In addition to the Family Care Plan mandated by the Canadian Armed Forces, we recommend that you create an emergency child care plan to detail a path forward, and update both regularly to ensure the information correlates.
Your family’s emergency child care plan
Emergency plans, at a minimum, need to cover the first 24-48 hours or until a family member or friend can arrive to help. The plan should include various scenarios, especially if you rely on family members who don’t live nearby (e.g., flying parents in), specify who will care for your children in specific situations (e.g., step in for a few hours, overnight, weekends), how to get in touch with them, and details such as will they come to your home, bring the children to school, know who to call in the case of an emergency, etc.
Add any details about your child(ren) that would be helpful for someone stepping in (e.g., your child(ren)’s dietary needs, routines, activities, school they attend). The plan should also outline arrangements for all those you normally care for such as elderly parents and pets.
You can even have a few plans and order them by preference. And don’t forget to share the plan with the child care provider(s) you’ve listed (they might also have some useful feedback). You can also consider identifying a “coordinator” and providing them with the plan just in case you need someone to take over on your behalf.
In addition to recording your plan, it’s a great idea to introduce your children to the emergency caregiver(s) ahead of needing their service. This helps ensure everyone is comfortable and familiar with the arrangement.
Create a list of potential child care providers
Here are some options to consider:
- Family and friends: Reach out to trusted family members or friends who might be able to help.
- Military family networks: Connect with other military families, and colleagues for mutual child care support.
- Neighbours: Consider asking neighbours you know and trust.
- Your local Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC):
- Some MFRCs offer emergency child care on site. Contact your MFRC to find out if they offer this service.
- Some MFRCs help families look for emergency child care. Contact your MFRC to find out if they offer this service.
- Community services: Some communities have emergency child care programs, and some larger cities like Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and Edmonton have 24/7 child care centres. For information on what is available in your community, contact one of our child care subject matter experts by filling out this intake form or emailing ccnavigationsg@cfmws.com.
- On-demand babysitting and nannies: Look into the on-demand babysitting services available in your area e.g., you can search “on-demand babysitting near me.” Find out about their services, how to access them, and how long it takes to get a babysitter or a nanny. One of our child care subject matter experts can help you with this research.
Important to note: The Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, Military Family Resource Centres, and the Canadian Armed Forces can help offset emergency child care costs when families meet eligibility criteria.
