Children and youth in Waterloo Region
Cultivating belonging and wellbeing in our youngest residents
There’s nothing better than feeling like you’re right where you’re supposed to be. Whether that’s a moment in time, a physical location, or that feeling of connection with your family, friends, and local community — that feeling of belonging is important to our wellbeing.
Finding ways for children and youth to connect to their community and experience belonging is more critical than ever. This has led the Region of Waterloo to explore new ways of making services more equitable and to work alongside youth in addressing the community's most pressing needs.
Scroll through to find out more about a few of the programs that made their debut or grew in 2023:
Early Learning and Child Care Navigators
The Region is finding new ways to help families find the supports and connections they need.
Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Navigator roles are funded by the Region's Equity Diversity and Inclusion Fund, and administered by the YMCA of Three Rivers. These positions were developed in response to the community’s need to improve equitable access within Early Learning and Child Care services for Black, Indigenous, and racialized individuals.
Navigators provide support for families with children under the age of six. They assist families with navigating the various supports, subsidies, and child care options in the community.
Languages ELCC Navigators can support families in include: English, Polish, Ukranian, Serbian, French, ASL/CSL, Urdu and Hindi.
Language and Mentorship Program
The Region of Waterloo is continuing to improve equity in child care and creating career opportunities for caregivers speaking diverse languages.
The Language and Mentorship Program (LAMP) allows caregivers who are representative of our diverse linguistic community to contract with the Region’s Licensed Home Child Care program to provide quality child care in their home. The program is designed for Caregivers that have lower levels of English - they receive support from interpreters and mentors and focus on providing care to children from their language community. Caregivers in the LAMP program are supported to continue with their English language learning, and receive interpretation until no longer required.
Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab
Working alongside children and youth to make our community better for everyone
Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab was established in 2021 with the goal to make Waterloo Region the best community for children and youth.
This past year, SWRIL supported a variety of youth-led experiments and projects, like youth-led gardens, an innovation curriculum for youth ideas in schools, and tools like an AI chat bot to address problems youth have identified in the community!
Nurture Program
GIMI Impact
$100,000
In November, United Way Waterloo Region Communities (United Way WRC) announced an investment of $100,000 for Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab (SWRIL) to deliver training to community organizations that serve children, youth, and families!
This important training helps to develop a community-wide framework that supports youth innovation and fund youth-led projects – with the goal to improve child and youth well-being.
We can’t wait to see what amazing projects come in 2024 and beyond!
