5 Frequently Asked Questions about Hope’s Home

Since Hope’s Home is the first medically integrated daycare in Canada, we often get a lot of questions.

We frequently get asked questions about our organization and exactly how it works. To makes things easier, we have compiled a list of 5 frequently asked questions so the answers are all in one place! Here we go:

1. How do we classify as a non-profit even though we charge daycare fees?

This is one of the number one questions we get asked! Although we charge daycare fees (which are competitive to every other childcare centre), they don’t begin to fully cover our costs. Since we provide integrated and inclusive childcare, this requires more staff than a typical daycare. On top of hiring Early Childhood Educators, we also hire Developmental Workers, Nurses, Physical Development Consultants, Administrative Staff, and Nutrition Specialists. Therefore, in order to cover costs, we need help from donors, partners, and the Government to fund our programs.

2. Is there a complex medical or developmental need that is beyond our staff’s scope of practice or capability?

We pride ourselves in having trained nursing staff on the floor at all times. However, most of the time, these children require additional special care. This question is decided upon on a case by case basis. Below are two examples:

• If the child had a very complex condition that required direct one-on-one care, it would depend on if we can fund the proper staffing for him/her and get additional funding from the Ministry of Education.
• If a child had a form of autism, we would do an assessment to see if our environment is a good match for him/her. Children with autism often find the daycare environment over-stimulating. This would be a situation where we would see if attending our Early Learning & Childcare centre was in the best interest of the child.

However, we do our absolute best to accommodate all children who want to attend our centres and we will go above and beyond to find the right way to acclimate your child to his/her new environment.

3. Does my child have to have a complex medical or developmental need to attend the daycare centre?

Of course not! That’s what makes Hope’s Home so special – our integrated and inclusive daycare model. Children with complex medical or developmental needs get to interact, play, and have the same opportunities as typically developing children.

However, we often have a waitlist for our centres. And since there aren’t other childcare options for children with complex medical or developmental needs, they do have priority admission.

4. What if my child needs extra support?

If a child has a developmental need and requires a little extra love and support, Hope’s Home can help the family apply for an EA Grant (Enhanced Accessibility Grant). This is provided through the Ministry of Education that helps us fund an extra staff member, specifically for your child!

5. I’m interested in volunteering for your organization, where do I sign up?

Unfortunately, due to the complexity of some of our children and the specialized training our staff get to properly care for them, we don’t take volunteers to come directly volunteer with our children. However, there will be times when we need help and we will put a call out on social media for volunteers then. So make sure you’re following us on Instagram or Facebook so you don’t miss an opportunity! Some examples of volunteers we have needed in the past include:

• Help cleaning up our backyard play area
• Working a bbq or bottle drive to help raise funds
• Painting/Renovations at our homes

Have more questions about Hope’s Home? Comment down below!