The province has trimmed back funding allocations for local EarlyON Centres.
According to a report considered during the County of Simcoe’s committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, the upper-tier municipality's 2020 provincial funding allocation for EarlyON programming from the province totals $3,813,256, a decrease of $248,016 over 2019 numbers.
“The county will continue to contribute its historic $9,000 (as approved through the corporate budget process), bringing the 2020 combined provincial and municipal funding contributions total to $3,822,256,” Heather St. Germain, manager of early learning and child care with the county, wrote in her report to county council.
St. Germain added: “2020 proposed allocations have been informed by local system need and developed in accordance with provincial guidelines and municipal policy."
According to officials with the County of Simcoe, senior staff are currently evaluating next steps on how to deal with the funding shortage to find efficiencies.
EarlyON Centres across Simcoe County offer a wide variety of services for parents with newborns up to the age of five to help young kids reach milestones. There are 900 locations across the province and the program is free.
The program offers free drop-in programs for children up to six years old and their caregivers. Early-years professionals provide support, advice and resources, and can provide information and referrals to specialized programs and services within the community if needed.
There are main sites in Barrie, Orillia, Collingwood, Midland and Bradford West Gwillimbury, as well as in some surrounding municipalities.
The recommendation to receive the report, approve the funding allocations and approve strategies outlined in the report were approved at committee of the whole.
The matter will need to be ratified at the next meeting of county council on March 24.
For more information on local EarlyON Centres and to find one near you, click here.
