Federal-provincial child care agreement
On November 15, 2021, the Alberta and federal governments announced an agreement to reduce child care fees by an average of 50% in early 2022 and to provide $10 per day fees, on average, by 2026. Learn more about this historic agreement.
Licensed facility-based child care
- Licensed facility-based child care providers can apply:
- to the rapid testing program for employers and service providers to receive free rapid test kits for use in their centre-based COVID-19 screening program
- for free personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Guidance for Licensed Child Care Centres (Daycares and Out-of-School Care)
- Alberta Biz Connect – additional workplace guidance and supports to help businesses and non-profits affected by COVID-19 operate safely
- See all public health orders
Home-based child care
Licensed home-based child care
- Family day home educators operating under licensed agencies can offer child care for up to 6 children not including their own.
- Licensed home-based child care agencies can apply:
- to the rapid testing program for employers and service providers to receive free rapid test kits for use in their centre-based COVID-19 screening program.
- for free personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Guidance for family day homes under licensed agencies and group family child care programs
Unlicensed child care
- Unlicensed child care programs can provide child care for up to 6 children, not including their own, at any given time. We do not monitor unlicensed or private child care arrangements but can issue closures if they are over this limit.
- Unlicensed child care programs can apply to the rapid testing program for employers and service providers to receive free rapid test kits for use in their centre-based COVID-19 screening program.
- Unlicensed child care operators are encouraged to follow the child care guidance where appropriate.
Enhanced sanitization
- Enhanced sanitation practices should be used by all home-based child care providers, whether they are licensed or unlicensed:
- routinely clean and disinfect any surface that people regularly touch
- handwashing facilities or hand sanitizer must be available to children
- visitors and children should not enter if they are feeling unwell
- visitors should wash their hands frequently
Find child care
- If you are in need of child care, see more information on finding and choosing child care.
- You can also find licensed child care in your area by:
- calling Child Care Connect toll free at 1-844-644-5165
- accessing the online child care lookup tool
- contacting the list of licensed family day home agencies (PDF, 370 KB)
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