COVID-19 has been tremendously challenging for parents and caregivers. On this page, we have outlined supports available and helpful advice. 

Learn more about supports for individuals

Learn more about supports for business, not for profits or nonprofits

Learn more about supports for seniors 

Learn more about supports for mental health 

OSAP - Repayment Assistance plan

You can apply to lower your monthly loan payments for six months at a time through the Repayment Assistance Plan.

How it works

We calculate the new amount of your payment by considering your:

• family income
• family size
• outstanding OSAP loan

If your application is approved, you and both the provincial and federal governments will be making payments on your loans.

Your payments will grow gradually as your income grows but are never more than 20% of your family income. You may not have to make any payments at all.

Use the Repayment Assistance Estimator to see if you could be eligible for repayment assistance.

How to apply

There are two ways you can apply for the Repayment Assistance Plan.

You can:

• fill out an application online using your National Student Loans Service Centre account
• complete a paper application

You have to re-apply to the Repayment Assistance Plan every six months.

Ontario Student Opportunity Grant (2016-17 loans only)

If you received OSAP loans for the 2016-17 academic year, you will not owe more than:

• $7,500 for a two-term academic year
• $11,250 for a three-term academic year

Go to the Ontario Student Opportunity Grant page for complete details.

Supports for children and youth

Operating child care centres

Child care centres and home-based child care services for non-school-aged children will remain open with enhanced health and safety measures during the declaration of emergency. Emergency child care for school-aged children will be available for health care, public safety and other frontline workers while in-person instruction is not permitted in elementary schools. When elementary schools are open for in-person instruction, targeted emergency child care for school-aged children will not be available. As of September 1, 2020, child care and early years programs are open with enhanced health and safety measures, subject to province wide shutdown restrictions. Learn how we are keeping children, parents and staff safe as child care and early years programs reopen with strict health and safety protocols.

Child welfare

Children’s aid societies continue to operate and provide services to children, youth and families. Societies are being encouraged to use technology where possible and appropriate, while also observing local public health recommendations. Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, youth in care who turn 18 and former youth in care who turn 21 will not age out of the supports and services they are currently receiving through children’s aid societies.

Guidance in congregated care settings

Get information about children’s aid societies

Children with special needs

Service providers are offering some services through telephone and video applications where appropriate and have resumed offering some in-person services for children with special needs and their families, in accordance with public health guidelines. You can contact your service provider for updated information and to discuss what services may be available.

Get information about services for children with special needs

Get information about services under the Ontario Autism Program

Youth justice facilities

Some services at provincially operated youth justice facilities and probation offices are cancelled or are being provided through technology.

Get information about Youth justice facilities

Ontario Autism Program

The Ontario Autism Program offers support to all eligible families of children and youth on the autism spectrum. You can select the services and supports that are most important to you and your child.

If you have previously registered your child for the Ontario Autism Program or already submitted your registration form and supporting documents to the ministry, you do not need to register again.

Mental health and addictions support

It's normal for you or your children to feel overwhelmed, stressed, confused, scared or angry during this time. COVID-19 can be difficult for children to understand, especially if they know someone who's sick. Pay close attention to how your child is feeling and if you or your child are feeling anxious, experiencing other mental health or addiction challenges or you can’t access your regular in-person counselling support, there are services you can access online or by phone.

Find Mental Health Supports

Self-care is important. Parents and caregivers take better care of their children when they take care of themselves, too.

The following resources can be shared with your child:

• Kids Help Phone is available 24 hours a day for young Canadians (aged 5 to 29)
  • this service provides confidential and anonymous care from professional counsellors
  • call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868
• Canada Youth Network
• COVID-19: Youth mental health resource hub is a collaboration of Jack.org, Kids Help Phone and School Mental Health Ontario

Educational activities for children

The Federal Government created these educational activities to teach children about what they can do to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Hand washing heroes (video)
• Colour and learn (colouring pages)
• Coughing and sneezing hygiene for kids (video)
• Kids, here's what you need to know about COVID-19