The City of Richmond is developing a 10 year Child Care Strategy to ensure high-quality, accessible and affordable options continue to be available in Richmond. As such, the City is seeking input from Richmond residents, parents/guardians, caregivers and child care providers to help identify current and future child care needs for Richmond over the next 10 years. 

For those who fall in one of the categories above, there are a few ways you can share your feedback.

• Richmond residents, parents/guardians and caregivers are invited to share their experience and thoughts about the challenges, opportunities and priorities for child care in Richmond online, via LetsTalkRichmond.ca.
  
  
• Child care providers will have the opportunity to participate in focus groups, with further details to be provided on the City’s website. As well, there is a child care provider survey located at LetsTalkRichmond.ca.
  
  
• The surveys will be available to complete and submit until 11:59pm on Sunday November, 26, 2023.

Public engagement and feedback are vital components of developing the new strategy. Responses will be compiled for anonymity and feedback from the public engagement will be used in the development of the draft strategy to be presented to Council for adoption.

Background
Council recognizes the importance of access to affordable and quality child care and has a long history of supporting child care in the community. The City’s role is to help create and nurture the development of a comprehensive child care system in Richmond. 

The City has developed thirteen city-owned child care facilities, including two innovative Early Childhood Development Hubs. The City partners with child care providers, community organizations and community associations and societies, to support licensed child care spaces for the community. The City’s also helps build capacity of the child care sector by supporting infrastructure upgrades and professional development through the Child Care Grant Program.

This new Strategy will:

• be the fifth Child Care Strategy undertaken by the City since 1995,
• replace the 2017-2022 Child Care Needs Assessment and Strategy. 
• complement the existing 2021-2031 Richmond Child Care Action Plan, which was adopted to guide the City’s work in supporting the creation of child care spaces in Richmond over the next 10 years.
• layout the City’s child care vision and inform future policy development, resources and initiatives pertaining to child care in Richmond. 

For more information on how you can contribute to this important engagement opportunity visit LetsTalkRichmond.ca or email childcare@richmond.ca 

Should you require help completing the survey, or require a printed version of the survey, please email childcare@richmond.ca.