Early Learning and Child Care Innovation Program

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

The Early Learning and Child Care Innovation Program supports innovative practices that strengthen the changing nature of early learning and child care. This program benefits children under 6 years of age and their families.

Starting in 2018, the Government of Canada is investing $100 million over 10 years to enable innovative practices in early learning and child care. The Early Learning and Child Care Innovation Program funds eligible organizations that support parents, families and communities in their efforts to ensure the best possible future for their children and families.

The objective of the Program is to support early learning and child care programs and service delivery projects that:

• explore, test and develop innovative approaches
• aim to improve the quality, accessibility, affordability, inclusivity and flexibility of early learning and child care programs and services

In particular, the Program supports projects for families that face unique and diverse child care needs, including:

• Indigenous families
• lower-income families
• families that include children with varying abilities
• newcomer families
• single-parent families
• Black and other racialized families
• families from Francophone and Anglophone minority communities
• families working non-standard hours
• families in underserved communities

This includes pan-Canadian and community-based projects that:

• develop knowledge, tools, methodologies, solutions, lessons learned and best practices
• improve results and strengthen the impact of early learning and child care

When it comes to early learning and child care evidence-based practices, the Government of Canada is committed to consulting and sharing information with key stakeholders (such as experts, partners from provincial and territorial governments, and national and community-based organizations).