Corporate Child Care Program Feasibility Study

KidCentric understands that implementing a corporate child care program is a major undertaking. In order to determine whether a child care program has a high probability of being successful, many factors need to be considered, including employee child care needs and desires, corporate climate and, of course, financial considerations. A Corporate Child Care Feasibility Study will help you address these concerns. Consulting services included within the Feasibility Study are:

Comparing the Employee Child Care Needs

Assessment results with a Management Assessment to determine program options

Determining child care program size, age Coordinating research around zoning, permits, Analyzing remodeling current facilities vs. building Consulting with architects, builders, designers, etc

groupings and staffing traffic, and environmental concerns a new on-site daycare facility to ensure the on-site daycare facility is developmentally appropriate and will comply with all licensing regulations and laws

costs

Determining appropriate indoor & outdoor Planning food service requirements and Determining total anticipated start-up and on-going

equipment procedures

Along with giving our clients an accurate picture of initial and on-going requirements for a child care program before large sums of money are committed, our Corporate Child Care Feasibility Study also lays the groundwork for implementing a program. For example, a staffing plan, equipment list and estimated budget are all required to obtain a license for a child care program. Although a powerful tool in and of itself, the Child Care Feasibility Study should be viewed as a springboard to any future child care program.

In December 2007, the closure of a licensed child care centre in the Township of Rideau Lakes prompted the request for an exploration of the current child care situation. The methodology mirrored the 2005 Child Care Feasibility Study undertaken for the community of Athens (and general child care issues of Leeds and Grenville as a whole). Community consultations were conducted concurrently with the distribution of parent feedback surveys. The information obtained from the families was combined with relevant community data to formulate conclusions contained within the feasibility report. The feasibility study was conducted between December, 2007 and March, 2008. Initially, senior officials from the Township of Rideau Lakes arranged a community meeting to discuss day care issues and needs with the residents. This meeting provided some preliminary insight into the current child care needs and even though the information was gathered prior to the commencement of the feasibly study it is also incorporated into the final report. The cumulative/combined data gathered during this study includes population, birth rate of children, youth and their families. Some of the key data gathered: Birth rate for the Township of Rideau Lakes in 2006 represented approximately 7% of all births in Leeds and Grenville. The geographical size of Township of Rideau Lakes provides challenges for some families who are currently looking for child care; some have found care on route to work or in the community where they are employed but still cite location as the main barrier. Current child care spaces in the Township of Rideau Lakes are hard to measure accurately due to the growing number of families accessing un-licensed home care or relying on other family members to look after their children; 77% of respondents to the survey reported accessing unlicensed home child care. These respondents though accessing unlicensed child care preferred licensed child care for children that could

provide the quality structure, activities, socialization and safety for children. The 2006 Statistics Canada data showed a population of 10,350 persons in the Township residing in 4,165 households; 37.3% or 1,555 of these households have children. There are 1,290 children 0-12 years of age, of which 575 are 6 years of age and under. The birth rate has declined since 2003 from 70 live births per year to 47 in 2007. The growth in the population is among the 50-59 year olds. The response rate to the survey of 4% of households in the Township of Rideau Lakes is insufficient to allow for generalization to be made about this population as a whole, however since the majority of the families completing the survey indicated that they have children who are birth to six years of age and comparing this information with available population data it was determined that the actual response rate was approximately 22%. This still is inadequate to suggest that the results statistically reflect the needs of all families in the Township of Rideau Lakes.Township of Rideau Lakes Child Care Feasibility Study June 3, 2008 2 In addition, the January, 2008 community consultations had relatively low attendance, with the afternoon session having only five (5) community members and the evening session with an additional twenty-six (26) participants. The messages shared during the consultation sessions were consistent with the survey results. Many families indicated that they travel to work in communities differing from where they live. This poses challenges in establishing a child care program as commuting patterns of families will impact the location, hours and flexibility needed to accommodate the majority. More than half of the families indicated that their work schedules change most commonly on a weekly basis, which poses certain challenges for finding flexible or part time child care when the majority of spaces are filled on a full time basis. To complicate their need further, less than one third of the families have at least one parent with a consistent work schedule. From the results, it is clear that a diverse child care model is required both to accommodate the

individualized needs and the ages of the children living in the Township of Rideau Lakes. Of families indicating that they require child care for more than one child in their family almost 70% have more than one (1) child. Care for a toddler and a kindergarten student will require a different program quite possibly even a different location. The need for before and after school care also emerged as being important. When asked, families indicated that they are willing to pay for their child care cost at equal to or greater than what they are currently paying depending on the options available. When this information is compared to the average current costs for Leeds and Grenville, parents are willing to pay the going rate. As well, with the creation of licensed spaces in the Township of Rideau Lakes at least half of the families would be eligible for some level of fee subsidy assistance; currently only thirteen (13) families access this program. The following observations emerged from the study findings: Establishing a centre based program in a rural locale presents very unique and different challenges than in an urban setting. The ability for a provider to establish a viable and sustainable program is directly influenced by such factors as: geography/population distribution population demographics commuting patterns parental needs/hours of work, etc. In order for a program to be financially viable and sustainable a sufficient number of children using the program must be available at the outset and in the future. Given population distribution and the need to have the program accessible to families, locations along commuting routes is key and yet can pose as a barrier. Essentially numbers dictate the viability and sustainability of a centre. The recommendations contained in this study are further based upon the following: Data and information gathered from the surveys and the focus groups Data on population growth and projections

 Commuting patterns of families in the Township of Rideau Lakes and the Village of Westport Consolidated Municipal Service Manager experience as Service System Manager for child care.Township of Rideau Lakes Child Care Feasibility Study June 3, 2008 3 The feasibility study showed that: There is a strong community desire to see licensed child care in the North Leeds community. While there was and continues to be a committed and enthusiastic group of families in the community who participated in the survey and focus groups the numbers do not provide sufficient data to suggest that a centre based program with a full range of programming is viable. Recommendation No. 1 That said the community support for a licensed child care centre is such that a small scale licensed centre could be considered on a trial basis. A start small philosophy is both prudent and mitigates risk while addressing the immediate need. If the community chooses to embark on such a venture we would recommend the following: the location be in a locale where there is a concentration of population and is easily accessed; if there is a provider interested in pursuing this they would need to work closely with the Advisor from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services; the provider/community should consider a range of different venues and activities to access in kind and direct contributions to support the onetime start-up costs; potential sites with minimal capital improvement costs such as a school should be considered; as well child care centres located in schools offer excellent opportunities for partnership; operating costs, wait lists and enrollment will need to be monitored closely over a two (2) year period to assess future viability. Recommendation No. 2

It is recommended that efforts be directed to growing the licensed home-based child care options throughout the Township. To address the child care needs of the families of the Township of Rideau Lakes, including the Village of Westport, education and promotion about the benefits of licensing a home child care business., and an examination of the portion of fees which the YMCA flows to the providers to see if these are competitive, may assist in growing this child care option in the area. This solution would allow for child care space expansion throughout the large geographic area, thereby addressing location and flexibility concerns for families in choosing care arrangements, while also growing the number of licensed spaces which in turn increases access to fee subsidy assistance for families where affordability is a barrier. Recommendation No. 3 It is recommended that a Child Care Network be established. Unlicensed home child care seems to be quite prevalent throughout the area and providers may benefit from the establishment of a Network similar to that which exists in the Town of Prescott and the Municipality of North Grenville. This recommendation acknowledges the reality of the current and existing situation and the value which these private care givers add to the community. By establishing a Network or more early learning drop-in programs dedicated to care givers, these providers can be better supported in delivering quality early learning and care experiences.Township of Rideau Lakes Child Care Feasibility Study June 3, 2008 4Township of Rideau Lakes Child Care Feasibility Study Section 1 Introduction 1.1 Background.....................................................................................5 1.2 Purpose and Scope of the Child Care Feasibility Study in the Township of Rideau Lakes ...................................................5Township of Rideau Lakes Child Care Feasibility Study June 3, 2008 5 1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background The December, 2007 closure of a licensed child care centre in Newboro and the consequent challenges to find child care prompted parents of the Township of Rideau Lakes to voice concerns about the availability of child care in their communities. Senior officials from the Township of Rideau Lakes convened a community meeting on December 13 th , 2007 at the Portland Community Hall to discuss day care issues and needs. Despite bad weather, twenty-one (21) residents of the Township were in attendance. The information gathered from this meeting was provided to the United Counties for consideration 1 and a request was made to the United Counties to conduct a child care feasibility study of the Township of Rideau Lakes. As Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) for child care, the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville supports family access to licensed child care through the provision of fee subsidy assistance to eligible families, wage subsidy to child care providers and special needs resources to support the inclusion of all children in licensed child care settings. Though not in the business of delivering child care directly, as CMSM understanding community needs and the issues facing our communities with regard to child care allows the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville to plan proactively, and to support licensed child care providers in identifying areas for potential expansion and assessing the viability of expansion. 1.2 Purpose and Scope of the Child Care Feasibility Study in the Township of Rideau Lakes The overall purpose of the Child Care Feasibility Study was to ascertain a current picture of the child care needs for families living within the Township of Rideau Lakes, to

determine the immediate and future need and to explore the potential solutions. Both quantitative and qualitative assessments were used. The quantitative assessment included a survey designed to specifically assess: current childcare arrangements current childcare requirements current costs families are paying for their childcare preferred methods of child care arrangements challenges families face accessing childcare family profiles (employment, commuting, residence) The survey provides insight into the current needs, however, alone it does not indicate potential future child care needs for those children who are not yet born. The survey does provide additional insight into the age raassess the child care issues; the other tool, qualitative assessments, in the form of community consultations focused on the same general topics as the survey, albeit without the quantitative detail. 1 The notes from this meeting contain similar participant comments as received through the Community Consultations and the survey.Township of Rideau Lakes Child Care Feasibility Study June 3, 2008 6 The information gathered through the survey and the community consultations is enhanced by the existing census data such as population, demographics and school enrolment projections. Together, a picture develops to inform the community, agencies and providers for planning with respect to managing the child care system, and supporting child care providers in their business decision.nges of the children who require some form of child care. The survey was one tool used to4.1 Profile of Respondents The survey was completed by 63 individuals, and 83% provided a response indicating where they currently live. Portland was most represented in the survey responses with 35% of the completed surveys from families living in this area;

followed by the Village of Westport with approximately 16% of completed surveys. The large geographical area of the Township Rideau Lakes has smaller representation from each of the areas with the exception of Plum Hollow.