April 1, 2020 - COVID-19 and Child Care for Essential Service Employees

Following the provincial government’s recent designation of community social services as an essential service, employees working in the sector who have children up to the age of five will now have priority access to child care placement. Essential service employees working to deliver critical services during the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for urgent child care around BC through 38 community-based hubs known as Child Care Resource Referral (CCRR) centres.

Employees can apply for placement by completing an application online or by calling 1.888.338.6622 and selecting Option 4. After filling out the form, a representative from a corresponding CCRR centre will be in contact with available licensed child care options. As social services employees are considered “Tier 1,” they will have the highest priority in placement. Please note that while the matching service is free, child care fees will still apply. More details on this newly announced initiative is also available through this provincial news release. You are encouraged to distribute this bulletin widely within your work sites. If you have any questions, please contact your HRLR Consultant or Advocate.