Global News Calgary - Daycare Concerns

Summary

Child care accessibility and affordability are at the forefront in Alberta, as the province moves away from mandatory accreditation for daycare centers following abuse allegations at an unaccredited facility. While accreditation ensures higher standards, it’s voluntary, and many daycares, especially those catering to middle-income families, operate without it due to cost constraints. Child care expert Tom Langford warns that this makes parents vulnerable to lower-quality care. Minister Ivon Fritz reassures parents that safety and well-being are still monitored through licensing, but concerns about cost and standards remain central in the ongoing debate.

Takeaways

• 😀 Finding affordable child care can be challenging, and it may become even more difficult in the future.
• 😀 The Province of Alberta considered mandatory accreditation for child care after abuse allegations, but has since backed off the plan.
• 😀 Creative Tree Early Learning Center, located in southeast Calgary, is an example of a new daycare facility that is voluntarily applying for provincial accreditation.
• 😀 Accreditation requires child care centers to exceed government standards, and provides an action plan to reflect on and aim for improvement.
• 😀 The Ministry of Children's Services believes accreditation should remain voluntary rather than mandatory, as 85% of licensed daycare and dayhome agencies already participate in it.
• 😀 A University of Calgary sociologist warns that unaccredited centers and unregulated family day homes are often cheaper but have lower standards, posing risks to parents.
• 😀 Middle-income earners are most vulnerable, as they earn too much for government subsidies but cannot afford higher-priced accredited care.
• 😀 Minister Ivon Fritz reaffirmed the commitment to ensure 100% of daycares and dayhomes are accredited, but acknowledged that accreditation will stay voluntary.
• 😀 All daycare facilities are monitored for safety and child well-being through a licensing process, even if accreditation is not mandatory.
• 😀 Accredited daycares receive government funding to improve staff wages, offer additional training, and fund building or equipment upgrades, enhancing the quality of care.

Q & A

What is the main challenge faced by parents seeking child care?

The main challenge is finding quality child care at an affordable rate. It is becoming increasingly difficult, especially with recent considerations to make accreditation mandatory.

What prompted the province to consider mandatory accreditation for child care centers?

The province considered moving towards mandatory accreditation after allegations of abuse at an unaccredited child care center in the Edmonton area.

Why did the province back off from the idea of mandatory accreditation?

The province decided not to pursue mandatory accreditation, despite earlier considerations, with the Children's Services Ministry asserting that accreditation will remain voluntary.

What is the difference between accredited and unaccredited child care centers?

Accredited child care centers exceed government standards, and they receive government funding for staff wages, training, and facility upgrades. Unaccredited centers may have lower standards and are often more affordable.

How does accreditation impact the quality of child care?

Accreditation helps child care centers hold themselves to higher standards, with specific action plans in place for development. It focuses on enhanced programming and not on safety standards, which are already covered by provincial regulations.

What is the concern raised by Tom Langford, a University of Calgary sociologist?

Tom Langford warns that middle-income earners, who earn too much to qualify for subsidies but cannot afford the higher costs of accredited care, may be vulnerable to lower-quality child care due to the prevalence of unaccredited centers.

What does Michelle Serane believe about accreditation for child care centers?

Michelle Serane, the owner of Creative Tree Early Learning Center, believes that accreditation is valuable as it helps maintain higher standards and provides a clear action plan for improvement over time.

What are some of the financial challenges for parents seeking accredited child care?

Accredited centers tend to be more expensive, and while they receive government funding to help with staff wages and training, middle-income families may find the extra cost of accredited care a financial burden.

Why did Minister Ivon Fritz reassure parents about the safety of daycare facilities?

Minister Ivon Fritz reassured parents that all daycare facilities are monitored for safety and child well-being through the licensing process, even though accreditation will remain voluntary.

What percentage of licensed daycares and approved dayhome agencies participate in accreditation?

According to the Ministry, 85% of licensed daycares and approved dayhome agencies already participate in accreditation, making it largely voluntary for most centers.