Apply for or renew Child Care Operating Funding

The deadline to apply for funding for February or March 2024 is February 15, 2024. Applications received after this date will be assessed for funding starting April 1, 2024.

Use My ChildCareBC Services to apply for or renew funding.

IMPORTANT: Before submitting a renewal application:

• Review your service details in Schedule A of the current 2023-24 Funding Agreement and advise the program of any changes to avoid application delays.  
• Review the CCFRI & ECE-WE Funding Guidelines, including CCFRI application criteria for New, New-to-CCFRI and Modified facilities. 

To complete the application or renewal, providers will need:

• Primary business BCeID
• A scanned copy or photograph of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act facility licence for each facility listed in Schedule A of the funding agreement

To complete the application or renewal, providers will need:

• Primary business BCeID
• A scanned copy or photograph of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act facility licence for each facility listed in Schedule A of the funding agreement

If opting into CCFRI, providers will also need:

• Full-time parent fees for the funding agreement term. New applicants to the CCFRI will also need parent fees from the previous 12 months:
  • These are the highest fees charged to new parents for full-time care
  • Full-time is considered more than four hours per day, five days per week
  • If full-time care (five days per week) is not offered at the facility, report the highest daily fee charged for that age category or contact us for assistance
• Facility closure dates, if the facility charges parent fees while closed (excluding statutory holidays)

The 2024-25 funding agreement will be emailed to renewing providers by February 21, 2024.

It is important to read and understand the funding agreement in full before agreeing to the terms and conditions in the Program Confirmation Form. Providers should also check that the facility name, licence, and service details in Schedule A of the funding agreement match their current Community Care and Assisted Living Act Facility Licence(s). If Schedule A is not accurate, contact us immediately.

If approved, providers will receive an email that their funding agreement is active. They will also receive separate notifications regarding any CCFRI and ECE-WE applications.

Report any changes to licence and service details within two business days.

Providers approved for CCOF Base Funding, CCFRI or ECE-WE must meet all obligations in the funding agreement on an ongoing basis. Below are the key next steps for each type of funding.

Once approved for CCOF Base Funding, providers are required to:

• Submit Enrolment Reports between the 15th of the prior month and the last day of the sixth month following the applicable reporting month. For example, submit Enrolment Reports for April between March 15 and October 31
• Report any changes to licence and service details within two business days through My ChildCareBC Services

Providers applying to participate in the CCFRI or ECE-WE are not required to reduce their parent fees or enhance staff wages until they receive written approval from the CCOF program. Any reduction in fees passed on to parents or wage enhancements passed on to staff prior to receiving approval are at the provider’s own risk.

Once approved for CCFRI, providers are required to:

• Calculate the fee reduction amount for each child using Schedule C of the funding agreement or call the Service Centre to request a Child Care Fee Reduction Calculator
• Within 30 days, notify parents of the amount of fee reduction funding for their child and the amount and timing of any approved fee increases
• Inform the applicable staff if the facility was approved to participate based on the intention and commitment to increase their wage(s)
• Advise parents of any relevant information to this agreement in the form and frequency directed by the ministry in writing

Download the following optional support documents:

• Parent notification template
• Staff notification template

Once approved for ECE-WE, providers are required to:

• Within 30 days, notify all eligible ECEs in writing of their participation
• Before submitting a claim, use the document(s) below to collect written acknowledgement from all eligible ECEs confirming their knowledge, consent, and authorization for providers to collect and disclose to the ministry their personal information and other information for the purposes of administering, planning, evaluating, and auditing the ECE-WE
• Submit ECE-WE reports between the 1st of the following month and the last day of the sixth month following the applicable reporting month. For example, submit ECE-WE reports for April between May 1st and October 31st

Download the following support documents:

• ECE notification template (optional template)
• ECE Employee Acknowledgement (PDF)
• ECE Owner/Co-Owner Acknowledgement (PDF)

After the Program Confirmation Form is submitted, the ministry will review and assess the information using eligibility criteria (funding guidelines, etc.) for each funding area. Providers may be contacted to make corrections or provide more information. Once the review and assessment are complete, providers will receive separate notifications with the outcome of the application for CCOF Base Funding, and if applicable, CCFRI and ECE-WE.

Providers applying to participate in the CCFRI or ECE-WE are not required to reduce their parent fees or enhance staff wages until they receive written approval from the CCOF program. Any reduction in fees passed on to parents or wage enhancements passed on to staff prior to receiving approval are at the provider’s own risk.

If you have already submitted the Program Confirmation Form, call the CCOF program to report any changes.

After the terms and conditions of the funding agreement have been agreed to, providers must report any changes to licence and service details within two (2) business days through My ChildCareBC Services. Depending on the changes, the funding agreement may need to be updated, which could affect funding.

Providers who have requested a fee increase at 3% and below of their fee increase limit, and who submit complete applications and signed funding agreements will receive an automatic approval notification for the 2024-25 year within a few business days.

Wherever possible, the ministry will work with providers who are renewing their CCFRI funding to give temporary approval for the CCFRI until a final decision is made. This ensures stable monthly fees for parents while the ministry completes its assessment.

However, providers with a fee increase scheduled for April cannot be offered temporary approval. In this situation, the ministry will continue to work with providers and prioritize their application wherever possible to ensure minimal disruption to payment. Providers can help speed up this process by submitting their Program Confirmation Form and responding to all ministry queries as soon as possible.