Emergency & Respite Child Care
There is a well-known quote: “The best laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.” This could have been written for military families. Sudden deployments and the nature of the military lifestyle mean that your family often needs to be ready for change at a moment’s notice. It may seem that no matter how much you plan or how prepared you are, it is never enough.
At the Halifax & Region Military Family Resource Centre, we know first hand the physical and emotional demands placed on members, partners, children, parents and extended family, especially as a result of deployment or other work-related separations. Family readiness can be the key to reducing stress on everyone.
Family readiness is especially important for families with young children. Have you planned for your child’s care in the event your family experiences a deployment? What if your spouse/partner or parent who cares for your child becomes injured or sick while you are away? Their first priority will be making childcare arrangements before they can look after themselves.
Emergency Childcare
It is important for parents to have a childcare plan in place in case of an emergency; however, sometimes the plan doesn’t quite come together. This program can help parents address childcare needs during an emergency. We can provide up to 72 hours of in home childcare, at no cost to your family, using professional and screened care providers so parents can be confident their children are in good hands.
The following are circumstances that constitute an emergency, as defined by the Director of Military Family Services (DMFS):
- When a CF member is away on duty and the spouse/caregiver is unavailable due to illness
- When CF member is away on duty and the spouse/caregiver is unavailable due to a family emergency
- when the CF member is required to report for duty on short notice and the spouse/caregiver is unavailable
- When a single parent or both parents are CF members and CF duty requirements are such that the regular childcare provider is unavailable
- When a child is ill and the parent is unable to access their usual child care
- When other circumstances not covered above exist and emergency childcare is deemed necessary, the H&RMFRC may contact DMFS for approval (care is not guaranteed in this circumstance)
Respite Childcare
Sometimes parents need a break especially during a work-related separation, like a deployment. If your situation is not considered an emergency, however, childcare would be considered essential to your family’s continued health and well being, a period of respite childcare is available to you. Families may access up to 72 non-consecutive hours of childcare, at no cost to you. Parents can develop a childcare plan that works for their family during this time of respite.
Emergency Childcare Plan
Please contact us in person or download our Emergency Childcare Plan and return it by fax to (902) 427-7794.
For more information on Emergency and Respite Childcare, please call our 24/7 Family Information Referral Services Team at (902) 427-7788.
