This service is available to families who are living with low income and whose children are between 0-6 years old. We determine low income based on the 2022 Low Income Cut Offs (LICOs) before tax from Statistics Canada (Population 100,000 to 499,999), which are:

Please note you will be required to show proof of income levels during registration. Proof of income includes: most current Notice Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency, current Canada Child Benefit, Ontario Child Benefit Notice, Goods & Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit Notice, Ontario Trillium Benefit Notice, verification of current Ontario Works Benefits, verification of Ontario Disability Support Program Benefit, or verification of Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Your proof will not be put on file or stored with us and will be confidential to other members of staff.

Not sure if you are eligible?  Call or come in and speak to staff about your circumstances.

To register for Be Back Soon, please call: 519-252-9696
When you first call Connections, ask for the Be Back Soon service. One of our Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE) staff will walk you through how it works and the eligibility criteria to determine if you qualify.

Orientation
If you qualify and would like to use the service, we will arrange a time for you to come to the Centre with your child or children where you will be given a tour, meet the staff, and complete a registration form while your child explores the space with our staff. We recognize that leaving your child somewhere for the first time can be a bit scary for both of you, and this visit may help you feel more comfortable. This visit typically takes 30 minutes, but you are always welcome to stay and play longer if you would like.

Qualifying Parents
After you are registered, you can use Be Back Soon until you feel you no longer need the service for the remainder of the calendar year. Every January, we will reach out to re-register everyone registered with the service to ensure you still qualify. If you still qualify, it is up to you to decide when you no longer need the service.

Once you are registered, you can call the Centre when you need to book a time to leave your child with us to attend your appointment. A Be Back Soon booking can be no more than 2.5hours.

• Be Back Soon operates based on staff availability.
• To book a slot, call our Centre and identify you are calling for Be Back Soon. We will ensure your request receives prompt attention.
• We strongly recommend you book a slot as soon as you are aware you may need it. We can accommodate no more than one infant at a time, no more than two children under than the age of 2 at a time, and no more than 5 children at any one time. The sooner you call to book your slot, the more likely it is there will be no issues.
• At the booked time, you can bring your child and leave them with the staff, and head to your appointment. When you are done, you come and pick up your child. If your appointment is longer than 2.5hrs, you can designate someone to drop off or pick up your child.

Our staff are discrete and respectful – we know everyone experiences periods of difficulty and transition in their lives, and that no one has walked in your shoes. While we do ask for contact information about where you will be during a Be Back Soon booking for emergency purposes, it is entirely up to you how much additional information you want to share with staff about your appointment, though we are always there as a resource if you need someone to listen.

Only the staff directly involved in your child’s care will be aware of your exact circumstances or your reasons for using Be Back Soon, and your information will be treated with utmost sensitivity. Our staff will be focused on your child’s care and will know when your child is scheduled to attend, any needs your child may have, and how they can best play and engage with them. No other parents at the Centre will be made aware you are using the service, or told that your child is there without you if they are attending during other programming.

Be Back Soon provides unlicensed, quality care for children. Your child or children will be cared for by Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) and trained staff in a safe and stimulating environment. Be Back Soon may overlap with other programming, which provides social experiences for your child that can help them gain confidence in their own abilities and allow them to engage with other children and adults outside of your family.

We offer many services at Connections related to developmental milestones, and in addition to engaging your child in learning opportunities through play, our Be Back Soon staff can answer any questions you may have related to your child’s development and share any resources that may help if needed.

Have you used Be Back Soon recently? We would like to hear about your experiences so we can ensure we are supporting everyone in the best way possible. Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey (ADD LINK).