Planning underway to increase access and consistency of services for children and families (1)

Waterloo Region – Community agencies and the Region of Waterloo are starting to plan for a system of child and family programs that gives families access to the same high-quality, core services no matter where they live.

“Our goal is to build on the strengths of what we have here now and make existing services more accessible and integrated,” said Barb Cardow, Director of Children’s Services. “We want to make sure that all families can access services near them and expect consistency wherever they go.”

A needs assessment will help determine how well the current system is working. It will also show where the gaps are and the neighbourhoods where there is enough demand for services to support programs. Right now, there are 46 locations for child and family programs funded by the province through the Ontario Early Years Centres (OEYCs).

Under the integrated system, all OEYCs will be under one umbrella – the Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centres (OEYCFCs). Services provided through these centres will be those that are found to benefit children and families the most.

A committee made up of community agencies will lead the planning process for OEYCFCs while working with the school boards. Planning will involve input from the community. The Region will help support this process and will manage the system once it is in place.

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For more information, including a list of existing locations, visit the OEYCFC Waterloo Region webpage or contact:

Barb Cardow
Director of Children’s Services
519-883-2177
BCardow@regionofwaterloo.ca