Inuvik (Jul 03/06) - An Inuvik daycare is six years ahead of most child care facilities in the NWT. It has already implemented changes suggested in a recent report by Alternatives North.

Daycare report highlights 67 per cent of day cares in the NWT have waitlists of 3 to 100 children. Highest unmet demand is for infant spaces Parents volunteer in childcare facilities as board members and participate in fundraising. 21.5 per cent of families are headed by lone parents, mostly women 14 per cent of families and 21.5 per cent of children live with low income Childcare staff are paid low wages and there is a very high turnover rate. 74 per cent of child care facilities report that their revenues are inadequate to operate a quality early childhood program. Child care facilities operate in buildings that are approximately 16 years old - and some are housed in buildings that are in poor repair.

Inuvik's Midnight Sun daycare managed to avert a daycare crisis six years ago by acquiring additional funding over that provided by the GNWT. After revamping its payscale, it began hiring qualified workers.

"We are also funded by the Gwitch'en Tribal Council and Brighter Futures in addition to the GNWT ECE funding," says Renee Rowsel, acting director of Inuvik Midnight Sun daycare.

"Without this funding we wouldn't be able to operate."

When Rowsel first started working at the daycare six years ago, the employee turnover rates were extremely high and there were few certified workers.

Now, she says, they have certified workers who have been there for several years and aren't planning to leave.

"It was $11 per hour starting wage for an unskilled worker and $15 per hour for someone certified," Rowsel says.

"Now, an unskilled worker is started at $15 per hour, and a certified worker between $15 to $19 per hour depending on their experience."

The updated pay system, in addition to hiring qualified people has completely reversed the turnover rate, she said.

Though the funding and staffing issues are better, the daycare is at capacity with 42 kids and has a waiting list of about 80 to 85 kids - and that's only children aged 3-10.

"We are not licensed for infants," Rowsel says.

In some areas of the Territory, like in Norman Wells, there is no daycare. The economy is booming and there are plenty of jobs but women with young children can't work even if they want to as there is no childcare service available.

According to Alternatives North, daycares in the NWT are underfunded, staff is underpaid and as a result, they can't provide quality childcare. The Inuvik daycare is a prime example of what needs to happen in order to fix the current crisis. Alternatives North is a social justice coalition.

It has made several recommendations to the GWNT, from increased startup and operating grants and new money to help pay and train new staff.

"If the GWNT doesn't respond to these suggestions, daycares in the NWT will close," said Suzette Montreuil, co-chair of Alternatives North at a press conference July 28.