It Takes A Village

Access to affordable childcare is just one barrier to women gaining and keeping employment, improving their status in their jobs or increasing their education. "It Takes A Village" is a Women's Network PEI (WNPEI) project that is working to improve women’s economic security by increasing access to childcare on PEI. Right now, WNPEI is conducting a Needs Assessment to better understand the barriers preventing access to childcare on PEI and will develop an Action Plan that provides recommendations for better access for Island families such as family friendly work policies and changes to legislation that create systemic barriers to women’s economic security and prosperity on PEI. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey and share with other parents and caregivers on PEI.

We ask that you complete this survey before November 30th, 2017. If you have any questions please contact Pam Atkinson pam@wnpei.org 902-368-5040

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* 1. Do you parent/care for a child(ren) 12 years old or under?

Yes (please continue)

No (please share this survey with those that parent/care for children 12 and under)

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* 2. How old is the child(ren) you are parenting/caring for?

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* 3. What type(s) of childcare arrangements do you use?

Early Years Centers (Licensed under Child Care Facilities Cap. C- 5, R.S.P.E.I and sustainable through government investments; focusing on high quality learning)

Family Homes Daycares (A facility in a private residence focusing on informal care and family oriented activities)

Privates Centers (Licensed under Child Care Facilities Cap. C- 5, R.S.P.E.I and focusing on early childhood development and age appropriate activities)

School Aged Centers (Centers that operate outside of school hours in an unstructured program that focus on recreation and supervision)

After School Programs

Babysitter or Nanny

Family Members

I have no help caring for my children but I need to find some help

Other (please specify)

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* 4. How did you find these arrangements?

Childcare Registry

Facebook or other online group

Word of mouth

Calling/ Visiting childcare center

Connection in the community

Family arrangements

Parenting Support Group

Arrangements were made for you

I have not been able to find any arrangements at all that meet my needs

Other (please specify)

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* 5. How easy or difficult was it to find these arrangements?

Extremely easy

Easy

Not very easy

Difficult

Extremely difficult

N/A

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* 6. How satisfied are you with these arrangements?

Extremely Satisfied

Satisfied

Not Satisfied

Extremely Unsatisfied

I cannot find any childcare that meets my needs

N/A

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* 7. What kinds of barriers have you come across in searching for childcare? Please check all that apply to you.

No spaces available in a childcare setting

Long waiting lists for a space in a childcare setting

A childcare setting is too expensive

A private care giver/ babysitter is too expensive

Payments to childcare provider are inflexible and prohibitive

Hours of childcare providers are inflexible and prohibitive

I cannot find someone I trust to take care of my child

I have to juggle several solutions to my childcare needs

The Childcare Registry is not reliable

I work shift work and cannot find a childcare solution to meet my needs

I work seasonal work and cannot find a childcare solution to meet my needs

All or most of my wages go toward childcare expenses

I cannot get the subsidy and I need it

My employer is inflexible around my needs

I only need part-time care but I have to pay for a full time childcare spot

Childcare providers do not open early enough/ stay open late enough

I can only find part time care but I need full time care

There is no regulation of prices for babysitters/ nannies

I feel guilty about having someone else take care of my child(ren)

I have not come across any barriers in searching for childcare

Other (please specify)

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* 8. What strengths do you see in the childcare system, including Early Learning Centers, Family Home Centers, Private Centers, School Aged Centers and After School Programs, on PEI?

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* 9. How have these barriers/ strengths affected your employability or chances for advancement in your career/education?

My employability or chances for advancement in my employment/education has been negatively affected.

My employability or chances for advancement in my employment/education has been somewhat negatively affected.

My employability or chances for advancement in my employment/education has not been affected much.

My employability or chances for advancement in employment/education hasn't been affected at all.

My employability or chances for advancement in my employment/education have been positively affected.

Other (please specify)

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* 10. What can employers do to make it easier to balance work and parenting responsibilities? For example, allow changes in start of shifts to allow for drop off at daycare, childcare options at your workplace, flexible hours of work, etc.

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* 11. What "Family Friendly" work policies have you heard of on PEI, in Canada or around the world?

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* 12. How useful has the Childcare Registry been for you?

Extremely Useful

Somewhat Useful

Not Very Useful

Not at all Useful

I have not used to Childcare Registry

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* 13. What creative solutions have you had to come up with to meet your childcare needs? For example, using neighbors and family to fill in the gaps, have family move from other provinces/territories/countries, taken children to work, had to cut back on essential things to pay for childcare, etc...

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* 14. If you were in charge of childcare on PEI, what would you do differently/ keep the same?

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* 15. Because we want to know we are hearing from a diverse population, we'd like to know a little about you. This information is not connected with you in any way and is only reported to our Funders and Advisory Committee in aggregate form.

What town/city/region are you from?

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* 16. Please check all that apply for you.

Francophone

Indigenous

New Comer/ Refugee/ Immigrant

Male

Female

Non-Binary

Married/Common Law

Single/ Divorced/Widowed

Employed Full Time

Employed Part Time

Unemployed

Not able to work because lack of childcare

Not able to work; unspecified

Entrepreneur/Business owner

Enrolled in an education program, GED or post-secondary learning program

Seasonal Worker

Shifts worker

Foster Parent/ Guardian/ Grandparent that is parenting grandchildren

Parent/Caregiver of a child with a disability/diagnosis/special need

Parent/Caregiver of an infant

Parent/Caregiver of a toddler

Parent/Caregiver of a school aged child

LGBTTQQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, queer, questioning, intersex, ally)

Person with a disability/diagnosis

Used the Childcare Subsidy

Under 18 years old

18-25

26 +

Household Income of less than $20,000

Household Income of $20,000 - -$39,999

Household Income of $40,000 - $74,999

Household Income of $75,000 - $99,999

Household Income of $100,000 and up

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* 17. Thank you very much for your time. We really appreciate your responses and your interest in this issue. If you have anything else to add please feel free to do so below and don't forget to share this survey with other parents and caregivers on PEI.
If you have any questions please contact Project Coordinator, Pam Atkinson at pam@wnpei.org.

Question Title

* 1. Do you parent/care for a child(ren) 12 years old or under?

Question Title

* 2. How old is the child(ren) you are parenting/caring for?

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* 3. What type(s) of childcare arrangements do you use?

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* 4. How did you find these arrangements?

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* 5. How easy or difficult was it to find these arrangements?

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* 6. How satisfied are you with these arrangements?

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* 7. What kinds of barriers have you come across in searching for childcare? Please check all that apply to you.

Question Title

* 8. What strengths do you see in the childcare system, including Early Learning Centers, Family Home Centers, Private Centers, School Aged Centers and After School Programs, on PEI?

Question Title

* 9. How have these barriers/ strengths affected your employability or chances for advancement in your career/education?

Question Title

* 10. What can employers do to make it easier to balance work and parenting responsibilities? For example, allow changes in start of shifts to allow for drop off at daycare, childcare options at your workplace, flexible hours of work, etc.

Question Title

* 11. What "Family Friendly" work policies have you heard of on PEI, in Canada or around the world?

Question Title

* 12. How useful has the Childcare Registry been for you?

Question Title

* 13. What creative solutions have you had to come up with to meet your childcare needs? For example, using neighbors and family to fill in the gaps, have family move from other provinces/territories/countries, taken children to work, had to cut back on essential things to pay for childcare, etc...

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* 14. If you were in charge of childcare on PEI, what would you do differently/ keep the same?

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* 15. Because we want to know we are hearing from a diverse population, we'd like to know a little about you. This information is not connected with you in any way and is only reported to our Funders and Advisory Committee in aggregate form.What town/city/region are you from?

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* 16. Please check all that apply for you.

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* 15. Because we want to know we are hearing from a diverse population, we'd like to know a little about you. This information is not connected with you in any way and is only reported to our Funders and Advisory Committee in aggregate form.

What town/city/region are you from?