Child Care Fee Assistance

1. Who do I contact to get subsidized child care?
   The first step is to call the toll-free KIDS LINE at 1-888-703-KIDS (5437), Option 3. This puts you in touch with a Children's Services Representative who can answer your questions about getting subsidized child care and put you on the Wait List.
2. How long is the Wait List for Child Care Fee Assistance?
   That depends. There are actually four Wait Lists in York Region, each representing a different geographical area. A Child Care Services Representative will be able to give you an idea of how long the Wait List is for your area.
3. When will I know if I qualify for Child Care Fee Assistance?
   When your name reaches the top of the Wait List, you will receive a call to attend an Intake Interview at a local Family and Children's Services office.  The purpose of this Intake Interview is to determine if you qualify for fee assistance. In order to qualify each applicant must have completed an annual Income Tax Return. All applicants must prove that a financial need exists, and provide the most recent Income Tax Notice of Assessment or Canada Child Tax Benefit Notice.

4.   How do I qualify for Child Care Fee Assistance?
Eligibility is determined at the Intake Interview using a provincially mandated income test.

5.   What child care program will my child attend?
This is the parent's choice, however, the child care program must be a licensed centre, licensed home-based program or an approved school-age recreation program that has a contract with the Region.

6.   How can I find out about child care programs near where I live or work?
Call the KIDS LINE at 1-888-703-KIDS (5437), Option 3 for details of child care programs in York Region, including which ones have contracts with the Region.

7.   Which child care programs are near or located in schools?
Call the KIDS LINE at 1-888-703-KIDS (5437), Option 3 and speak with a Child Care Services Representative.

8.   How do I find a babysitter?
Babysitting is not a licensed child care setting and therefore is not subsidized. Some ideas for finding a babysitter include:

• Contact an Ontario Early Years Centre. It may have a database of unlicensed home child care providers.
• Call your child's school to see if they know of babysitters.
• High schools are a great place to find babysitters.
• Call the KIDS LINE for information on choosing quality child care.

Child Care Support

1. Where can I call for Child Care Support?
   Call the KIDS LINE at 1-888-703-KIDS (5437), Option 1, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2. What kind of support is available?
   The KIDS LINE can answer various questions about:
   • Where to find child care.
   • How to determine what type of child care is needed.
   • What to look for when chooseing a child care program for your child.
   • How to access Child Care Fee Assistance
   • The location of:
     • child care centres
     • home child care agencies
     • Ontario Early Years Centres
     • AOK Early Child Development and Parenting Programs
     • nursery schools
     • and more
3. How can KIDS LINE help me choose quality care?
   KIDS LINE can provide you with a handy guide including a list of questions to ask and things to look for when choosing a child care program for your child.
   
   
4. Can KIDS LINE help me find child care for my child?
   The KIDS LINE will not actually find child care for you, but it can provide you with a list of child care programs in a specified area with phone numbers and basic information about each child care program. KIDS LINE can also refer you to other resources that can help you find child care.

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Early Intervention Services and the Preschool Speech and Language Program

1. What is Early Intervention Services?
   Early Intervention Services is a unique program that identifies children who have special needs and provides them and their families with resources to respond to these needs. It is called Early Intervention because it is for children ages birth to school-entry who have developmental delays, diagnoses such as Down Syndrome, or various risk factors such as prematurity or low birth weight. Early Intervention Services provides child assessment, intervention programming and service co-ordination.
2. Who do I call if I need Early Intervention Services or access to the Preschool Speech and Language Program?
   Call the KIDS LINE at 1-888-703-KIDS (5437), Option 2. You will be put in touch with Early Intervention Services and the Preschool Speech and Language Program, which is co-located with Early Intervention Services.
3. What are "special needs" and how do I know if my child needs Early Intervention Services?
   If your child is newborn to school-entry age and has a special need, he or she could benefit from help. Special needs include:
   • Developmental delays or disabilities, including behaviour disorders, communication delays and environmental risk.
   • Established Risk – a diagnosis such as Autism, Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD).
   • Biological Risk – motor delay, multiple births and prematurity
     
     Call KIDS LINE at 1-888-703-5437, Option 2 if you have questions or would like to speak to our staff about your child's needs.
     
4. Who is eligible for Early Intervention Services?
   Services are available to families with children who:
   • Are age birth to school-entry.
   • Live in York Region.
   • Are at risk due to prematurity, low-birth weight or multiple births.
   • Whose development is delayed.
   • Have a disability such as cerebral palsy, autism or Down syndrome.
5. Do I have to be referred by my doctor to receive this service?
   No. Referrals can be made directly by the family who needs the service. However, written referrals are accepted from physicians, hospitals, community health nurses, preschool/school programs and community agencies.
6. What types of services are provided?
   Early Intervention Services offers services and programs to help parents and guardians of special needs children to:
   • Co-ordinate services and manage the systems of care.
   • Understand their child's growth and development through assessments and family visits .
   • Follow an Individual Family Support Plan made by the family and the Early Interventionist, which is really an action plan of the families' goals and priorities.
   • Access therapy such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or family counselling.
   • Teach their child new skills.
   • Participate in parent-child play groups, parent support groups, and education workshops.
   • Reach goals that are important to the well-being of the family and child.
7. Who provides these services?
   Our staff are Early Interventionists. They have diverse skills, but all share a specialized training in working with children and understanding and evaluating their needs. They are specialists in understanding early childhood special education, paediatric psychology, nursing, and social work. Our Paediatric Therapists are trained in either occupational therapy and/or physiotherapy. They have specialized training in working with young children and providing assistance to parents for their child's needs in movement, posture, and muscle tone.
8. How much does this program cost?
   This program is free to York Region residents who need it.
9. Do your physiotherapists and occupational therapists provide hands-on therapy services?
   No. Our physiotherapists and occupational therapists will consult with parents and may recommend therapy services. They may be able to help you find a therapist if needed.
10. What if I need more specialized help?
    Early Intervention staff know about available services and resources. They can help you to access services and resources such as personal/family counseling, housing assistance and more.

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Domiciliary Hostels

1. What is a domiciliary hostel?
   A domiciliary hostel provides long-term, supervised accommodation for adults with psychiatric or related disabilities who require supervision of their daily living activities.
   
   The Community Services and Housing Department helps eligible hostel residents by providing financial support for board and lodging and a monthly personal needs allowance while they remain in the hostel.
2. How many domiciliary hostel beds are available?
   Approximately 300 domiciliary hostel beds are provided for eligible residents each month.
3. Who operates the domiciliary hostels?
   The Community Services and Housing Department does not operate any domiciliary hostels. Domiciliary hostel beds are made available through agreements with private home operators.
   
   
4. Are subsidies available for residents of domiciliary hostels?
   Yes. The Community Services and Housing Department determines eligibility for a subsidy to help with the cost of residency. Approved applicants also receive a monthly personal needs allowance to cover the cost of basic living expenses. Social assistance workers regularly visit hostels to take applications for financial assistance.
   
   For information about qualifying for domiciliary hostel subsidies call:
   Newmarket: (905) 830-4444 ext. 2032
   Other Areas: 1-877-464-9675 ext. 2032

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