3.1 Overview of Funding Programs in BC
Funding programs
The British Columbia government offers a range of child care funding programs to support families, providers, and the overall child care system.
Key funding initiatives include the Child Care Operating Fund (CCOF), which provides monthly payments to licensed childcare providers to help lower operational costs, and the Fee Reduction Initiative (FRI), which enables centres to reduce fees for families. Additional funding streams, such as the Wage Enhancement Fund, support competitive wages for early childhood educators, while the Supportive Child Development Program offers funding for children requiring extra support. Capital funding, including New Spaces Fund, helps expand childcare availability by supporting the creation of new spaces. The $10-a-Day program is an initiative that offers affordable childcare by capping fees at $10 per day in participating centres.
The Federal and Provincial Governments have various funding opportunities for on- and off-reserve programs, families, and children. Capital, Minor Capital, Wage enhancement, Childcare Operating funding, Jordan’s Principal Funding, Cultural and Language funding, Elder and community involvement funding, on reserve funding can look very different from Nation to Nation, and on-reserve can be very different from off-reserve. Learning what is available will provide supports that may be needed or required.
Many Early Learning programs receive funding from First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) to be an Aboriginal Head Start program. And with the conversion to AHSOR funding, you will not be able to apply for this other provincial funding. AHSOR provides all the funding to support the needs of every program, so they will not have to apply for additional funding because it has been provided by FNHA through AHSOR.
BC Aboriginal Child Care Society provides a variety of funding supports; they provide a wealth of supports, funding, minor and capital funding. They have been appointed to care for First Nations children and families on and off reserve.
Each on-reserve Nation, Community or Tribe, Village may have its own funding or full control of their children and families’ services or supports. You must learn and find out what or how it works in each situation.
References
Government of British Columbia. (n.d.). $10-a-day ChildCareBC Centres. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/childcarebc-programs/10-a-day-childcarebc-centres
Government of British Columbia. (2025, January 31). Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative – Provider opt-in status. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/childcarebc-programs/child-care-fee-reduction-initiative-provider-opt-in-status
Government of British Columbia. (2025, January 31). Child Care Operating Funding. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/childcarebc-programs/child-care-operating-funding