EarlyON Child and Family Centres offer high-quality, free drop-in child and family programs for caregivers and children. They provide welcoming environments where families, children, and caregivers can learn, grow and connect, together. 

As part of their responsibility for the service system management of child care and other human services, the City of St. Thomas is the Consolidated Service System Manager (CMSM), designated by the Province of Ontario as responsible for the local management of EarlyON Child and Family Centres in the City of St. Thomas and Elgin County. 

The City of St. Thomas is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek successful proponents who will operate EarlyON Child and Family Centres in St. Thomas and Elgin County. For the purposes of the delivery of EarlyON Child and Family Centre programs and services, three (3) distinct Service Delivery Zones have been created: West, Central and East. The successful proponents will leverage and build upon established partnerships and in-depth knowledge of the communities of St. Thomas and Elgin County to deliver programs and services that are inclusive, innovative and of high quality. Collaboration among Service Delivery Zones will ensure a consistent approach to service delivery across the system of EarlyON Child and Family Centre programs and services.

The successful proponents shall demonstrate a philosophy and practice of service delivery that enables full delivery of mandatory core services in alignment with the Vision and Guiding Principles outlined by the Ministry of Education for EarlyON Child and Family Centres. They will illustrate knowledge of the early years population and broader community within the Service Delivery Zone, the ability to develop and foster meaningful partnerships that engage organizations supporting children and families, a commitment to capacity building and staff development, and the ability to undertake continuous program review and evaluation.