|
Last attempt at determining feasibility of day care in the region
Emily Plihal
for Smoky River Express
One last attempt is being made by Smoky River Family and Community Support Services and Smoky River Regional Childcare Society board members to determine the feasibility of a new day care being started in the region.
A survey is being circulated in the region questioning parents if they would use the service and where they would prefer the facility to be housed.
Newly hired day care coordinator Pierrette Boisvert explains the childcare society board needs to be assured the day care will be able to be self-sufficient.
“The reason we are distributing this survey again is because we need some commitment from the region,” says Boisvert. “The other survey was circulated about one year ago and we need to see if there is still a need for the facility in the Smoky River Region.”
Basic questions are asked on the survey including: Would you use a licensed day care in the next year? We are currently estimating the monthly fee will be $600–$650 per month per child. Is this a fee you are willing to pay? Considering the age of your child, how many years would you use a licensed day care? Which location would be more convenient, Falher or McLennan? Are you willing to travel to the neighbouring community for day care service? What hours of operation would best accommodate your needs? Would you need full or part time care? Would you use a before and after school program?
Boisvert reminds parents to take a look at www.child.alberta.ca/home/1190.cfm to see if the are eligible for subsidies.
In order to make the facility viable and self-sufficient, 24 full-time children between the ages of 13 months and 5 years old would be needed.
“The deadline for the survey to be into the FCSS office is Sept. 30,” says Boisvert. “Depending on the numbers and commitment, we still may have to rethink where this facility is going to be located or if it will exist.”
For more information on the survey or to receive one, please phone Boisvert at the FCSS office at 780-837-2220.
Boisvert explains a spot is currently reserved in Falher on the Routhier School property, but other locations have been sought in McLennan as well.
High Prairie School Division offered an available space at Ecole Routhier to use as the daycare facility. The space was once used as a daycare facility so very little work would be required to get the daycare up to government standards.
The school, located 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.
“The community must put some work into creating the society and proving that they can be self-sustaining and viable before the government will pass along any grant money,” says FCSS director Penny Fox. “People may want the service, but before you can drop off your children at the new daycare, there has to be work done by the society first to get the service open and operating.”
Falher representatives still needed
A couple of weeks ago the Smoky River Regional Childcare Society board asked individuals in Falher to participate as representatives on the board.
There are currently two representatives from McLennan, two from Donnelly and one from the MD of Smoky River, but no interest has been shown from individuals from the town of Falher.
“When we got looking at where the volunteers were from we realized that a big part of our region was not represented,” says Fox. “If no one from Falher is stepping forward to be part of the society, does that tell us that we should locate in another community?”
The board has been searching the town of McLennan to see if there will be vacant spots available for a childcare centre. Assuming no interest is shown by individuals in Falher, the facility may be started in McLennan.
Assuming all goes well, the board is hoping to have the day care facility up and running by January 2010.
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 two representatives from Falher are being sought.
Fox says anyone with an interest in childcare or finance would be an asset to the team.
If you are interested in becoming involved with the society, please call Penny at FCSS at 780-837-2220 or Dave Kane at 780-837-2364.
< Previous
Home
Next >
|
