Affordable Childcare... but

#atwhatcost

The True Costs of Alberta's Childcare

Affordability Grant Agreement

The Ministry of Children and Family Services recently shared information.

Join our community of like-minded operators, regardless of NFP or private business model!

Impact of the Affordability Grant on

OPERATORS

#atwhatcost

Cash Flow

The Affordability Grant payments disbursed by the government are delayed, taking 40 to 45 days to reach childcare operators. As these amounts are increasing to an average of 85% of revenue, operators are finding themselves struggling to meet timely financial obligations with only access to the 15% parent portion, compelling them to rely on expensive financing to cover essential costs.

Inflation

Childcare providers have experienced financial losses over the past two years, primarily
attributed to fee caps that have failed to keep pace with the inflation rate. Under the existing cap, fees have increased by accumulated 9%, significantly lagging behind the Bank of Canada's calculated amount of 15.2%, jeopardizing the financial viability of childcare businesses striving to align with inflation rates for sustainable, quality operation.

Administrative Burden

The administrative cost imposed on all models of operators to administer the government program averages between $20 to $30 per child per month. For instance, considering an average childcare centre in Alberta with 100 children at a cost of $25 per child, the monthly expense totals $2,500. Over the 24 months since signing into this agreement, the cumulative cost amounts to $60,000. These ongoing administrative expenses present an additional financial burden for operators navigating the complexities of the program.

erosion of operational control

Operators within the childcare industry are grappling with a palpable loss of autonomy attributed to government overreach. This interference has led to the centralization of publicly funded childcare, bringing forth ominous cost controls. As a consequence, operators find themselves on the brink of complete loss of control over the unique programs they once ran independently. The shift toward centralized control not only undermines the diverse and individualized approaches operators bring to their programs but also raises concerns about the long-term sustainability and quality of childcare services under this constrained framework.

Impact of the Affordability Grant on

FAMILIES

#atwhatcost

Reliable Childcare

We anticipate challenges to maintain additional educators for coverage. When an educator is unavailable, childcare services may be impacted.

Reduce Operational Hours

We may need to modify our operational hours based on employee availability to optimize resources and uphold the quality of childcare services.

SUPPLIES & PROGRAMMING

Within a commitment to upholding quality services, adjustments of supplies and extra programming may need to be implemented to manage our budget effectively.

Personal childcare operators, parents, and other

Stories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam.

John doe

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam.

John doe

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam.

John doe

Fostering

CHOICE AND ACCESS

A balance between affordable childcare for Alberta families

that is still sustainable for operators.

Empowering Alberta Families for Access to Affordable High-Quality Childcare

We are dedicated to providing high-quality childcare services.

We acknowledge the financial challenges that many of our families are currently navigating.

We are committed to the
well-being of our families.