IMPORTANT: We are at program capacity and are accepting waitlist applications. Please follow the application link to apply to the waitlist. For support, please reach out to your family support administrator or email us at ELCCsupport@metisnation.org

The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) is pleased to support Métis families by offering the Child Care Stipend Program. Our child care stipend program was developed in acknowledgement of families who do not have access to and/or whose needs cannot be met through formal child care (i.e. licensed or private child care).
To learn more about the program, please see our Child Care Stipend Guide.

The stipend program is available to Métis families with children 0-12 years old when all parents/guardians within the household work, attend school, or have documented medical needs that require childcare support. It is recognized that the stipend may not offset the total cost of alternative care. This program is not an income supplement but is intended to lessen the cost of informal child care.

Families with non-school-age children (0-4yrs) may be eligible for a childcare stipend of up to $30 per day or $150 per week per family. Families with school-age children who require before and/or after-school care may be eligible for a stipend of up to $10 per day or $50 per week per family. In addition, families with school-aged children may qualify for a stipend of $30 per day, per family, for school holidays such as PD days, Christmas Break and March Break.

The stipend amount is provided on a PER FAMILY basis. The maximum available at any time is $150/week per family.

Early Learning and Child Care Family Supports Administrators will work with families to obtain applicable documentation, confirm ongoing eligibility, and offer support. All Métis families who meet the qualifications are encouraged to apply.

Elgibility Criteria:

  • Children must be between the ages of 0-12 years.
    • The stipend ends the month prior to the child turning 13.
  • The parent/guardian, or child, must be an MNO citizen eligible for direct support.
  • Family must reside in the Province of Ontario
  • The family does not have access to formal child care within the community, or the child care available does not meet the family’s needs.
  • The parent(s)/guardian(s) must be employed, attending school, or have ongoing medical needs that require child care support.
    • If the parent or guardian works from home, an alternate caregiver must be present during working hours.
  • A family member, friend, or other support person provides child care regularly (minimum average of 3 days/week).
    • Contact information must be provided to the MNO to verify the child care arrangement.
  • Parenting agreement that describes parenting time (for example, 50/50 split).
    • The stipend is only available during the applicant’s parenting time.
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The following are examples of child care circumstances that do not qualify for stipend:

  • Irregular child care (ex. night-out babysitters, PD days only)
  • Requesting stipend during parent/guardian’s vacation time or scheduled days off
  • School closures due to weather-related events (e.g. snow days)
  • Families during a parent/guardian’s period of unemployment
  • Care for an older sibling during a parent/guardian’s maternity or parental leave
  • Parent/guardian’s seasonal work layoff periods
  • Licensed child care and camps
  • Summer camps, day camps, PD day camps, etc.
  • Private schools
  • Homeschooling/ homeschooling pods

Please note: The Child Care Stipend supports families with children up to age 12 in accessing child care, when the family does not have, regular, formal child care arrangements for their children, it is recognized that the stipend may not offset the full cost of alternative care. This program is NOT an income supplement, but it is meant to offset the cost of childcare when formal child care is unavailable. The MNO cannot guarantee the date of deposits. Early Learning and Child Care Program Coordinators will issue the stipend on a monthly basis. They will reach out to families on a regular basis, for updates on their child care situation. Failure to respond in a timely manner may result in delays to the stipend being issued or having your file closed.

CONTACT: If you are unsure if your child care situation is within the parameters of the stipend program, please email ELCCsupport@metisnation.org.

FAQ

Receipts are not necessary. We may request information to confirm the child care arrangements. In addition, we may ask for proof of employment, school schedule, etc.

If your family is currently involved in an Early Learning and Child Care related program, it can take up to two weeks for your file to be reviewed. If you are a new family to the Early Learning and Child Care programs, the review process can take 3-4 weeks as we connect with the MNO Registry team to confirm MNO citizenship. Once approved, an ELCC program coordinator will send you a letter via e-mail informing you that you have been approved for the program. In addition, it is required that you sign a terms and conditions agreement stating that you agree to be an active participant in the program. Applicants who are declined will be contacted via e-mail with a letter describing why they were declined, and if possible a list of MNO programs that you may benefit from.

Each month an ELCC program coordinator reviews approved families and checks in on their child care situation. Once it is determined that a family qualifies for a monthly stipend, the ELCC program coordinator will process the payment no later than the 15th of each month. Funds will be paid via direct deposit into your bank account. To ensure that you receive payments in a timely manner, please ensure the following:

  • When submitting an application, please ensure you are attaching accurate banking information. This includes:
    • Void Cheque
    • Direct Deposit Form
    • Screenshot of banking information

  • Please note, our Finance team will NOT accept the following:
    • Savings account information
    • Credit Card information
    • Handwritten banking information

Banking information MUST be in the name of the applicant or the MNO citizen. If the banking information does not match, we will ask for banking information in the name of the applicant or the MNO citizen. Please ensure that any changes to banking information are sent to the ELCC program coordinator as soon as possible to avoid payment delays. All banking information is saved on a secure drive that only the Manager of ELCC, Supervisor of ELCC and the MNO Finance team has access to. Please ensure you are responding to the ELCC program coordinator each month to ensure your stipend is received in a timely manner.

The ELCC program coordinator will make four attempts to contact you and if there is no response the stipend will be placed on hold. The first attempt will be via email. The second attempt will be a follow up email. The third attempt will be a phone call. The fourth and final attempt will be via email with the note that failure to respond may result in your stipend being placed on hold. If an ELCC program coordinator fails to make contact after three consecutive months your application will be closed and marked dormant. The MNO Finance team works to ensure that all approved expenses are paid out in a timely manner however there may be delays due to high volume.

If you do not receive your monthly payment within three weeks of the 15th of the month, please reach out to the ELCC Program Coordinator and they will look into the status of your stipend. If you are new to the Early Learning and Child Care programs and are submitting banking information for the first time, please allow up to six weeks from the date that you receive your approval letter to receive your first stipend. This will allow our Finance team to add you into the MNO financial system.

Coordinators review each application on a case-by-case basis. If the application shows that the child care need started prior to the application submission, you may qualify for a back payment of up to a maximum of three months depending on child care need.

If the grandparent or sibling is providing regular, on-going child care, you may be eligible for the child care stipend. Regular or ongoing child care is for a minimum of three days a week or 10 days per calendar month. If the grandparent or sibling provides irregular care (such as babysitting for a night out) this is not eligible for the child care stipend.|

Yes! Your family may be eligible for MNO’s Enhanced Extra-Curricular Reimbursement Program which is designed to help Métis families afford recreational activities for their children.

When you apply and are approved for the stipend program, you will be assigned an ELCC program coordinator. They will be in touch with you on a regular basis, and will provide information if your child care situation changes. In addition, if you do not need the stipend, they can place your file on hold, until you require it again.

If your employment is seasonal, you can only access the stipend when you are working. When you are not working, your stipend is placed on hold, and will resume when your work restarts. This includes any staff employed by district school boards who are not actively employed during the summer months. (Teachers, EA’s RECE’s, Administration and Support Staff.). If a school board employee is taking additional qualification courses or is teaching in a summer school program, they may qualify for the stipend if supporting documentation shows there is a child care need.

If you are not currently working, you cannot access the program. This program supports families who require alternate child care arrangements for employment, or education purposes. If you require child care supports for medical or mental-health reasons, please reach out to elccsupport@metisnation.org

All parents/guardians in the household must be employed or in an education program. If you require child care supports for medical or mental-health reasons, please reach out to elccsupport@metisnation.org

You may be eligible to receive a $50 week stipend for your school age child.

All stipend amounts are per family. Some examples are:

  • For non-school aged children, the stipend is per family- $150 per week.
  • For school aged children, the stipend is per family – $50 per week
  • For households with mixed age groups, the stipend is per family $150 per week.

Yes! MNO offers a Child Care Subsidy to help Métis families access safe high quality child care. The MNO Child Care Subsidy Program is for Métis families who have child care costs for their children attending a child care centre (ages 0-4) or a before and after school program (ages 4-12). Families who are receiving regional or municipal childcare subsidies can also access the Program to help cover additional costs.

The eligibility criteria is as follows: 

  • One parent or guardian must be an MNO Citizen
  • Applicants must have a child aged 0-12 in need of child care
  • Applicants must reside in Ontario
  • All Métis families who meet the qualifications are encouraged to apply

Updated: May 3, 2024