information:

a.    Children must be between the ages of 0-12 years.

b.    The parent/guardian must be a MNO citizen.

c.    The family does not qualify for emergency child care available in the community, or the emergency child care available does not meet the family’s needs (for example because of shift work).

d.    The parent(s) or guardian(s) must be working outside the home.

e.    Parents will be reimbursed directly from the MNO and will need to provide banking information.

Families do not need to be receiving MNO subsidy to qualify for this assistance.

4. We have a child over the age of 12 who has a formal Special Needs diagnosis and they require child care due to school/support program closures.

If a parent or caregiver has a child between the ages of 13-21 with a Special Needs diagnosis, the family may qualify for one of the COVID-19 related care giving supports as listed above. In addition to the above qualifications, families must provide the following information:

a)    Child must be between the ages of 13-21

b)    Child must have a formal diagnosis of a Special Need that demonstrates that additional child care is required for the child’s daily living needs.

c)    An Early Learning and Child Care Coordinator will contact families once they receive a completed application for additional documentation to confirm a Special Needs diagnosis that may qualify for COVID-19 related care giving support. This may include:

• Formal diagnosis from a doctor or specialist, IPRC placement for a child’s school board, letter of support from a community support program such as Community Living.

Parents are required to provide a summary of their child’s daily living needs/tasks (i.e. feeding, toileting, communication, mobility).

IHT5