12.1 Child Care Wage Enhancement (WEG) / Home Child Care Enhancement Grants (HCCEG)

POLICY

Licensed child care staff and home child care providers play a key role in supporting the critical years of child development and service quality. The Wage Enhancement Grant (WEG) and Home Child Care Enhancement Grant (HCCEG) support eligible child care professionals working in licensed child care settings, including both center-based and home-based care.

The purpose of the wage enhancement is to:

• Help close or narrow the wage gap between RECE wages in the education sector and licensed child care sector;

• Stabilize eligible licensed centres/agencies by helping them retain eligible staff/home child care providers; and

• Support greater employment and income security for eligible positions/home child care providers.

The WEG applies to staff working with children aged 6-12 years (for CWELCC enrolled centres/agencies serving children aged 0-12) and provides up to $2 per hour, plus 17.5% in benefits for licensed program staff and home visitors, while the HCCEG offers an increase of up to $20 per day for eligible home child care providers contracted with licensed agencies. For staff serving children aged 0-5 years, wage support is incorporated in the Cost-Based Funding formula.

PROCEDURE

Licensed centres and agencies exclusively serving children aged 6 to 12 are eligible to apply for WEG/HCCEG funding directly.

Upon receiving an application and confirming eligibility as per the outlined criteria, the Manitoulin Sudbury DSB will allocate WEG/HCCEG funding to the qualifying licensed centre or agency.

Wage Enhancement Grant – Child Care Centre Program Staff and Home Child Care Visitors

Full WEG: Eligible staff earn up to $32.81/hour and occupy roles counted in child-to-adult ratios under the Child Care and Early Years Act.

Partial WEG: Eligible positions with wages between $30.81 and $32.81 per hour will receive a partial grant to reach the cap without exceeding $32.81.

Ineligible Positions: Non-program staff, SNR/ISP-funded resource consultants, third-party hires, and those without 25% of time spent on child ratios are ineligible for WEG.

Home Child Care Enhancement Grant (HCCEG) – Home Child Care Providers

Full HCCEG: Providers with a licensed agency contract, serving at least one child (excluding their own), for 6+ hours daily, with fees below $328.10.

Partial HCCEG: Providers offering part-time care (under 6 hours daily) with fees below $196.86 qualify for $10 per day.

Eligible Expenses

WEG/HCCEG funding (including the supplemental grant) is allocated specifically for eligible positions serving children aged 6 to 12. This funding must be used exclusively to enhance wages and benefits for eligible positions or to increase daily income for eligible home child care providers. It cannot be repurposed for child care system expansion or fee reductions, except in cases where flexibility is explicitly permitted under specified conditions.

Supplemental Grant

The supplemental grant provides an additional $150 per full-time equivalent (FTE) centre-based staff and $50 per home child care provider for added flexibility in covering benefits and operational adjustments. Unused funds are recoverable.

Benefits Funding and Flexibility

The 17.5% allocated for benefits must first cover statutory requirements, including vacation and statutory days. Any remaining funds can then be used to support additional benefits or wage increases.

Payment to Eligible Staff

Wage enhancement amounts must be itemized on pay stubs as “Provincial Child Care Wage Enhancement Grant: or “Provincial Home Child Care Enhancement Grant.”  Payments align with the current year’s data, with allowances for the current year eligible staff /providers in the prior year.

Reconciliation

Service Providers must use WEG/HCCEG exclusively for eligible staff per the Ontario Child Care Service Management and Funding Guidelines. Quarterly reconciliations are required, and Manitoulin Sudbury DSB may perform compliance audits. Non-compliance or misuse of funds may lead to future ineligibility for WEG/HCCEG.