Lakey Stager and Devon Thomas knew that it would be challenging trying to balance raising two young boys while attending school. But thanks to new Young Parent Program (YPP) being offered in Duncan, things are a lot easier.

"We are very happy that both our sons are able to attend the Young Parent Program," said Duncan parents Lakey Stager and Devon Thomas. "Our older son recently turned three years old, and if not for the new Young Parent Program, we would have had to find a new centre for him. Having our children close to the school makes it much easier for us to concentrate on school work."

Two new Young Parent Programs have opened in B.C. this school year - in Duncan and Penticton, and a third YPP is opening in Chilliwack. These programs offer child care at or near secondary schools, providing young parents with the chance to finish school and access important parenting resources.

The new YPPs at Chilliwack Community Services, the Nagle Street Early Learning Program in Duncan, and at the Hand in Hand Infant Toddler Centre in Penticton bring the total number of YPP child care spaces to almost 900. The Ministry of Children and Family Development now supports 37 Young Parent Programs throughout B.C.

"We are so excited to expand our Young Parent Program and open a new centre for children three to five years of age," said Kathy Payne, co-ordinator, Nagle Street Early Learning Program. "This has long been a dream for our YPP to offer child care and parenting support to our families until the children are ready to attend kindergarten."

"The Chilliwack Community Services Youth Parent Program is designed to assist pregnant and parenting teens in making good decisions for themselves and for their children," said Ashley Giampa, youth parent support worker, Chilliwack Community Services Young Parent Program. "Young parents are offered a number of services including life skills and family management classes, day care and high school graduation options."

Parents attending these programs are eligible to receive an enhanced child-care subsidy rate of up to $1,000 per month, compared to a maximum subsidy rate of $750 for other parents. To be eligible, the young parent must have become a parent when they were younger than 20 years of age, or turned 20 during the school year in which their child was born. They can receive the enhanced subsidy rate until the age of 24.

Ministry funding for the programs is estimated at more than $2.7 million annually - $540,000 in child-care operating funding and $2.2 million for child-care subsidies.

"It's not easy being a parent, especially if you're trying to finish a high school education," said Minister of Children and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux. "Government recognizes the positive impact these programs have on the lives of young parents and their children - and that's why we're supporting these programs in communities throughout the province."

In 2012-13, 360 children occupied YPP child-care spaces in B.C. Remaining spaces are filled by other parents in the community.

For more information about child-care programs in B.C., please visit: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/index.htm

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Shawn Larabee
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-0543

Young Parent Programs in B.C.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development supports 37 Young Parent Programs in the following B.C. communities:

Abbotsford
Aggasiz
Burnaby
Campbell River
Chilliwack
Coquitlam
Courtenay
Cranbrook
Duncan
Fort St. John
Gibsons
Kamloops
Kelowna
Langford
Maple Ridge
Merritt
Nanaimo
Nelson
New Westminster
North Vancouver
Parksville
Penticton
Port Alberni
Powell River
Prince George
Prince Rupert
Richmond
Saanichton
Salmon Arm
Sidney
Surrey
Terrace
Vancouver
Victoria
Williams Lake

For further information about YPPs in B.C., contact the Child Care Subsidy Service Centre at 1 888 338-6622.

Media Contact:

Shawn Larabee
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-0543