New opportunity encourages St. Marys residents to explore home-based child care

Residents of St. Marys interested in starting their own home-based child care business have a new opportunity to explore becoming child care providers through a program administered by the City of Stratford’s Stratford Home Child Care Program, a licensed home child care agency.

The initiative aims to help address child care shortages by creating opportunities for interested and eligible residents to provide licensed child care in their homes. By supporting more individuals in entering the child care sector, the program hopes to increase available child care spaces for families while creating meaningful self-employment opportunities.

Access to reliable child care is an important part of a thriving community, helping parents and caregivers balance work and family responsibilities while supporting local workforce participation. Expanding the availability of licensed child care requires innovative approaches, and opportunities for home-based providers can play an important role in meeting local needs.

The Town of St. Marys recognizes the importance of addressing child care shortages and applauds the City of Stratford for its efforts to create new pathways for residents interested in becoming child care providers with the support of a licensed agency. “Access to child care is an important need for families in our community, and we welcome initiatives that help create more options,” said Brent Kittmer, CAO of the Town of St. Marys. “We are happy to support the City of Stratford in developing this opportunity and encourage residents who may be interested in operating a home-based child care business to learn more. Programs like this have the potential to support St. Marys families while creating rewarding opportunities for residents to build a business of their own.”

Residents interested in participating are encouraged to learn more about the program, including eligibility criteria, licensing requirements and the steps involved in establishing a home-based child care business. For more information about the program and how to get started, visit stratford.ca or contact via email homechildcare@stratford.ca or telephone 519-271-3771 ext.6258

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Stratford Home Child Care Contact:
Mandy Koroniak | Manager of Children’s Services, Social Services
519-271-3773, ext.6243 | mkoroniak@stratford.ca

For Media Inquiries:

Kaleigh Siegner-Robertson, Corporate Communications Coordinator

519-284-2340, ext. 432 | krobertson@town.stmarys.on.ca