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.

Wage Enhancement and Grants

The B.C. government created a wage enhancement program to build the workforce and retain qualified Early Childhood Educators. Where qualified ECEs working in eligible programs will receive an hourly top-up. Read about the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement, and for more details, explore the ChildCareBC funding guidelines

Activity 3.1a | Wage Enhancements

In this activity, you are asked to explore the ECE Wage Enhancement Funding Guidelineand consider: 

1. What fund must you base funding must a centre be enrolled in to be eligible for wage enhancement? 

2. A staff member who is an ECEA asks to meet with you about the mage enhancement grants. They want to know how the hourly wage enhancement does not show on their cheque. What does the ECEWE guidelines say about eligibility, and how would you explain this eligibility to your staff member?

Education and Training Funding

There are lots of grants and funded programming and dual credit options that are available to people who are interested in becoming an Early Childhood Educator or upgrading their current credentials. Having people within your organization or business become fully certified Educators can support quality early learning and childcare programs. You can support further educational opportunities by offering them leaves of absence to complete their schooling, allowing them the ability to complete practicums within your centres, as well as supporting them in applying for funding opportunities. Encouraging your staff to complete their education represents strong leadership and advocacy for the field. Some initiatives that may offer funding include:

• Education Support Fund | Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC)

• WorkBC – Finance Your Education

• B.C. Employer Training Grant

• Community Workforce Response Grant

• Single Parent Employment Initiative

• Métis Nation B.C. funding and support for ECE education

Other Funding

Startup and Operational Funding 

• Start-Up Grants for Becoming a Licensed Child Care Facility - Province of British Columbia
• Child Care Operating Funding - Province of British Columbia
• Maintenance Fund - Province of British Columbia 

Subsidy and Fee Reduction Funding

• Affordable Child Care Benefit - Province of British Columbia

• Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative - Information for providers - Province of British Columbia

Other Funding Models

• Indigenous Early Childhood Development Funding - Province of British Columbia
• Supportive Child Development Funding: Supported Child Development programs are community-based programs that assist children and families of children who have extra support needs to access inclusive child care that meets family needs. The program is funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Programming is program specific, search for your local Supported Child Development Centre in your area. 
• $10-a-Day Childcare Program:  $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres - Province of British Columbia

Capital Funding and Design Guidelines for New Spaces

To increase spaces across B.C., the province has created a New Spaces fund as well as design guidelines for new childcare builds. There are two streams for funding currently, where both not for profit and school districts can apply for new spaces funding. This funding can be used to build new childcare centres, or to do upgrades to spaces that then create new or increase existing childcare spaces.

Explore the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund of Province of British Columbia, and the new design guidelines for BC childcare facilities

Activity 3.1b

After exploring the funding models throughout 3.1, consider:  

1. Are you accessing all of the funding resources available to your centre
2. Are there any other possibilities?
3. Considering the government structures area of this course, where are the places you can seek help with funding? 
4. Where are the places that you can advocate for better funding for childcare?