Sackville Family Home Child Care

Administered from (by?) the
Memory Lane Family Place Association

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Home Child Care Community Action Program for Children Strengthening Families Parenting Journey

Program Overview

Family Home Child Care is a program that has been in existence since 1980 in the Sackville community. It began as a pilot project of the Department of Community Services. Through evaluation work, it was deemed to be a viable child care option for families. It has now grown from the initial Sackville program to 14 agencies in the province. The program is administered from the Memory Lane Family Place Association, a non-profit organization. The agency employees an agency director, home consultants and admin support staff.

The program’s boundaries include:

  • Hammonds Plains
  • Lucasville
  • Sackville (Lower, Middle & Upper)
  • Beaver Bank
  • Wellington
  • Fall River Loop

Homes are approved by the Sackville Family Home Child Care Agency, which is licensed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Child care providers are supported and monitored by home consultants, who work for the agency. Providers’ homes are not licensed – they are approved, only.

Approved child care providers with an agency are part of a team whose goal is to provide quality care to the children and families they serve. Being part of an agency allows providers to support parents by offering affordable, accessible child care in their communities . Parents are eligible to apply for provincial subsidy, as the homes are part of the regulated child care system in Nova Scotia.

Providers receive administrative support and assistance with record keeping, programming, training and resources. As well, there is the opportunity for interaction with home consultants and other child care providers in the community.

The agency offers a toy and equipment lending library. This is made available to providers at no cost. Items include cribs, strollers, baby gates, and nap mats. Monthly playgroups are offered at various locations, allowing for larger group opportunities for children, as well as networking for providers.

Being an approved home with the Sackville Family Home Child Care program also means accessing funds and grants through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. The department currently has several incentives to support in-home child care providers to join an agency, including a Start-Up Grant, (up to $7,500), Infant/Toddler Grant, ECE Classification Grant, Benefits Grant and a Retirement Grant which will match RRSP contributions up to $1,200 annually.

Additional information on the grants can be found on our resource page.

Benefits of Being an Approved In-Home Child Care Provider

  • Financial/Business
    • Access to start-up grants and other financial supports, as previously outlined, as well as assistance with associated costs for RCMP/Vulnerable Sector Checks; Child Abuse Registry Checks; First-Aid Training and income tax support.
    • Access to various forms of government fee subsidies on behalf of the children, including provincial subsidy for families who qualify. Parent fee reductions are available to families on behalf of every child they have enrolled.
    • Administrative support and assistance with record keeping and business management.
    • Ability to promote yourself as an independent, self-employed individual, provincially-regulated to meet government standards.
  • Program
    • Program advice and support from the agency’s family home consultant team.
    • Routine home visits to support providers in the child care arrangement.
    • Networking with other child care providers and agency staff for interaction and support.
    • Participation in playgroups organized by family home consultants.
    • Parent confidence knowing the home is approved by a licensed family home child care agency.
    • Toy and equipment lending library provided by the agency.
    • Community recognition as an approved family home child care provider.
  • Professional Development
    • Professional development and training opportunities are provided monthly to child care providers. Over the last several years, the agency has contracted with the Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education to provide professional development to providers. Training has included topics, such as:
      • Behaviour Guidance
      • Communication
      • Nutrition and Programming
    • The agency has a solid working relationship with staff of the Department of education and Early Childhood Development (licensing officers and early childhood consultants) and are able to share gained knowledge on current best practices with child care providers.

Why would families choose to be part of a licensed Family Home Child Care Agency?

  • Home-Like Environment: This type of setting allows children and parents alike to feel part of an extended family. The child care space is warm and inviting and the atmosphere creates an overall feeling of warmth and comfort.
  • Small Group Size: Smaller group size means children have an opportunity for one-on-one interaction with the child care provider. In some situations, small group size can be less stressful for children. Children also have the opportunity to develop closer social bonds with peers and this contributes to a child's overall social and emotional growth.
  • Mixed-Age Grouping: This type of child care arrangement permits siblings to be cared for together, versus being separated. Children interact and socialize with other children in both the same and different age groups. These mixed-age groups more closely mirror most families and other real-life situations. This can help the child learn to feel more comfortable in various situations around older and younger age children.
  • Continuity: The same provider cares for the children throughout the day. This allows for a seamless exchange of information regarding the child’s day. Children have a single, constant caregiver, promoting a sense of safety and security. This, ultimately, helps in developing a close and trusting relationship between child and provider. Children can go from infancy to age 12 with the same child care provider.

Benefits of being in an approved Family Home Child Care arrangement

  • Accessibility
    • Convenient locations: may be close to home, school, work.
    • Flexible hours: child care providers may have hours to accommodate parents who work shifts or irregular hours.
    • Multi-age siblings cared for together, thus allowing for same drop off and pick up of children in one location.
    • Monitored child care in areas where a child care facility is not available. Home visits by ECE consultants ensure requirements under the Provincial Child Care Act are being followed.
  • Affordability
    • Parents can access government subsidies to assist with fee payment.
  • Quality
    • Smaller group sizes of children.
    • Safe and comfortable home environments.
    • Child care providers who engage in up-to-date professional learning opportunities and who have Child Abuse Registry and Vulnerable Sector Checks conducted, as required by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. FHCC homes have insurance liability endorsements to existing policies.
    • Children can have the same care provider for many years.
      Providers meet provincial and agency requirements through regular monitoring.
    • Quality programming supported by ECE consultants, who visit the homes on a regular basis, while maintaining contacts with parents.
    • Peace of mind and security knowing the child care home is being supported by a licensed agency.
  • Communication
    • Open communication among all parties in the child care arrangement is crucial (agency, provider and parent). This includes daily verbal interactions, any meetings, etc. Agency staff are always available to provide any necessary intervention and support.

How do I become involved?

If you’re looking for more information on how to get involved, please fill out the form on our contact page, call or email us.

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