Tri-City families are struggling to find daycare they can afford in a region with one of the highest female labour participation rates in the province, according to a new survey released this week.
The survey, conducted this fall for Westcoast Family Centres Society, found that the majority of families use licensed or other care arrangements for their children compared to 47% who have a parent at home.
And many families are on waiting lists, paying more than $1,100 for child care, are having to move their children around or settle for less satisfactory care than their preferred options.
It’s a picture that wouldn’t surprise many parents who are facing the daycare crunch in the Tri-Cities.
But the study’s proponents say the information is for discussion purposes only, not to promote any particular child care plan, such as that previously promoted by the NDP in May's provincial election.
“It was clear from the report the need for more dialogue,” a press release states, "and collective willingness of planners and key stakeholders is required to address the lack of accessible and affordable care within the Tri-Cities."
The survey was conducted by Jane Beach, in collaboration with Barry Forer from the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at UBC, with support and guidance from the United Way’s Avenues of Change Advisory Group.
Some 988 Tri-City families were surveyed, representing 1,550 children aged birth to eight years; the majority, or 54%, were from Coquitlam, with smaller proportions from the other municipalities (27% from Port Coquitlam, 17% from Port Moody, 1.5% from Anmore and 0.5% from Belcarra.
The survey showed that 33% of families with kids in licensed daycares are paying more than $1,100 per month, 21% are currently on a waiting list for child care and 24% have experienced changes in their primary child care arrangements in the past year.
Other notable statistics include:
Demographics
• 54% of respondents stated their household income was less than$100,000;
• 40% reported both parents work full-time;
• 46% of parents work outside of the Tri-Cities;
• 45% live with two children between birth and eight years;
• 44% of respondents were born outside of Canada, coming from 56 different countries;
• 26% of households reported more than one language was spoken at home.
Care arrangements
• 47% of children from birth to eight years old are in the care of parents;
• 39% are in licensed care;
• 14% are in other care arrangements;
• 46% would change child care arrangement if a preferred option became available;
• 49% need full-time child care five days per week for children younger than school age;
• and 54% need out-of-school care five days per week for school-aged children.
Miscellaneous
• Top 5 reasons for choosing current child care arrangements: convenience, type of program offered, reputation, reasonable cost and physical facilities.
• Top 3 reasons for changing child care: cost, quality and location.
