The pressing need for child care in Yellowknife is exemplified by the 138 children on a wait list for YWCA after-school programming as of Aug. 19.

There are 230 child care spots already filled SA国际影视传媒� leaving no vacancies SA国际影视传媒� according to Alayna Ward, the YWCA NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 director of community relations.

Yellowknife parent Shannon Allerston doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 know what her next step will be if one of her two kids canSA国际影视传媒檛 get into YWCA after-school programming.

Her son is a returning student. His application was submitted on April 12 and he was accepted. Her daughterSA国际影视传媒檚 application went in on May 3, but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 been no confirmation of her status, according to Allerston.

SA国际影视传媒淣ow I am not sure what to do SA国际影视传媒� wait and see if she gets in if they open more space or pull them both and reduce my hours at work,SA国际影视传媒� she said of her predicament. SA国际影视传媒淲e hesitate to pull our son out altogether because weSA国际影视传媒檙e afraid he wonSA国际影视传媒檛 get in next year.SA国际影视传媒�

Also, she said her son is happy to be with his friends when he goes to the program.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 all that matters to him,SA国际影视传媒� she laughed.

Although there are home-based daycares opening up, SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 also not super keen on leaving my kids at someoneSA国际影视传媒檚 house I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know,SA国际影视传媒� said Allerston.

Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay, executive director of the YWCA NWT said the issue isnSA国际影视传媒檛 that there isnSA国际影视传媒檛 enough spaces for kids, itSA国际影视传媒檚 that YWCA doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have enough staff to supervise more children, she explained.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are a licensed childcare provider, we have guidelines that we have to follow and work through,SA国际影视传媒� said Dumbuya-Sesay.

The organization can only have one staff member take care of 10 kids at a time.

SA国际影视传媒淕iven the incidence of COVID-19 as it is right now, itSA国际影视传媒檚 making it really difficult for us like in terms of staffing and enough spaces for the children that we take in the program. This is an ongoing problem,SA国际影视传媒�

Ward added that SA国际影视传媒渇inding and retaining a sufficient number of qualified child-care staff is always challenging in Yellowknife and is challenging across the country.SA国际影视传媒�

The YWCA continues to look to hire more part-time junior and senior leaders for its after-school child-care program.

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Nicole Loubert, a Yellowknifer who runs a daycare out of her home, spoke glowingly of the YWCA.

SA国际影视传媒淚 truly believe that the YWCA programs are amazingly helping in offering so much more help for parents than I am allowed to do,SA国际影视传媒� she said, noting that she can only accommodate six children and she had availability for two spaces as of Aug. 24.

Because the YWCA is a non-profit organization, governments must play a leadership role to ensure that NWT children and families have access to affordable, high-quality child-care, Ward contended.

On Aug. 19, the GNWT and the Government of Canada agreed to fund more than $10 million over the next four years to the NWT to help improve access to more inclusive early-learning and child-care programs and services.

RELATED REPORTED: Ottawa, GNWT extend early learning and child care agreement

Rachel Riffel, whose daughter with special needs is entering junior kindergarten, said itSA国际影视传媒檚 even more challenging to find daycare in Yellowknife for children with special needs.

Her daughter requires one-on-one accommodations, which means a hand to hold leaving the classroom to get out of the school in a timely fashion.

SA国际影视传媒淪he has sensory-processing disorder, so sometimes transitions SA国际影视传媒� for example from school to day-home SA国际影视传媒� can been a challenge.SA国际影视传媒� Riffel said. SA国际影视传媒淪he gets upset and just flops to the group and can be a little aggressive as a result.SA国际影视传媒�

Riffel is starting a new job on Sept. 1, SA国际影视传媒渁nd if I am unable to find after-school care, ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to ask my boss to adjust my hours.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淵ellowknife needs more programs for kids with disabilities,SA国际影视传媒� she said.