The RisingOaks Early Learning Board of Directors has affirmed support for universally accessible, high quality, non-profit, regulated child care that is affordable for families and includes professional pay and decent work for educators.

As part of this mandate, we'll share information on advocacy campaigns that are working towards that goal.

Advocacy Associations and Campaigns

Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario (AECEO)
https://www.aeceo.ca/

The AECEO is the professional association for ECEs and its primary purpose is to advocate for respect, recognition and appropriate wages and working conditions for all ECEs.

Current projects

Child Care Now

Child Care Now is dedicated to advocating for a publicly funded, inclusive, quality, non-profit child care system. Our organization is non-profit, membership-based and regionally representative.

Current projects

Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC)
http://www.childcareontario.org/

Ontario’s central advocacy group for a universal early childhood education and care system. We want: low fees or no fees for parents; decent work and pay for educators; and an expansion of public and non-profit services.

Formed in 1981, the OCBCC is a member organization comprising local child care centres, national and provincial groups and individuals from all across Ontario. Our members are educators, parents, grandparents, centre directors and trade unionists.

Current projects

 

RisingOaks' Government Relations

Submissions to Government

COVID-19 Supports for Child Care

In response to COVID-19, as part of our RisingOaks' response and recovery plan, we have regularly reach out to the Ministry of Education and Provincial Government to address several issues including health and safety protocols and the need for stabilization funding for the sector.

From March 15 to June 30, 2020, 80% (parent fees) of RisingOaks' revenue is lost. Thanks to the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), our educators and staff remained fully employed. During the closure period, educators connected with children and families online as they provided learning activities, story time and special times for connecting (e.g., bedtime stories). In July, we re-opened for full-day and summer camp programs operating at 33% capacity. New health and safety protocols were put in place to minimize COVID-19 risks. By September, we were allowed to return to full capacity, yet many parents were not quite ready to have their children return.

Now, in 2022, school-age programs continue to operate at just 33% of pre-COVID enrolment and both children and staff are off more frequently with symptoms and isolation requirements due to the Omicron variant. No new funding has been provided by the Ontario government. Despite this, our board of directors continues to support families through COVID-19 child absence credits and our employees with additional COVID-19 sick days.

In managing the financial risks of COVID-19 on the organization, the board of directors and management have been closely monitoring RisingOaks' financial position and have applied for available funding through all three levels of government. As we continue in 2022, there remains many unknowns - the trajectory of the pandemic, whether future cohort dismissals or school closures will be required and funding for 2022 COVID-19 supports.

We need a coordinated, well-funded recovery plan for child care to ensure the health and safety of children and staff and the long-term sustainability of child care centres.

 

What others say about COVID-19 recovery

Parent Advocacy: Lend your Voice
As a parent, your voice and perspective during the COVID-19 recovery period is important. This is also true regarding proposed changes under the Child Care and Early Years Act. Parents are invited to contact their local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to discuss these important issues.
 
MPP Contact Information: