Photo Via Twitter: Mapleton Township
MAPLETON, ON– The County of Wellington held a grand opening ceremony today for a new EarlyON Child and Family Centre. The centre will officially open its doors to the public on Thursday, January 30. EarlyON Child and Family Centres in Wellington are planned and managed by the County of Wellington’s Children’s Early Years Division. The County is the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager of Child Care and Early Years for Wellington and the City of Guelph. The funding for EarlyON Child and Family Centres is provided by the Government of Ontario.
“Our goal is to have accessible high-quality services available across our service delivery area,” said Warden Kelly Linton. “The first EarlyON Centre opened in Wellington North in 2018.
The County plans to have at least five EarlyON Centres in various locations across the County by 2021.” EarlyON Child and Family Centres offer a free welcoming place for all parents and caregivers with young children to spend time participating in high-quality children’s programs that support all areas of child development. It is a place where parents and caregivers of children have access to information, workshops, and links to other resources based on their individual needs. It is also a place for families, caregivers, and children to connect with others and grow together.
“We believe supporting families and caregivers with young children is critical,” said Luisa Artuso, Director of the Children’s Early Division. “Doing so strengthens the most important relationships in a child’s life, and in turn, strengthens the child.”
The Mapleton EarlyON Child and Family Centre is located at 21 Wellington Street South in Drayton. It will be open a minimum of 30 hours over 6 days per week and will be operated by the Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington. Existing EarlyON Child and Family mobile sites in Alma and Moorefield will continue to operate with no change in services. “Research shows that the first five years of a child’s life are critical in their physical development, and in the development of their resilience and soft skills,” commented David Anderson, Social Services Committee Chair.
“EarlyON programs and services are really important for all children to have access to.”
For more information on EarlyON Child and Family Centres in Wellington County, visit: www.wellington.ca/earlyon
