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Next childcare meeting to be held on Aug. 26
Emily Plihal
for Smoky River Express
Another meeting will be held at the end of the month to complete paperwork and apply for a grant to take one step closer to opening a new childcare facility in our region.
The meeting will be held by the Childcare Society from the Falher Council Chambers on Aug. 26.
The group met last month to discuss a possible location for a new childcare facility in the Smoky River Region. However; in order to make this daycare become a reality, additional board members are required for help and ideas to make the facility a success.
Smoky River Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) director Penny Fox explains a society has been created to operate the centre.
“Without a society we won’t have a daycare,” says Fox. “We need to look to a registered society to operate the daycare, as there is no private interest to do this as a business in our region.”
Fox explains between six and eight people are required to form the first board of directors for the society. The designated people will need to take a one-year term on to help secure a space for the facility, apply for the making spaces grant, licensing, and setting up the daycare’s policies, procedures and staffing requirements. Currently the society still requires two individuals to help out with applying for the grant and completing paperwork.
Fox says anyone with an interest in childcare or finance would be an asset to the team.
“We are looking for people with all kinds of skills,” says Fox. “Management experience would be a great asset to the board. It would also be nice to find those interested in childcare services, budgeting and financial knowledge, as well as someone with administrative and organizational skills.”
Fox explains once a manager is hired for the facility, less involvement will be required from the board.
Fox explains High Prairie School Division (HPSD) has offered the vacant space to the Childcare Society group for their proposed childcare facility.
Routhier School in Falher has moved their Kindergarten class into the main building of the school, creating a space in the current playschool building. The playschool building is located south of the main school building.
The building has been offered to the playschool at no charge for another year, however; there is still an additional spot vacant for another program.
“Economic Development officer David Kane, many volunteers and I have been working since last year on figuring out the feasibility of a childcare facility in our region,” says Fox. “Last fall, we conducted a survey in the area to find out if there was a need for a daycare or childcare facility. We’ve discovered there are 42 children in the area who may need childcare services in the near future.”
Fox explains the group wrote a letter to local organizations to see if there was any space available in their businesses for a daycare facility.
“We feel that having the two programs in the same building is a bonus, as families involved in one program may also want to attend the other, offered at the same site,” says Fox about moving to Routhier. “It will be a great convenience for parents and since this building was a daycare at one point, it already has the small toilets, storage and other necessities a daycare requires.”
A provincial daycare licensing officer also examined the building to see if the space could once again be used as a daycare. There are some items the group will have to look at, including; fencing, safety issues, bathrooms, staff and child space ratios, program plan requirements and other items.
Fox explains many conversations have been conducted with the High Prairie School board about renovations and improvements that may be needed.
Dave Kane has already started applying for the “Making Spaces” provincial grant. The grant helps to cover costs of any renovations, furniture, toys and set up of the space.”
The grant, provided by the Alberta government, will include a $1,500 per space available fund. Fox says after evaluating the playschool building, approximately 28 children can be provided with childcare services. Kane has already begun the grant application process. He is also working on the budget and background information.
Alliance of Early Learning Programs– Northwest Early Learning Consultant Bernie Napier has been instrumental in aiding the group as they work through this project. Fox says she has provided a lot of information throughout the feasibility process.
One of the issues the group is discussing is finding qualified staff to operate the daycare. The society will be looking for staff with training in Early Childhood education. There are three levels of education and staff necessary depending on the size of the daycare, number and ages of the children the facility is licensed for.
Fox explains those interested in this field can start their Child Development Assistants (formerly called the level one) by taking an on-line course through the government at no cost.
“The government realizes there is a shortage of staff in the childcare field and has created various initiatives and incentives to make this field an attractive career choice,” says Fox. “Information is available at www.child.alberta.ca.” The course can be completed on-line, and consists of 50 hours of learning.
If anyone is interested in the daycare, or to be part of the board of directors, please phone Penny Fox at 780-837-2220. “Our plan is to hold a meeting in late August to form the society and to continue moving forward with this project.”
Economic Development Officer Dave Kane, Fox, and Early Learning Consultant from Alliance of Early Learning Programs Bernie Napier are all willing to help get the daycare up and running smoothly.
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