SA国际影视传媒淲e do hope that the solution can be found,SA国际影视传媒� said Kate Reid, president of the YWCA NWT, following an announcement that AfterSchool Programming at Ecole St. Joseph School could be no more.

This comes following an unexpected staff shortage at the non-profit YWCA NWT, according to a notice that Ecole St. Joseph School (ESJS) received from Yellowknife Catholic Schools on Sept. 1

SA国际影视传媒淎s a result, they are unable to meet the planned start of Sept. 1, and will now open on Sept. 12, 2022,SA国际影视传媒� reads a notice from Yellowknife Catholic Schools on the situation. SA国际影视传媒淔urther, we were informed that the last day for the YWCA program will be Sept. 29.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭here are three different after school groups at ESJS affected by the closure, with a total of 45 after-school childcare attendees,SA国际影视传媒� reads information from Alayna Ward, director of community relations of YWCA NWT. SA国际影视传媒淲e are fully aware of how stressful and inconvenient this must be for you, especially receiving such news on short notice.SA国际影视传媒�

Yellowknife Catholic Schools met during the morning of Sept. 1 to explore options for the future.

Reid, in a discussion with Yellowknifer, provided insight on why the forthcoming closure is occurring.

SA国际影视传媒淪o earlier this week, YWCA had an unexpected loss of childcare staff that were going to be delivering our programs at St. JoeSA国际影视传媒檚,SA国际影视传媒� she explained. SA国际影视传媒淲e do understand that people need to do whatSA国际影视传媒檚 right for them and their families if they find a higher-paying position elsewhere. So, loss of staff means that as of this week, we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have enough staff to meet the legal child-to-staff ratio requirements thatSA国际影视传媒檚 required for a licensed childcare program.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 why we had to delay the opening of our program at St. JoeSA国际影视传媒檚. And, unfortunately, we just donSA国际影视传媒檛 anticipate being able to hire the minimum required staff to offer consistent quality programming for St. JoeSA国际影视传媒檚.SA国际影视传媒�

Consequently, Reid and the YWCA advised the Catholic school board and parents and guardians with children in the program that the likely future outcome would be the closure of the AfterSchool program at St. JoeSA国际影视传媒檚 as of Sept. 29.

YWCA NWT had been working with St. JoeSA国际影视传媒檚 since this past June, when the organization knew that there was going to be a schedule change.

SA国际影视传媒淪o currently, St. JoeSA国际影视传媒檚 is operating on half days on Thursdays,SA国际影视传媒� said Reid. SA国际影视传媒淭hat means that we would have to be at the school for a longer period of time and require more staff to follow the associated regulations to make sure that weSA国际影视传媒檙e doing our daycare programs safely within the regulation to operate safely and effectively.SA国际影视传媒�

She added that due to the non-profit nature of YWCA NWT, increasing staff is going to be a difficult task.

SA国际影视传媒漌e donSA国际影视传媒檛 have as much money as some organizations to pay staff,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e reached out to the board to see if they can provide additional support for our programming at St. JoeSA国际影视传媒檚 or if thereSA国际影视传媒檚 any other ways to avoid this closure.

SA国际影视传媒淪table funding as a non-profit, weSA国际影视传媒檙e dependent on external funding to run our programs and funding shortages means that we canSA国际影视传媒檛 pay our staff as much as weSA国际影视传媒檇 like,SA国际影视传媒� she continued.

In the event that AfterSchool Programming does close permanently, Reid has discussed what the YWCA NWT would like to see from other organizations taking over the role.

SA国际影视传媒漌e just hope that anybody who is providing after-school childcare keeps costs affordable for families,SA国际影视传媒� said Reid. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 our main priority, and the reason that YWCA has run after-school care for so long is to provide an affordable option for folks with limited needs.SA国际影视传媒�

As for other programs offered through the YWCA NWT, these are feeling the pinch as well as, despite finding good funding sources during the height of the pandemic, having enough financial resources available currently is an issue.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e constantly seeking out grants and funds and we have many, many programs beyond AfterSchool Programming, including housing and shelters for women and families fleeing violence,SA国际影视传媒� said Reid. SA国际影视传媒淎ll of these programs have funding shortages and the lack of consistent, stable and adequate funding puts families and children and our community at risk.SA国际影视传媒�

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) stated that SA国际影视传媒淓CE staff are working closely with both the Yellowknife Catholic School administration, as well as the YWCA, to find a solution to provide out of school child care at ESJS and minimize the disruption of services for families.SA国际影视传媒�