EYCC Navigators
Learn more about Early Years and Child Care (EYCC) Navigators in Waterloo Region.
EYCC 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 EYCC Navigators do for our community, and information on how you can connect with an EYCC 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, EYCC 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
EYCC 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. EYCC 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 Years and Child Care services for Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and other equity seeking populations.
How can an EYCC Navigator support your staff?
EYCC 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 EYCC Navigator?
By Online Contact Form
Meet with an Early Years & Child Care Navigator Request
By Email
By Phone
Call 519-741-8585 x3008 and ask to speak with an EYCC Navigator
If you have already submitted an online request to meet with an Early Years and Child Care Navigator, please do not submit another online request. If you have additional questions, or would like to speak to an Early Years and Child Care Navigator again, please connect with the Early Years and Child Care Navigator directly, or contact us at 519-741-8585 x3008 or by email.
Impact
In 2023, EYCC Navigators provided support to 461 unique families, with 55% of families identifying as Black, Indigenous, and people of colour.
"The EYCC 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."
– EYCC Navigator Client Testimonial
Learn more about the impact of EYCC Navigators.
Funding for EYCC Navigators provided by:
