Media Contacts

For non-medical information relating to COVID-19:

Visit: www.gov.bc.ca/COVID19
Email: servicebc@gov.bc.ca
Or call: 1 888 COVID-19

Ministry of Children and Family Development

Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 360-6597

Joint Information Centre

COVID Provincial Co-ordination Plan
embc.covidjic@gov.bc.ca
236 478-1336

Backgrounders

Information for essential workers requiring child care

Essential workers requiring child care for children, aged 0 to five years, can fill out a new "parent" form to identify their need for child care.

Child care providers are to prioritize placements for children of essential service workers based on the following:

  • Tier 1 (highest priority): employed in health and health services, social services, law enforcement, first responders and emergency response.
    • For child care, Tier 1 includes children referred by the ministry and Delegated Aboriginal Agency social workers.
  • Tier 2 (second priority): all other occupations not included in Tier 1 that are listed in the Essential Service Workers list – see Tier 3.:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/family-and-social-supports/covid-19/list_of_essential_services.pdf   
  • Tier 3 (third priority): all other families not employed in an occupation listed in the Essential Service Workers list. Accepting families in Tier 3 is not required, but providers may do so at their discretion.