Moms and dads need flexible childcare options
The Free Press - Fernie
22 Jan 2009
By: Rebecca Edwards

Parents across the Elk Valley need childcare with a wider range of flexible hours, a survey has revealed.

The Kids Care survey, commissioned by the Elk Valley Childcare Needs Assessment Team, was completed by 274 families in Sparwood, Fernie, Elkford and surrounding areas in fall last year.

The survey results will be used by communities to guide future planning.

Those who qualified for the survey either have at least one child under the age of 13 or are planning to have children in the next three years.

The average age of those surveyed was 34 and 94 per cent of them were married or had a common law partner.

Half the children in the survey do not access any childcare services and in each area 20-30% of children have a need for longer care times.

Parents said they need childcare to be provided throughout the year, and it is important for childcare to be flexible with a range of hours available.

On average parents would pay as much as $500 a month for full time care of 40 to 65 hours a week, or $94 a month for community recreation activities. Most said these are the rates they currently pay and could not afford any higher.

One-third of parents said a lack of childcare had limited their job progression, and one-third said they cannot get a job because of a lack of childcare. These figures rose to almost half in Elkford.

The survey, which was part-funded by Teck Coal, asked parents if they would be interested in working for Teck if childcare was provided there. Over 50 per cent said they would, and over 70 per cent said they would consider working at Teck if job sharing was available.

- In Fernie children were more likely to be in childcare and were most likely to use pre-school, part time care of less than 20 hours a week or community recreation programs.

Parents said they need more part-time and half-time care options, giving up to 30 hours a week of care.

- In Elkford children use community recreation programs, shift-based full time care of 40 to 65 hours a week and less formal childcare such as family care.

Parents said they need more after school care and care options giving up to 30 hours a week.

- In Sparwood the most common childcare types are community recreation groups. part time care and before and after school care.

Parents said they need more part time care of up to 20 hours a week and after school care.

- In rural areas, such as RDEK areas A and B, children were less likely to be in any childcare services. Those who did use childcare were in part-time or pre-school programs…