Indigenous child care providers and educators

We are building a future where child care is a core service that families can rely on. The Ministry of Education and Child Care is committed to cooperation and collaboration with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and Indigenous partners to develop distinctions-based, culturally safe approaches to child care and wraparound services.

On this page

• Aboriginal Child Care Resource and Referral
• Become an Aboriginal Head Start program
• Information for Métis providers and educators
• Space creation
• Operating resources
• Engagement opportunities

Aboriginal Child Care Resource and Referral

The BC Aboriginal Child Care Society operates the only provincial Aboriginal Child Care Resource and Referral (ACCRR) program in B.C. ACCRR program staff work in partnership with Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, Indigenous families and communities and in urban settings throughout the province. Services through the ACCRR are funded by the ministry and support early learning and child care programs, early childhood educators, families and communities throughout B.C. by providing information, outreach, resource lending, networking and learning opportunities.

Become an Aboriginal Head Start program

Aboriginal Head Start (AHS) supports Indigenous-led child care through partnerships with the First Nations Health Authority and the Aboriginal Head Start Association of British Columbia.

AHS is evidence-based early learning and child care programming for Indigenous children aged birth to 6 years and their families. Using a culturally relevant curriculum that includes language and culture, nutrition, school readiness and social supports, AHS provides wraparound family support and inclusion services at no cost to Indigenous families.

Indigenous Organizations

Indigenous organizations are invited to contact the AHSABC to discuss an opportunity to convert their urban, Indigenous-led child care facilities to the AHS program model, making them no-fee, holistic child care and family wellness programs.

New AHS child care centres receive support and training from AHSABC and peer AHS programs to grow into their new AHS model of delivery.

Contact the AHSABC’s Director of Programming for more information.

First Nations

First Nations are encouraged to reach out to the First Nations Health Authority to explore the possibility of introducing the Aboriginal Head Start program in their communities. They will announce specific intake periods and invite communities to apply to participate in the program.

Information for Métis providers and educators

MNBC Child Care Coordinators provide training, consultation, networking & outreach, and collaboration with Early Learning and Child Care Programs and ECEs throughout the province. Child Care Coordinators reduce barriers and increase accessibility to culturally relevant child care for Métis children and families (MNBC citizens and self-identified) in the province, in alignment with BC’s distinctions-based approach to Indigenous Child Care.

Funding for Métis Early Childhood Educators

In partnership with STEPS (Skills Training | Employment | Post-Secondary), the MNBC Ministry of Education provides funding to Métis students entering, re-establishing, and graduating from ECE post-secondary programs. These programs provide students with the competencies and knowledge required to work with children under the age of five in licensed preschools and child care centers.

Early Childhood Educator Supplement

The supplement is designed to support licensed Métis ECEs and ECEAs who are working in licensed child care programs across the province with a financial supplement.

Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia Paid Membership

In partnership with Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia (ECEBC), MNBC offers registered Métis Citizens who are Métis Early Childhood Educators, and Métis ECE students, a paid ECEBC membership.

Space creation

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people have told us they need choice and flexibility in the types of child care available to them, and the importance of a holistic approach to child care that supports language and culture; however, there are limited Indigenous-led, culturally based child care spaces available. That is why combined provincial and federal funding is being allocated for:

• The creation of new Indigenous-led child care spaces
• The expansion of Aboriginal Head Start child care programs
• Support for Indigenous partners to build capacity and connect parents and communities to the Province’s child care funding

Indigenous child care providers looking to create new spaces are encouraged to apply for ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund when applications are being accepted.

The Start-Up Grants program is designed to increase the number of licensed child care spaces available to B.C. families by supporting individuals who want to operate a licensed child care facility in their personal residence. If you are looking to create a new Indigenous-led licensed family child care facility, you are encouraged to apply.

Operating resources

Operating a child care facility

• Open a child care business
• Follow the rules for operating a licensed child care facility
• Young Parent Program

Maintenance

• ChildCareBC Maintenance Fund

Operation Funding

• $10 a Day ChildCareBC Centres
• Child Care Operating Funding
• Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
• Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement

Tools

• Affordable Child Care Benefit Service Provider Portal
• ChildCareBC Bulletin

Learn more

• Support for early childhood professionals