Growing Together Child Care aims to keep growing
Vancouver Island News Group - Cowichan News Leader And Pictorial
January 21, 2009
By: Krista Siefken

Those at Growing Together Child Care want to keep growing.

That's why they're hoping to track down the families that participated in the program in previous years: to ensure it grows in the years to come.

"We want to let parents know we still think of them and are still interested in then, and we want to know how the program has assisted them in moving forward with their lives," explained Mary Dolan, past-director of the Growing Together society, who has volunteered to assist with the study.

Growing Together offers young moms childcare assistance while they continue their education or upgrade employment skills.

Organizers of the program, meanwhile, are looking for the families who participated between 1993 and 1998.

"We're wondering, looking back, what was most helpful," said Dolan. "It encourages us to continue and helps us evaluate the program, and lets us know what worked and what didn't."

The key is honest responses from as many participants as possible.

… This is the second such study conducted by Growing Together. The first concluded in 2000 and showed favourable results.

But, said Dolan, it's important to check in and make sure the program is on the right path.

"There's a lot of stress when you're young and parenting," said Dolan, adding all information gathered is confidential.

The report, meanwhile, is hoped to be completed in a few months.