Federal funding is helping Hastings County recruit and retain child care and early years workers.
At its meeting on Wednesday. the Community and Human Services Committee decided to recommend that Hastings County Council allocate funds for the Hastings County Early Childhood Education Scholarship.
This would support current and future students within the Early Childhood Education program at Loyalist College.
The one time cost – $150,000, will be funded through the federal government.
Director of Community and Human Services Connor Dorey explains.
“They’re at a premium. They’re very important but equally important or most important is having qualified ECEs, uh, workers to work with the children and uh it’s a great initiative.”
The scholarship is up to a maximum of $3,000 per eligible student based on academic achievement within the program and the submission of a brief essay outlining their understanding of how critical Early Childhood Education are to the development and well being of a child.
This scholarship will be offered to current students in their fourth semester and future students enrolled in the program to encourage local recruitment of qualified and registered ECEs in Hastings County.
The criteria to receive the final installment of the scholarship is to obtain employment within Hastings County at a licensed child care centre-based program, licensed home care, or EarlyON program. Information about enrollment and success stories from scholarship recipients will be provided to Community and Human Services Committee at future meetings.
