FAMILIES will now have easy access to information about child care or early childhood development programs in their neighbourhoods thanks to the launch of two online maps.
A press release from the Ministry of Children and Family Development noted the maps provide users with the name, address and contact information for more than 4,200 childcare programs and more than 1,300 early years programs in communities throughout British Columbia.
Each map serves as a one-stop-shop resource for parents where they can input their childcare or early childhood development needs and get a map that lists local centres and programs. The childcare map displays licensed childcare providers in communities in the province, and allows parents to search by city, address and licence type.
The childcare map also links to health authority inspection reports, which offer summaries of routine inspections of licensed childcare facilities, noted the release.
Users can either zoom in on a location, or enter their address to see which childcare services are available nearby. Parents can locate childcare that meets their specific needs by searching based on type of care, hours of operation, languages spoken at the facility, and if they offer meals or pickup service.
The release also stated the early years services map shows a variety of early childhood development services and programs including Family Resource Programs, Aboriginal early childhood development, Parent-Child Mother Goose, Seeds of Empathy and StrongStart BC.
It also displays the locations of Immigrant Settlement Services agencies to help new immigrant families connect with services in their community, and childcare resource and referral centres, which offer quality childcare referrals.
Over the coming months, additional service providers will be added to the maps and usability will continue to be enhanced, stated the release. Both maps will also be regularly reviewed to ensure address and contact information is accurate and up to date, noted the release. The maps can be found on the Ministry of Children and Family Development's website at: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare.
