Table 5 Comparison of additional supports for childcare and early childhood development by governments in response to COVID-19 in selected countries
Country | Jurisdiction | Childcare | Child Protective Services | Food Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | Federal | • Offered free childcare from April to July, 2020 during COVID-19 • No official closure of childcare centres, though many closed as parents withdrew children • Financial support for childcare centres | • Transition to mixture of virtual and in-person services | • Increased funding for emergency food relief organizations |
Canada | Federal | • Emergency family care during COVID for military families |  | • $100 million in funding for food banks and local food organizations |
Alberta | • Childcare centres were closed, except for emergency child care centres for children of essential workers | • Child intervention services not open to public, only available by phone |  | |
British Columbia | • Childcare centres were closed • Temporary Emergency Relief funding was provided to childcare centres to allow for them to retain staff and maintain spots for children when they reopen • Extra supports for children of essential workers, to allow for in-own-home childcare • Affordable Child Care Benefit continued, even if child was not able to attend childcare | • Transition to mixture of virtual and in-person services | • Various grants available | |
Ontario | • Childcare centres were closed, except for emergency child care centres, to provide care to children of essential workers | • Transition to mixture of virtual and in-person services |  | |
Quebec | • Childcare centres were closed, except for emergency child care centres, to provide care to children of essential workers |  |  | |
Netherlands | • Childcare centres closed, except for children of essential workers • Continued payments for child-care, even if child care centres were closed | • Mixture of virtual and in-person services | • Increased funding for food banks | |
Singapore | • Increased already existing universal and targeted subsidies for childcare • Lowered fee caps on childcare, in order to make high-quality childcare more affordable • Increased supports for children in pre-school with special needs • Started KIDStart Initiative, a pilot project for children from low-income families | • Children’s protective services proactively reaching out to at-risk families, including continued in-person visits | • Created a working group to assess and address food insecurity in young families during COVID-19 • Increased food vouchers for low-income families | |
UK | • Childcare centres were closed, except for those of essential workers • Within 2020 budget, reduced barriers to accessing tax-free childcare | • Children’s protective services were moved fully to telephone or virtual services during the peak | • If meals were provided in schools or childcare centres, they were instructed to find a way to continue providing meals to these children | |
USA | Federal |  |  | • Reduced barriers to accessing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children • Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides funding for food banks |
Michigan | • Childcare centres were closed, except for emergency child care centres, to provide care to children of essential workers | • Transition to mixture of virtual and in-person services |  | |