ELCC Navigators
Learn more about Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Navigators in Waterloo Region.
ELCC Navigators are a newly funded role by the Region of Waterloo Community Services. They are here to support both families with young children and service providers. On this page you will find details about what ELCC Navigators do for our community, and information on how you can connect with an ELCC Navigator today.
Are you a Parent?
As one of the first points of contact for children and families attempting to access a variety of early learning and child care programs, ELCC Navigators help by:
Sharing information about licensed child care in Waterloo Region
Providing information on child care subsidies and assisting families to apply for subsidy online
Assisting families to apply for child care on the centralized registry (OneList Waterloo Region)
Providing information and supporting with access to other resources, including, but not limited to special needs resourcing support, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, Public Health and other community services
ELCC Navigators will meet families where they are. We can meet with families in their neighbourhood, at community centres, libraries, while accessing other services, over the phone, or by email. ELCC Navigators will connect as it makes sense to a family.
Do you have a question unrelated to Child Care?
Call 519-741-8585 x3008 and ask to speak with a YMCA Community Connector. The role of a Community Connector is to share information about resources available in Waterloo Region that supports the healthy development of children and their families. You can also reach our Community Connector via email.
Are you a Service Provider?
These roles, funded by the Region of Waterloo Community Services, have been developed in response to our greater community’s need to improve equitable access within Early Learning and Child Care services for Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and other equity seeking populations.
How can an ELCC Navigator support your staff?
ELCC Navigators can help build capacity in your staff by sharing resource information, knowledge, and expertise about child development, inclusion, adult
interaction, child care system navigation, and more.
How can you connect with an ELCC Navigator?
By Online Contact Form
Meet with an Early Learning & Child Care Navigator Request
By Email
By Phone
Call 519-741-8585 x3008 and ask to speak with an ELCC Navigator
If you have already submitted an online request to meet with an Early Learning and Child Care Navigator, please do not submit another online request. If you have additional questions, or would like to speak to an Early Learning and Child Care Navigator again, please connect with the Early Learning and Child Care Navigator directly, or contact us at 519-741-8585 x3008 or by email.
Impact
In 2023, ELCC Navigators provided support to 461 unique families, with 55% of families identifying as Black, Indigenous, and people of colour.
"The ELCC Navigator was amazing, very proactive and helped us immensely. I would definitely recommend this service and I wish it was more known so I could’ve accessed it earlier."
– ELCC Navigator Client Testimonial
Learn more about the impact of ELCC Navigators.
Funding for ELCC Navigators provided by:
