Child care is a community issue
Cariboo Press - Vernon Morning Star
May 2, 2008
By: Cara Brady

The North Okanagan Child Care Society wants everyone to start talking about what quality child care means to the whole community.

"Child care is a community issue. It affects everyone whether or not they have children," said Lynne Reside, executive director of the society.

"It's not just parents and families who suffer when parents can't go to work, it's anyone who needs the services those workers provide. The community can't attract workers for everything from health care services to businesses when parents don't have child care that gives them peace of mind."

She is also concerned that lack of affordable child care prevents many families from moving out of poverty with one or more wage earners or parents being able to take further education for employment. Another issue is the low wages paid to child care workers which stops many people from considering it as a career.

A recent meeting for child care professionals with speaker Sheila Davidson of the Early Childhood Educators of B.C. discussed the problems created with many people leaving the field just at a time when there is a need for more child care.

On Thursday, the UBC Human Early Learning Partnership presented a seminar on research on early childhood development, attended by professionals.

According to the Early Development Index used by the partnership in all school districts in the province, children in the North Okanagan are doing better than expected compared to the social/economic status of the area.

"Vernon is doing well and research done by Thompson Rivers University credits that to quality child care, early literacy programs, support for parents and collaboration of community agencies," said Reside.

Today, Claire Trevena, NDP child care critic, and Carole James will be in Vernon as part of the Raising B.C. tour to raise awareness of child care issues.

"I think the reason they're doing this is that child care has reached a crisis state. A lot of parents are not working because they need child care and there are long waiting lists. About 70 per cent of mothers of young children work and 70 per cent of the cost of child care comes directly from the parents. The $100 per month from the federal government is not enough to provide child care," said Reside.

"All levels of government need to be involved with capital and operating funding. Municipal governments have a real role to play in making a livable community. Having a community where there is safe space to play outside and good quality child care attracts people to a community."

She said that the community helps children get ready for school, which is important because one in four children goes to kindergarten not ready for school. While Canada is the fourth wealthiest country in the world, it is number 20 in what it spends on early childhood development.

The community works together through the Early Childhood Development Coalition which includes Interior Health and the school district as well as early literacy/learning organizations….

"Child care is important to the health and well being of everyone. We should be asking candidates in the municipal election about their views on child care, " she said. "Kids spend eight to 10 hours a day in care and it should be the best day it can be so they are happy and healthy and ready for school and ready for life."