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Trust strengthens child care in the Basin

$3.6 million for new three-year program to maintain and create new spaces
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Columbia Basin Trust is launching a new $3.6-million program to help maintain and create new child care spaces in the Basin.

“The Child Care Support Program will help sustain and grow quality licensed child care in the Basin,” said Johnny Strilaeff, President and CEO, Columbia Basin Trust. “The child care sector has several complex issues, including affordability of child care for families, inadequate supply of child care spaces and a shortage of qualified professional staff to work in the sector.

“We are helping to address those issues with this new program.”

Over the next three years, the Trust’s new Child Care Support Program will provide the following:

- Capital grants to support improvements to existing facilities and construct new child care spaces.

- Training support for Early Childhood Educators to help fill workforce gaps and meet professional development needs.

- A Program Advisor to support child care providers and work with the sector to find solutions for common business challenges.

Carla Schafer, Executive Director of Summit Community Services Society [in Cranbrook] says that the society is excited about the initiative.

“There has been a big gap, I can speak to Kimberley and Cranbrook for sure, for at least the past four years,” said Schafer. “I, myself, have been in this role for two years and it’s been an issue since day one.”

Early Childhood Educators must be qualified and therefore certified with Early Childhood Education and/or Infant-Toddler Education. Schafer says there is a lack of potential employees with those qualifications.

According to CBT, there are 2,600 child care spaces in the Basin, yet there is demand for more spaces, more staff and more training for staff.

Schafer says part of the reason for the workforce gaps is related to the rate of pay and a lack of funding.

“With more staff we can create more facilities and then open more spots,” said Schafer.

Those who wish to start their own licensed facility must be certified as well.

“To set up a licensed facility, part of that involves developing a program, finding a facility, getting approval and getting the rest of the required licensing. That licensing determines how many children can be looked after wether it’s 15 or 25…” Schafer said.

Strilaeff says that parents, child care providers and experts have provided input into the development of the CBT’s program.

“We know quality child care is a critical resource that supports early learning and development, and helps parents’ ability to work or further their education,” said Strilaeff.

The first intake of the capital grants program will launch later this fall.

The College of the Rockies Cranbrook campus offers training for Early Childhood Education, Infant/Toddler Education and Special Needs Education. The programs are offered online and/or in the classroom and there is both a certificate and diploma program.

Earlier this year, the CBT also committed $210,000 to the 20 community Early Years Planning Tables throughout the Basin. These are community planning groups that coordinate and develop local resources to support young children’s healthy development and the needs of their families, such as hosting parent education events, connecting with hard-to-reach parents and coordinating early screening programs for children.

Over the past five years, the Trust has helped improve the quality and safety of 300 child care spaces through its social grants program. The Trust identified early childhood and child development as one of 13 strategic priorities following an extensive public consultation in 2014/15.

With files from The Columbia Basin Trust.



Corey Bullock

About the Author: Corey Bullock

Corey Bullock is a multimedia journalist and writer who grew up in Burlington, Ontario.
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