Parents ponder child care dilemma
Cariboo Press - Quesnel Cariboo Observer
12 Nov 2006

EXCERPT

This is the first in a series of stories addressing the child care issue in Quesnel. Subsequent articles will cover such topics as child care worker training, afterschool care and subsidies.

Recently, Cari Charron was ready to return to work when her second son turned one.

But there was a problem.

The mother of two was scrambling to find child care after the in- home care she had arranged fell through.

When she returned to work after she had her first child, Charron was lucky to find family daycare where the care provider shared her parenting philosophy and her son was happy.

"But she closed down within a year of my going back to work," she said.

Again, Charron found another family centre but the hours were not always compatible with mom's hours.

"I was prepared to work around those issues because I felt it was the best situation for my child."

By this time, her oldest child had moved to yet another child care centre, but there was no room for her one-year-old.

"I tried to access child care through Child Care Resource and Referral, but couldn't find anything," Charron said.

Finally a stay-at-home mother agreed to care for Charron's second son. Now she gets up earlier to drop her children off at two different locations.

"I have my youngest son booked in for 2008 to make sure he has a spot," she said.

Charron is not alone.

Finding the right child care for children in Quesnel can be frustrating and sometimes futile.

Child Care Resource and Referral acting co-ordinator Paulette Dagenais said she hears regularly from distraught parents looking for child care.

For some parents, they never find suitable child care.

They sometimes elect to remain home with their children and take in other children to offset the wage loss.

Dagenais said there is great need right now and a lot of parents are relying on alternative sources since licensed facilities are full.

"Quesnel has 52 care facilities and providers registered with CCRR, " she said.

"We are aware there are neighbours, relatives, or friends also caring for children who are not registered.

"I estimate around 300-320 children are being cared for either in child care or attending a preschool in Quesnel." ...

Care providers set their rates but most stay within a certain range.

"Average costs for child care are from $25 to $35 a day for three- to five-year-olds and $35 to $45 a day for infant/toddlers," Dagenais said.

"Subsidies are available in some cases."

Charron, who works part time at CCRR, said there are spaces for three- to five-year-olds but after-school-care and infant care is really lacking....

Dagenais said CCRR has been around for 15 years, supporting both parents and care providers, but the need for good quality child care is worse now than ever before....