Thousands of child-care spaces still available in B.C. for children of essential workers

If you are working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in B.C. and struggling to find someone to watch your children, there are likely spaces still available with professionals in your community.

According to the provincial government,2,650 essential workershave been referred to a licensed child-care provider usinga new system the government launched at the end of March.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development saidIn a statement that as of April 16,more than 2,500 child-care centres have a total of almost 59,000 spaces available to service that need.

Somechild-care providers say they expected demand for their services to be higher and, while referrals may be given out, not allparents are taking the next step and actually using them.

Referred but not registered

Pam Preston, executive director of WestcoastChildcare Resource Centre, which gives referrals toessential workers forchild-care providers in Vancouver, said about 65 per centof the estimated 200 peoplewho have received a referralhave not registered their children at any facility.

"We know there are a lot of vacant spaces in the city right now," said Preston.

The primary reasons parentsgave for not registering their children wereconcerns about health and safety.

"You can't do 100 per cent physical distancing with young children," said Preston, adding that parents may not know abouthealth and safety protocols that are in place.

Jennifer Ratcliffe,owner of Pebble Lane Early Learning in South Surrey, is experiencing a drop in demand first-hand.

Ratcliffe cares for children under the age of five and normally has a full housewith more than 25 children plus a wait list. She decided to stay open to care for the children of essential workers, but did not expect business to be so slow.

Pebble Lanehad no new registrationsat all in the first few weeks after the province announced child care for essential workers. Ratcliffe said she heard from colleagues at other child-care facilities in her area that they were also struggling to fill spaces.

Ratcliffe said she understands parents may be hesitant because of health concerns, but she has been assured by the province in several teleconference meetingsthat the chances of a child getting sick in her care are slim, especially in light of all the extra sanitizing she is doing.

"We are able to keep things at a really, really low risk," Ratcliffe said Thursday on The Early Edition

In the last few days, Ratcliffe said she has seen a slight bump in registration. She attributes that to other child-care centres closing because their numbers were too low to justify staying open.

Eligibility and access

The government said it has invested $38 million as part of the initiative to allow essential service workers to have access to reliable licensed child care and to ensure centres are able to reopen or stay open.

The children of workers in health care, social services, law enforcement, first responders and emergency response are eligible for a referral.

The ministry said essential workers needing child care can fill outan online formor call 1-888-338-6622. Workers will then be contacted and connectedwith available licensed spaces.

For essential service workers with children older than five years, school districts are providing access to in-school supports during regular school hours and access to care before and after school hours.