What is the Manitoba Child Care Association (MCCA)?

The Manitoba Child Care Association (MCCA) is a provincial membership organization that advocates for a quality child care system, advances early learning and child care education as a profession, and provides services to its members. It is based in Manitoba, Canada, and describes itself as the largest provincial child care association in Canada and an affiliate member of the Canadian Child Care Federation. If you are a child care professional, a licensed child care centre, a family child care home, or someone looking for advocacy and professional development resources in Manitoba, MCCA is the organization to know.

What MCCA does

MCCA's stated mission has three parts:

• Advocate for a quality system of child care.
• Advance early learning and child care education as a profession.
• Provide services to its members.

Its vision is to promote and support an exceptional and inclusive early learning and child care system by helping members feel proud to belong to a progressive, respected profession.

History and scale

Who it serves

MCCA serves its members, which include licensed child care centres and family child care homes, along with individuals working in early learning and child care. Members join to stay informed about issues, access services such as insurance programs, and take part in networking and professional development.

Member benefits

According to MCCA, highlights of membership include:

• Group benefits plan
• Liability insurance for licensed child care centres and family child care homes
• Advocacy
• Child Care Bridges magazine, published quarterly by MCCA
• Peer-to-peer connections
• Resource library
• Volunteer opportunities
• Awards
• Reduced rates for professional development
• Regional branches

Regional branches

MCCA operates through regional branches across Manitoba:

• Central Branch
• Interlake Branch
• Parkland Branch
• South Central Branch
• Thompson Branch
• Westman Branch

Professional development and advocacy

MCCA lists professional development and advocating for quality as two of its main areas of work. It also runs a public policy and professionalism committee, which seeks nominations for MCCA awards, and maintains a board of directors. Its tagline, "Thanks to Child Care, Manitoba Works!", reflects its positioning of child care as an economic and social pillar in the province.

How to get involved

If you want to join, volunteer, or nominate someone for an award, the MCCA website is the starting point. Membership is the main route to benefits such as insurance programs, the quarterly magazine, and reduced professional development rates. The site also posts news, events, and board nomination calls, so checking it regularly is useful if you follow child care policy in Manitoba.