COVID-19 FAQs for Members

2020-03-17

**last updated April 2, 2020

College operations

Is the College closing?

We are committed to being here to support members and fulfilling our role in the oversight of the profession. While our staff are working remotely, College services are operating as usual. We ask that you please use our online services or communicate with us by email or phone.

Why did I get a notice about the Council election – how is this the right time?

The Council election happens every year at the same time, and we are required to provide notice to those entitled to vote – it's an important part of your right to choose the leadership of the profession. The 18 members who are running for Council seats are committed to contributing to the future of early childhood education. However, we have reviewed our communications strategy and can promise that we won't keep sending you reminders to vote, as we know you have a lot on your plate. But, if you have some downtime between now and April 15, we encourage you to do so.

What is happening with the Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) program audit?

The CPL audit will be postponed until further notice. In this current climate, we do not wish to place undue stress on RECEs. If you have already sent in your documents, or wish to send them in, they will be processed. For those who have not sent in documents, there is no need to do anything further at this time.

With my workplace closed, I'm worried about paying my upcoming renewal fee. Can I defer my membership payment?

We know this is a difficult situation for you. We'll be sending out communications to members within the renewal notice.

AECEO released information on financial support for RECEs that can be found here .

Practice of the profession

The child care centre that I work at has been closed, and one of the families has asked me if I will provide child care for their son in their home. They need to work, and I need the income, but I'm concerned that this might not be allowed. What does the College say?

The College does not prohibit private care-giving arrangements with workplace clients. We recognize that during the current situation, they can be very valuable to members, families and children by providing continuity of care. Standard V of the Code and Standards advises members that they should be aware that dual relationships can arise due to these types of arrangements, and the steps they can take to address and manage them. For further information on using your professional judgment to manage the risks of dual relationships, see the College's Practice Guideline on Dual Relationships.

Can I provide child care out of my home while centres are closed?

RECEs are able to provide unlicensed home child care in accordance with the Ministry of Education's requirements . They may provide care for a maximum of five children, which includes their own children under the age of four.

Does the order limiting public gatherings to 5 people apply to home-based childcare?

On March 28, the Government of Ontario issued an emergency order prohibiting gatherings of five or more people. The College reached out to government and received confirmation from the Ministry of Education that this order does not apply to home-based child care. Home-based child care is protected as an essential service and can continue to operate in accordance with the normal requirements of the Child Care and Early Years Act. This includes licensed and unlicensed child care and includes all home-based child care, not just those providing emergency care to children of health care and other essential workers.

Continuous Professional Learning

What is happening with the CPL program during the COVID-19 situation?

While we believe that ongoing learning is important and valued by the profession, we know that completing the required CPL activities may not be possible for you at the moment. Effective April 2020 to August 2021, you will have the option for a one-year deferral of your CPL requirements due to COVID-19. You may only select this deferral option once. To help you understand the CPL deferral option due to COVID-19 based on your renewal month, please review the CPL Deferral Due COVID-19 Chart.

Information will be included with your renewal notice and the option to defer CPL requirements due to COVID-19 will appear on your next renewal form.

Do I have to contact the College to get a deferral due to COVID-19?

No. The option to defer your CPL requirements due to COVID-19 will be included as part of your next membership renewal. Please note that you're not required to submit any forms or documentation to support a deferral due to COVID-19.

How do I defer my CPL requirements?

When filling in the CPL section of your renewal, you'll select one of the following options:

"Yes", if you have met your CPL requirements for the past membership year
"No", if you have not met the requirements for the past membership year for any reason other than COVID-19
"I choose to defer my CPL program requirements for this past membership year due to COVID-19"

If you are unsure of how to answer the question when you are renewing, please email cpl@college-ece.ca.

I'd like to continue to do my CPL. Will the College still be providing me with support?

Yes, we continue to provide support to members in understanding and participating in CPL by:

responding to calls and emails about CPL
producing and sharing CPL and practice resources
hosting webinars with information and updates about the CPL program
continuing to provide the option to confirm compliance with the CPL requirements upon renewal

More information about CPL resources is available here .

What if I renewed my membership before the option to defer my CPL program requirements was available?

When you renewed, you would have answered "Yes" or "No" to completing your CPL requirement from your last membership year. If you responded "No", a Professional Practice staff member will email you to share information on possible next steps.

All members will have the option for a one-year deferral due to COVID-19. You will be given the option to defer this year's CPL requirement on your next renewal.

What happens once I've opted to defer my CPL program requirements due to COVID-19 for the past membership year?

If you have deferred your CPL requirements for the past membership year, you will have until you next renewal date to complete the requirements that were deferred. You may only select this deferral option once.

If you are unsure about where you should be in your CPL cycle, please email cpl@college-ece.ca.

I did not complete my CPL requirements for a reason other than COVID-19. How do I respond to the CPL section on my renewal?

You will respond “No”, if you have not completed your CPL requirements for any reason other than COVID-19. A Professional Practice staff member will email you to share information on possible next steps.

What do I do if I need a CPL deferral for another reason other than COVID-19?

You can submit a CPL Deferral Form for any reason not related to COVID-19 (i.e. parental leave, sick leave, disability leave, bereavement).

I have already been approved for a deferral due to my parental leave. Will I have the option to defer CPL requirements for my next membership year due to COVID-19?

Depending on the timing of your deferral, you may also be able to defer due to COVID-19. Please email cplcompliance@college-ece.ca to confirm the options for your situation.

Reliable sources of information

I feel isolated. Where can I find more information on what is happening in the early years' sector?

The following organizations are actively involved in helping those in the early years' sector navigate the current situation:

AECEO: The AECEO is the professional association for early childhood educators in Ontario. Its primary purpose is to advocate for respect, recognition and appropriate wages and working conditions for all ECEs. Follow them on social media: AECEO Twitter or AECEO Facebook .

Ontario Coalition for Better Childcare: Ontario's central advocacy group for a universal early childhood education and care system. It's made up of local child care centres, national and provincial groups and individuals from all across Ontario. Follow them on social media: Coalition Twitter or Coalition Facebook .

Ontario Ministry of Education: The Ministry is responsible for delivering early years, child care and publicly funded education from kindergarten to Grade 12. You can find information on the Ministry's website or follow them on social media: Ministry's Twitter.

Children's Mental Health Ontario: The CMHO represents Ontario's publicly-funded youth mental health centres. Their mission is to ensure that all children get the mental health services they need. You can find more information on the CMHO website or follow them on social media: CMHO Twitter .

Ontario Government's news release on increasing mental health supports. There are links to services within this release.

Where can I find information on my rights within the workplace?

The Ontario Human Rights Commission has recently published helpful FAQs. Those can be accessed here .

If you are a member of a union, you should contact your union or federation. They will be able to support you in relation to employment issues and provide you with resources to guide you in your work.

Where can I find reliable information about COVID-19 and the precautions I should take?

Ministry of Health: COVID-19 Guidance: Emergency Childcare Centres

Public Health Agency of Canada

Ontario Ministry of Health