Hastings County’s Community and Human Services Committee is recommending county council approve entering into a child care fee subsidy agreement with Northumberland County.
If approved, the agreement would be effective May 1, 2025 until May 1, 2030.
The five-year deal helps determine eligibility and provide the child care fee subsidy for families and children who are accessing a child care provider outside of the service delivery boundaries of their Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM).
While Hastings County has cross-jurisdictional agreements with other areas like Lanark County, Prince Edward Lennox & Addington Counties, the City of Kingston, the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, and recently the City of Peterborough, this is the first agreement with Northumberland County.
In her report, Director of Community and Human Services Jamie-Lynn Osmond says the agreement would have a particular impact on the western rural communities in Hastings County, which she says are priority areas for child care spaces and access.
Hastings County Council will look at the agreement at a future meeting.
