You take care of the children, and we'll take care of you.
We are thrilled that your interest in providing quality care has led you to explore the idea of running your own home child care program. We invite you to explore the benefits of becoming an approved Provider with the Muskoka Home Child Care Agency.
Not only will you become an approved Child Care Provider, but you will also be an entrepreneur of your own independent business. We honour you in this process in the following ways:
What are the hours of operation? |
You are an entrepreneur of your own small business. This means that you are able to be flexible around your business such as hours and days of operation. You may choose to only do before and after school care, or perhaps you will choose to close during the summer. Some of our Providers choose to work a 4 day work week. We respect these choices. You know what is best for you as a small business owner. Not only does this help Providers, but it also helps families as there are fewer burnouts and more longevity retention. |
Create your own unique program! |
As a Provider with the Agency, you have signed a Service Agreement which means that you will follow our Policies and Procedures, but beyond this, each Provider is able to create a program around their passions. Maybe music is important to you, and this theme is seen throughout your program. Perhaps nature inspires you and most of your programming is done outdoors. These elements, make your program, unique to you as an independent business owner. |
Can I select the children and families for my program? |
Yes! As independent business owners, Provider’s are able to choose the right families and children for their unique programs. Although we have a waitlist that we encourage you to use, you can also recruit your own families and have your own waitlist. We feel that it is important to find the best fit for your program to ensure that the placement is successful and joyous. |
You can make policies that fit your needs! |
Aside from the Agency’s Policies and Procedures, Providers are able to create their own policies such as Late Fee Policies and choose your own program supplies, as long as they do not contradict your Service Agreement. These are choices you get to make as a business owner. |
Can I have Back-up Providers, Volunteers and Students? |
As independent business owners, Providers can choose to have Back Up-Providers, Volunteers and Students in their homes. Back-Up Providers can work alongside a Provider helping with day to day tasks or independently, when you are not in the program. Volunteers and Students are only able to work alongside a Provider. We believe that having a Back-Up Provider can really enhance your programs reliability, your personal well-being and overall your program supports and that’s why we encourage this team approach. Back-Up Provider’s are required to complete necessary paperwork such as a Criminal Record Check with a Vulnerable Screening, etc. as well as some foundational training. As independent business owners, Back-Up Providers are considered your employees and are paid and retained by you. |
We aim to have an inclusive economic environment for all families to access while also supporting our Provider’s financial security and stability. We achieve this in the following ways:
Provider Pay with CWELCC Funding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of November 1, 2022, the Muskoka Home Child Care Agency has opted in, to implement the Canada Wide Early Learning Child Care (CWELCC) plan, making quality child care more affordable, accessible and inclusive. Please see the District of Muskoka website for more information.
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$6,000 Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) Start Up Funding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Providers joining the Muskoka Home Child Care Team are eligible to receive up to $6,000 in Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) Start Up Funding. This funding is designed to assist you with the initial costs of being an approved provider and includes items such as obtaining your First Aid and CPR, your Criminal Reference Check, Vulnerable Sector Check, Fire Inspection and so much more! |
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No Administration Fees | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This means that the money the Agency chose to waive the Agency Administration Fees. Now, Providers receive, dollar for dollar, what families pay for care each day. Throughout Ontario, a survey was completed from different Licensing Municipalities regarding Agency Administration Fees. Out of the survey respondents, it was discovered that the Muskoka Home Child Care Agency is 1 of only 3 municipalities that does not charge an Administration Fee. This means that the money that is collected for daily child care rates, goes directly to Providers, with no deductions from the Agency |
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Reimbursement of Start-up Costs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Within the first month of opening, the MHCCA reimburses for start-up costs such as Criminal Reference Checks, Medical Screening, Fire Safety Inspections, Standard First Aid and Driver’s Abstracts for Providers and others involved in the program. |
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Home Child Care Enhancement Grant | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Home Child Care Enhancement Grant is a provincial fund that helps support the licensed home child care sector. It wants to recognize the quality of Provider’s while not adding expense to families. Provider’s approved with an Agency are able to receive an extra $20 a day for each day they are open with a minimum of one child care child and are open for over 6+ hours, or $10 for being open under 6+ hours. This could equal thousands of dollars annually. |
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Increased Number of Children in Care | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Providers approved under a licensed Agency are able to have 6 children as opposed to 5, when running a Home Child Care program. The addition of one extra child, could mean thousands of dollars per year. Capacity limit details include:
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Allotment Day Funds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agency placed families receive up to 15 prorated allotment days, to use as they see fit; vacation time, sick leave or any other reason they deem needed. These are days that you receive payment, but families are not charged. |
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Fee Subsidy for Families | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It is important to us, to make child care affordable for families. As an approved home under the Agency, your families are eligible to apply to have a portion or all of their child care fees paid for by the District Municipality of Muskoka. Subsidy is based on a few factors including income levels and can be accessed when families are working, attending school or have special family circumstances as identified by a third party agency. |
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Access to the Resource Lending Library | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MHCCA has a resource library that Provider’s are able to access. It includes resources such as cots, playpens, high chairs, booster seats, safety equipment, furniture, toys, strollers, and other materials. |
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Extras! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our Agency strives to show our children, Providers and families that we appreciate them. We do this in various ways including an annual dinner celebration with our Providers. We offer field trips, whether virtual or in person, as well as activities for the children throughout the year. We may show up for a visit with your favourite hot drink, but these smalls gestures are to let you know we care and value you. |
When you become an approved Provider with us, you gain a team of supporting players who invest in you and your business. Here are some of the ways you may feel supported:
We offer professional learning opportunities! |
A wealth of knowledge in the Early Childhood Education field, related to neuroscience, has really elevated the profession to a new level. Our interactions with children in the first years of their life are known to have life changing affects. To be a knowledgeable, successful and brilliant educator for children, one must know why we do what we do, and how our actions affect their growth. Our aim is to remove habit and replace it with intention. For this reason, we offer professional learning opportunities several times throughout the year. In addition to this, we speak with Provider’s about their own professional learning needs and offer lots of opportunity for discussion and reflection. |
Registered Early Childhood Educators are here to support you. |
When Providers are anonymously surveyed and asked to list the top reasons why they are with the Agency, support from the Agency is always topping the list. As Registered Early Childhood Educators, our Home Visitors’ visit our Provider’s regularly for announced and unannounced visits. During these times, documentation is completed and reviewed, observations are recorded, child development assessments and strategies are exchanged, activities are presented, and Early Childhood practices are shared and built upon. These visits are viewed as a time to connect, learn, and engage in meaningful conversations and exchanges with our Providers and children. |
You'll feel part of a community. |
Being a home child care Provider has it’s moments of feeling disconnected from others. When you join with the Muskoka Home Child Care Agency, you get an entire team. Not only do you have the team from the Agency to support and encourage you along your journey, but we also host Provider nights where all the Providers are able to connect with one another. These happen regularly throughout the year and it offers a platform where you can connect with your peers. Some of our Providers, even offer mentorship coaching. |
Policies, procedures and administrative matters - let us take care of that! |
Another benefit of joining with the Agency, is that we stay current with the latest child care policies from the Ministry so you don’t have to spend your time researching these details. We have policies and procedures that make sense and are there to support children, families, and you. Yes, there are administrative duties necessary to operate a small business as an approved home under a Ministry of Education license. The MHCCA team has worked to make forms user friendly including creating digitally fillable ones. We also maintain your binder of necessary information for you, and we do most of the Registration requirements with families, so you don’t have to. |
We have families waiting for you! |
We have an extensive waitlist of eager families looking for care throughout Muskoka. Although you are able to create your own waitlist and find your own families, we can help you if desired. Simply, let us know what spot you’re looking to fill and we will contact families to begin the interview process with you. We want you to find the best fit for you, the children you currently have in care, your family and your program. |
Please complete our Expression of Interest Form at the link below and a member of our team will get in touch with you or contact the MHCCA Manager, Monica Diefke, by phone at 705-394-4818, or by email at monica.diefke@muskoka.on.ca
You are such an incredible team of people and I'm grateful to you. You take care of the administration side of child care, which I have zero patience for. It's just as important. You are also always available for support in every other way. It takes a village, and you are part of it! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for your knowledge, your care, and your hard work.
– B. Boyd
You guys have made this experience totally awesome I’m so happy that I have all of you supporting me (I can always feel it) I couldn’t do it without you guys!!! Thank you.
- C. Baardolf
100% of Providers indicated that they strongly feel that the MHCCA Agency staff encourages and supports their development.
– Fall Provider Survey
What are the top benefits you feel you receive from the Agency? "Financial incentives, support from ECE and those with more experience than I have, feeling more professional in my role than if I was unlicensed."
– Provider Survey
What are the top benefits you feel you receive from the Agency? "I love the support I receive from my Agency team. I feel very comfortable talking about any issue I may have and know that the team will try to do everything they can to provide assistance."
– Provider Survey
100% of Providers strongly agree that even in difficult situations, they feel they can depend on the MHCCA team for support and guidance.
– Provider Survey