Media Release:
TBDSSAB Announces Our Kids Count as incoming Licensed Private Home Child Care Agency
September 21, 2022 – The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) has entered into a new agreement with Our Kids Count to oversee licensed private home child care operations.
Effective August 31, 2022, Our Kids Count became a Licensed Private Home Child Care Agency for the District of Thunder Bay. As a Licensed Private Home Child Care Agency, Our Kids Count will receive operational funding from TBDSSAB to coordinate and oversee individual private home child care programs and services. Previously, licensed private home child care was coordinated by The City of Thunder Bay.
The transition of licensed private home child care to the Our Kids Count portfolio comes at a critical moment for the Child Care and Early Years system as the province rolls out the Canada-Wide Early Learning & Child Care system. For a private home child care provider to participate in the CWELCC system they must be overseen by a Licensed Private Home Child Care Agency.
The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) is the service system manager for Child Care and Early Years programs, Community Housing, Homelessness Prevention Programs and the delivery of Ontario Works for the District of Thunder Bay. Visit the TBDSSAB website for more information at www.tbdssab.ca.
Quotes:
“Licensed private home child care is an essential part of the Child Care and Early Years service system. Our Kids Count has been a critical resource for children and families in the community for many years, and we’re confident that licensed home child care is in good hands with OKC. We are looking forward to working with OKC, and hopefully the expansion of private home child care offerings to other communities in the District of Thunder Bay.”– Lucy Kloosterhuis, Board Chair, TBDSSAB
“We are thrilled to be the approved licensed private home child care agency for the District of Thunder Bay, and are looking forward to taking on this new and exciting challenge. Our Kids Count has been working with families in the community for decades, and expanding our services to support families looking for quality child care spaces feels like a natural next step for us. We recognize the struggle parents face when looking for licensed child care spaces and we are hopeful that we can grow this program to meet the need in the community. We will not only be providing services in the city of Thunder Bay but expanding into other District communities as well. We are committed to ensuring that all licensed private home child care services in The District of Thunder Bay are safe and welcoming, with a focus on children first. We are excited to work with the home child care providers throughout the District to make sure that children in our communities continue to receive the care they deserve.”– Jackie Knough, Executive Director, Our Kids Count