Early Learning and Childcare Month COVID-19 Childcare Response and Recovery

Update for City Council

May 11, 2020

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Agenda

Highlighting ways that COVID-19

impacts the sector

1. May is Childcare Month

2. Pre-COVID Context

3. Phase 1: Emergency Response Temporary Emergency Childcare for Essential Workers

4. Phase 2: Recovery Support Initial Restart and Reopening of Childcare Sector

5. Phase 3: Resilience Long-term Recovery and Resilience

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May is Childcare Month

May is a month to celebrate

Early Learning and Care …to recognize the critical role of

childcare in:

• Healthy child development

• Facilitating labour force participation

• Creating complete communities that enable families to thrive

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Childcare an Essential Service

This year, childcare was recognized by the Province as an

essential service

“I also want to recognize the early childhood educators, the K-12 teachers, and educational assistants who have really stepped up around the province, and are in classrooms, and daycares, to support our health care workers and other essential workers”

-Dr. Bonnie Henry

Pre-COVID Context

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Existing Challenges in the Childcare Sector

• Historical underinvestment and lack of system building in childcare by senior government

• Not all children can access quality, affordable early learning

• Lack of sectoral coordination

• Difficulty with staff recruitment and retention

• Equity implications (e.g. workforce, gender, age)

• Challenges in culturally-responsive programming

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Pre-COVID-19: Childcare Needs and Challenges

Current Supply

of Childcare

Spaces

Estimated

Space Need

% of

Needs

Met

Space

Shortfall

Ages 0-5 full-day

childcare

5,451 spaces

13,100 spaces 42% 7,650

Age 5-12 School Age Care

5,450 spaces

14,100 spaces 39% 8,650

Ages 0-12

(Total)

10,901

spaces

27,200

spaces 40% 16,299

Lack of sufficient licensed childcare spaces in Vancouver

As of Dec 2019

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Who Delivers Childcare in Vancouver?

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

Under 3

3 to 5

Preschool

SchoolAge

Total

City-Facilitated Other Non-Profit Private

37% 47% 16%

31% 65% 4%

26% 43% 31%

46% 32% 2%

76% 13% 12%

Full day 3-5

DATA FROM OISE 2017 PRESENTATION

Number of Childcare Spaces

Part day Preschool

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Sectoral Background: Role of Senior Governments

• Funding only

• Allocation of Canada Social Transfer (CST) to provinces

• Direct support and tax measures for families Federal

• Regulation of childcare standards, licensing and monitoring, • Partial funding: for construction and operations • Parent fee covers majority of the operating costs • New Spaces Funds covers part of the capital costs

Provincial

Mandate for early learning and child care is mostly Provincial, but is not coordinated

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Childcare BC Plan

• Launched in April 2018

• $221M capital investment in new spaces across BC

• New affordability measures:

– $10 a day childcare being tested at prototype sites across the province (8 locations in Vancouver)

– Affordable Childcare Benefit

– Fee Reduction Initiative

Sectoral Background: Changing Provincial Role

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Sectoral Background: Role of Municipality

• Policy and strategies with strong focus on neighbourhood health and well-being

• City tools: CACs, DCLs, grants • City roles: Policy maker (strategies and land-use policy), regulator (COV

Childcare Design Guidelines), landlord, funder, facilitator • Plan, monitor, incentivize childcare development to align need and

supply • Advocate to/partner with senior levels of government • Grant funding for coordination, quality, affordability, access, and

system building • Facilitate planning and development of new childcare facilities • Convening stakeholders

Municipal

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Public Partners’ Involvement in Childcare

IN City-owned & Supported Spaces

4550 spaces in City-owned or City-facilitated childcare centres

IN SCHOOLS 4000+ School age care spaces (and some

preschool) programs in leased VSB spaces, run by community operators

IN Park Board Facilities 1000+ preschool and 3-5 programs

operated or leased out by CCAs

• 37 childcares in City-owned spaces (nominal rents)

• $111M on childcare capital expenditures (2019-2022)

• Over $2M/year in childcare grants to non-profit operators

• Facilitation/Relationship building/capacity building

• 414 City-owned full-day childcare spaces in 6 seismic replacement projects (more in planning stages)

• CoV/VSB School Age Care Expansion Grant

• 114 City-owned full-day childcare spaces in Park Board Community Centres

• CCAs receive free rent and nominal occupancy costs

• Park Board manages wait list, enrolment, fee collection.

Supports

Childcare In…

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Space Creation: Capital Plan Targets

Capital Plan Childcare Targets Committed

2015-18 1000 spaces 500 (0-5) 500 (5-12)

1144 Spaces Achieved

Capital Plan Childcare Targets Committed (Q1 2020)

2019-2022 1000 spaces 750 (0-5) 250 (5-12)

281 spaces 143 (0-5) 138 (5-12)

Previous Capital Plan

Current Capital Plan

How the City funds new childcare: o Majority funded through

development: CACs & DCLs Where new childcare is delivered: o Civic projects o Vancouver School Board (VSB) o Development projects (in-kind)

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Childcare MOU (2019)

Provincial Capital Contribution: $33M (over 3 years)

Increased New Target: Up to 1,300 new licensed childcare spaces by 2024

Childcare Targets (Capital Plan)

New Childcare Targets (w/ Provincial Contribution)

1,000 spaces 750 (0-5) 250 (5-12)

Up to 2,300 spaces Up to 1,000 (0-5) Up to 1,300 (5-12)

Delivery Plan o Provincial contribution to cover ~30% of the capital costs of each new (0-5) project. o Need to develop a School Age Care delivery plan with the VSB and Park Board. o City to report progress to the Province on a quarterly basis.

COVID Impacts on Childcare

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COVID-19 Impacts on Childcare Spaces

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Over 10,000 childcare spaces are temporarily unavailable due to program closures

• Temporary Layoffs: ECE workforce affected

• Vulnerable children and families most impacted by lack of care

• Development sector impacted w/ expected reduction in new DCLs and CACs for childcare

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

Jan 3 March 26 April 14 April 21 April 28 May 5

Childcare Spaces Operating in Vancouver

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COVID-19 Childcare Response, Recovery and Resilience

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Phase 1: Response Temporary Emergency Childcare for Essential Workers

Phase 2: Recovery Support Initial Restart and Reopening of Childcare Sector

Phase 3: Resilience Long-term Planning for Recovery and Resilience

PHASE 1: RESPONSE Temporary Emergency Childcare for Essential Workers

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Phase 1: Temporary Emergency Childcare for Essential Workers

"Building a plane while flying"

Coordinating Vancouver’s Response Responsive Provincial Leadership

• Vancouver Emergency Childcare Task Force joined CoV, VCH, VSB, Park Board, and Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre

• March 27: Vancouver Temporary Emergency

Child Care referral system launched

• Working with MCFD to develop and align Vancouver and Province-wide systems

• March 31: BC-wide system launched

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• Referrals to licensed childcare spaces temporarily available during COVID-19 emergency

• Fee-based care

• Ages 0-5 mostly

• Support to essential worker families in VSB facilities with existing staff. (Monday-Friday, 7:30am- 6:00pm)

• No charge to families

• Ages 5-12

Phase 1: Key Partners in Vancouver’s Emergency Response

In-School Support : Vancouver School Board

Temporary Childcare Referrals: Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre

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Phase 1: Outcomes (Registration Data)

• Over 1,200 essential

workers living or working in Vancouver received temporary referrals.

• 288 children registered

For childcare providers

BC Temporary Emergency Funding (TEF): Enhanced funding to assist providers in keeping their operations going, or in maintaining their business while closed. Providers that stay open are eligible to receive seven times their average base Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF), those that close are eligible to receive two times their average base CCOF funding.

BC Provider Liability for C-19 Transmission: The Province ensured that childcare providers cannot be held liable for damages caused by exposure to C-19, as long as they comply with orders from the provincial health officer and other authorities.

For parents BC Emergency Child Care for Essential Workers: A streamlined service matching all essential workers in need of child care (0 to 5yrs) with local providers that have available spaces.

In-School Support: The BC Ministry of Education has mandated school districts and independent schools to provide care before-, during- and after-school hours to children (ages 5 – 12yrs) whose parents are essential workers.

Withdrawing: The Province has mandated all providers receiving TEF to reserve a child’s space, and not charge parents fees for vacant space, making it easier for parents to withdraw their child from care in light of Covid-19.

Federal Enhanced Canada Child Benefit (CCB): A temporary increase in the form of a one-time payment of $300 per child to support Canadians during the 2019 – 2020 benefit year.

For Canadian workers (including ECEs)

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB): A taxable benefit of $2,000 every 4 weeks for up to 16 weeks to eligible workers.

Canada Temporary Salary Top-Up (yet to be released): A salary boost for low-income essential workers (earning less than $2,500/month). The Federal Government is currently working with the Provinces on the details of the roll out.

Phase 1: Senior Government Actions – Added Supports

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• City of Vancouver legacy of support for non-profit childcare, umbrella orgs and networks

• Local public partners connected on childcare (partnering since 2004 through Joint Childcare Council)

• Ministry of Education direction and VSB staffing, facilities, and infrastructure pivoted to offer full day care to students

• Existing relationship with MCFD led to a responsive and connected Provincial response

Phase 1: Learning from the Emergency Response: Strengths

City Childcare Assets: Childcare centres near hospitals & essential service hubs: • Creekside Child Development Centre

(DDA) • Kids at Heather (YMCA) • Djavad Mowafaghian Child Care at BC

Children's & Women's (YMCA) • Plus others

Existing relationships, systems & assets enabled a responsive approach.

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Phase 1: Learnings for the future

Key Challenges & Opportunities

• Fragmented, uncoordinated childcare sector

• Challenge for Province: not having data or lines of communication with operators

• Approaches to childcare and education differ between BC Ministries

PHASE 2: RECOVERY Support Initial Restart and Reopening of Childcare Sector

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For Children and Families

– Over the last 45 days, parents have been juggling full-time childcare with full-time work or un/underemployment.

– The quality of children’s early experiences matter. Good quality childcare helps children thrive and reduces gaps in vulnerability.

For the Childcare Sector

– Preparing for broader reopening soon

• Still an unprecedented situation

– Consideration for a phased reopening, and on-going concerns

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Phase 2: A Successful Restart

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Phase 2: Short-Term Workplan to support a Childcare Restart, May - July

Goal: Support seamless re-opening, viability of childcare sector and

learn from the Sectoral COVID-19 Response

A. Identify Immediate Childcare Needs and Priorities

B. Explore options for financial and administrative support

C. Continue to support the development and expansion of childcare

• Childcare Sector Survey • Connect and convene

childcare organizations • Seek JCC advice on equity

• Communication with VCH, MCFD, MOE: address gaps

• Sector Support Project

(grant): re-scoped to address immediate reopening challenges

• Anticipate potential ECE staff shortage

• Support opening of new childcare facilities and help build operators’ capacity

• Centres at Fleming and David Lloyd George Elementary Schools, Fraser Commons, & Gastown Parkades opening in 2020-21

PHASE 3: RESILIENCE Long-term Planning for Resilience

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A. Childcare Policy: Reframe work to anticipate challenges, create new opportunities for resilience • Reprioritized Childcare Policy Work

B. Senior Government Partnerships and Advocacy

C. Childcare Development: New space creation

Phase 3: Long-term Planning for Recovery & Resilience

Childcare is essential to Vancouver's economic recovery and remains a key component in setting the stage for child success and building a healthy, equitable city.

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1) Childcare Strategy Update • Network hub model / Operator Selection

Process Review

• Workforce & Workplace Childcare

2) Family-friendly Vancouver Motion • Co-location and Delivery Models - Policy

and Development Incentives

• Design and Regulatory Review

• Development Process Review

3) Aligning with other CoV work • Vancouver Plan, ELER, Broadway Plan,

Sen̓áḵw, Community Serving Spaces, Housing Policy

Phase 3: Childcare Policy – Re-prioritized work

Building Resilience:

Continue the City’s work on childcare as an essential service with a focus on support for equity and

strength to withstand future shocks and stressors.

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Grants operationalize policy • Sectoral administration, capacity

building and networking

• Support equitable access and culturally appropriate care

• Operational support

• Space creation and retention

Phase 3: Childcare Policy – Operating and Capital Grants

COVID-19 RESPONSE:

• March: Council approved flexibility in 2020 Childcare Enhancement Grants to address emergent needs due to COVID

• Resilience planning going forward

Childcare Admin Grants

$376,000

Childcare Enhancement

Grants $1,080,663

Small Childcare

Grants $94,473

Reserve Grants $657,195

Total approved childcare grants in 2019: $2.2 million

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Expand existing partnership with the Province to also address key issues in the sector:

• Universal access and affordability

• Meeting children’s needs for early education

• Sectoral coordination

• ECE workforce

• Facility renewal

Phase 3: Senior Government Partnerships and Advocacy

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New Target of up to 2,300 New Spaces

o Commitments/Targets cannot be achieved without partnerships, particularly on School Age Care (5-12)

o Continue following the established Capital delivery plan for childcare

• Adjustments and reprioritization of projects as needed

• Focus on projects with Public Partners (VSB, Parks, City, Province)

o Seek innovative & nimble approaches to childcare space delivery

• Work with PDS and other Service Groups

Phase 3: Space Creation – Partnerships and Targets

COVID-19 Response

o The Province has expressed ongoing commitment to the Childcare MOU.

• Some adjustments to the terms of the MOU (i.e. timing of delivery) may be required.

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Phase 3: Space Creation Opportunities with Public Partners

CITY VANCOUVER SCHOOL BOARD PARKS

• Childcare in multiple City-facilities

• Co-located with housing and community facilities

• Innovative approaches- Gastown Parkades

• SAC Expansion Grants • Six childcare centres on

seismically replaced school

• More planned

• Co-locating childcare in new community centres

• e

What we can

do

• Co-location with social housing • Policy incentives –with PDS • Exploring other types of sites • Capacity-building of

Neighbourhood Houses • Workplace child care

What we’re doing

• Future school roof sites • Supporting expansion and

creation of SAC

• Continue to explore opportunities for childcare in Park facilities and lands

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Phase 3: Space Creation - School Age Care in Vancouver

COV School Age Care Expansion Grants

Created more than

660 new licensed SAC spaces

Kiwassa Neighbourhood

House

Created 18 new spaces by renovating existing family program space and office space

Jericho Kids Club

Created 20 new spaces by retrofitting heritage building

• SAC spaces are a significant component of our targets

• Leverage partnerships to create more SAC

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• Childcare is not just a public benefit: it is also an essential service

• COVID-19: significant impacts on the childcare sector

• Highlighted existing gaps in an essential service

Next Steps

• Help support the immediate re-startup of sector

• Continue to increase Vancouver’s childcare capacity, with a focus on resilience:

o Space Capacity

o Sector capacity – citywide and neighbourhood

• Revise workplan priorities to emphasize resilience and recovery efforts

o Childcare Strategy

o Alignment work in with other departments

Summary & Next Steps

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