Ontario Caregivers - daycare announcement due today

[cfred]

We got those when I was head teacher in a daycare centre. It was called a wage enhancement cheque. And yes, it's peanuts.

[Fun&care]

Here's an idea- why don't we rally up and start our OWN agency???

[playfelt]

Maybe it's a good time to write to our MPs and Queen's Park??? I'm going to construct a letter over the next couple days. Basically, I just want it known that I am in favour of regulations, but not like this. The regulations must be reasonable and feasible within the home daycare industry. Really, our industry IS different than the daycare industry. It has been my experience that this is why I'm chosen by my clients. They've all said it - they wanted them in a home, not an institution. Many like my specific style, curriculum, menu. Forcing us into agencies, pretty much removes every daycare's individuality. In addition, I think I'd like to ask my clients (past and current) to write in as well. Does anyone think this might be a good idea on a much larger scale???

CCPRN has been lobbying on our behalf and demanding to be included in the discussions and from what has been proposed I can see that they were at least listened to - we weren't outright banned which is what the agencies wanted. I know CCPRN will continue to lobby and sure they would welcome the voice of other caregivers across Ontario to present a unified front. Go to their website and send them an email saying you want your voice to be heard too and how can you help the cause. www.ccprn.com

[playfelt]

Here's an idea- why don't we rally up and start our OWN agency???

When I lived in Calgary I did daycare under a wonderful agency (Jan-Pat Satellite Family Day Homes). Not being any the wiser, when we were transferred to Ottawa I joined an agency here. Different as night and day and not for the better. I got out of it as soon as I could. There for sure is a better way to run an agency and you may be on to something. Something along the ideas of cooperative just might work.

Problem is the rules are still going to be the same. In essence we are being asked to follow the agency rules too so whether we do join an agency or not the rules will be the same. The being allowed 6 is a joke because of the full day JK and the schools taking over the over age 6 kids. I can't understand how current agency caregivers are going to manage as they are going to be harmed more than us given the fee to the agency per child issue.

[treeholm]

yes, I can't see the advantage of joining an agency. I have 4 children under 2. Even with an agency, wouldn't I have to fire my clients? My own grandchildren, who do not pay, are under 2. One of them only comes a few times a week since his Mom is on mat leave, but I have a space for him, that he shares with my 4 year old granddaughter, who only has a space for PA days and summer vacation. Because he comes sometimes though, and my one year old is here every day, I would not be able to take my other 4 who are two and under. I never have more than 5 at one time, but I do often have all 5 under two... At what point do we have to let parents know they need to find alternate care? If I were to go with an agency, I still wouldn't be able to keep any of my paying customers, so I would have to close. I have no objection to being licensed, per se, I just can't see how we can make the ratios work since it is mostly kids under three needing care.

[Fun&care]

To be honest, I don't see how this could possibly go through. The age restrictions are a joke and there is no way they can do that to parents. I think if they REALLY want to give us an incentive to be licensed then drop the age restrictions for LICENSED daycares plus allow the 6 kids including your own. Just no age restrictions or lesser ones. And then this is where we start our own agencies!

There is absolutely no incentive in being licensed by just adding 1 child because most of us don't want school aged kids and in my area, I've had a hard time filling those spots because schools offer programs of their own already.

Obviously this "plan" was drawn up by people who don't know squat about childcare.

[treeholm]

I agree that it really can't possibly go through... if you think with reason and logic...but we are talking about the government....
In any case, has anyone heard anything about a timeline? I would want to give my parents as much notice as I can if I need to terminate them, but I don't want to alarm them unnecessarily. They won't be able to find care very easily, and that worries me.

[Artsand crafts]

CCPRN has been lobbying on our behalf and demanding to be included in the discussions and from what has been proposed I can see that they were at least listened to - we weren't outright banned which is what the agencies wanted. I know CCPRN will continue to lobby and sure they would welcome the voice of other caregivers across Ontario to present a unified front. Go to their website and send them an email saying you want your voice to be heard too and how can you help the cause. www.ccprn.com

I'll definetevely get in touch with them... do you think CCPRN can make a difference before the bill is approved? What have they done to help with this?

[cfred]

Here I sit, with insomnia over this stuff. Even after a good rant to Awesome New Guy and a criminally large glass of red, I still can get this muck out of my head. Soooo, might as well make myself useful. I've found a few articles from about 6 hours ago. Maybe this is hopeful me at work here, but I'm not seeing anything about the 2 under 2 rule. Perhaps they just couldn't mention absolutely everything, but in 4 articles, I didn't see age restrictions mentioned. We would, by the sounds of it, be considered babysitters. I find that mildly demeaning, but when faced with losing my job, I'll take it! They seem to focus more on the fines, reporting process and giving more 'incentive' to join a licensed agency.

[Other Mummy]

I will be writing an email to my local MPP. This has not been thought out properly and carefully. Where are all the daycare children going to go once this bill gets passed? Are they creating MORE licensed daycare centres. Hardly. So what are people going to do?

Instead of offering incentives, education and programs for daycare providers (which will benefit the parents, children and providers) they are essentially stripping the foundations that our clients relay on under the guise of "Better and safer childcare" .

I urge you all to write your local MPP. Do it NOW. Gripping about it will not fix anything. Get letters from your clients. We need to be a voice...not only for ourselves but for all our Daycare kids. I can't imagine the scrambling my daycare clients will be doing if this Bill goes through.