Changes to Provincial funding rules result in Preschool Funding Gap, and new county services

Recently, the Alberta Government clarified that Parent Link Funding cannot be used for registration-based programs such as community preschools but must instead go towards free-access parent and child programming.

At the May 9 regular meeting, Yellowhead County Council voted against using County funds to replace provincial funding to enhance preschool support in the County. However, Yellowhead County, through the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) department, will continue to offer limited Preschool Grants to eligible preschool programs in 2017.

At the same council meeting on May 9, Yellowhead County Council approved using the funds provided by the Alberta Government to provide Parent Link Centre services through the hiring of a part-time Early Childhood Coordinator and development of a Parent Link Centre program for County residents.