Childcare providers and integrated health and social services centres (CISSS) or integrated university health and social services centres (CIUSSS) have complementary responsibilities regarding children and their families, particularly concerning children's health, safety, well-being and protection. In particular, CISSS and CIUSSS offer prevention and screening services, and intervene with children who are considered to be in a vulnerable family or personal situation (for example: disabled child, economically disadvantaged family).
The signing of a memorandum of understanding between a coordinating office and a CISSS or a CIUSSS makes it possible to:
- define the health and social services offered to children attending home childcare facilities and the support offered to home childcare providers;
- ensure quick access to a space in a childcare service facility for a child referred by a CISSS or a CIUSSS.
This document specifies the needs, roles and responsibilities of each party and allows guidelines to be set for certain practices favouring better complementarity of the services offered to children and families.
Moreover, a moratorium on entering into new understandings is in effect and will allow the ministère de la Famille and the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux to make the necessary adjustments. Spaces that were reserved in home childcare facilities under memorandums of understanding between childcare centres (CPE) and a CISSS or a CIUSSS prior to the introduction of coordinating offices can, however, be kept for the duration of the moratorium and result in payment of the compensatory allowance.
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