County Early Years Employment Initiative receives award

Photo courtesy of Northumberland County

Northumberland County’s Community & Social Services team has been awarded the 2024 Community Champions Award by the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA) for the Early Years Employment Initiative.

The award presented last month in Toronto ecognizes excellent work done by municipal and district social service teams to improve how human services are coordinated and managed.

“This employment initiative has changed my life. It has changed my finances, the way I parent, and how I contribute to my community. The EYEI gave me all the tools I needed to begin a career I love and take the steps to pursue a post-secondary education. Today, I’ve found a job in childcare, I came off of OW within a year of working, and have graduated with honours in ECE,” said Hafsa Asif, EYEI program graduate.

This six-week program supports hiring and long-term retention of qualified professionals to a field that is facing significant sector-wide shortages. It provides participants with a ladder of opportunity – equipping them with the skills and certifications needed to begin or restart a career in Early Childhood Education. To date, 50 percent of participants have found employment in the field or continued their education – an encouraging measure of the program’s success.

“The Early Years Employment Initiative is a clear example of how creative, community-focused solutions can empower individuals, strengthen families, and address workforce gaps. This award from OMSSA is a well-deserved recognition of the team’s leadership, collaboration, and commitment to building a stronger future for Northumberland,” explained Brian Ostrander, Warden.