It has been confirmed that effective January 5th, 2015 that The Family Centre will begin as the new operators of the Wallaceburg Child Care Learning Centre and associated programs.
The Municipality approached The Family Centre to discuss the potential of this occurring, given the Municipality’s decision to cease being the direct operators of both sites in Wallaceburg and Chatham and to close their doors effective December 23.
“It has been difficult to understand the decision the Municipality made in regards to the WCLC,” states Karen McDowell, director of the Family Centre. “Our colleagues at the WCLC have been passionate and dedicated professionals, and we are very empathetic with the impact of this, for the staff and the families. We feel that it is important that those children and families, who use the WCLC, have the opportunity to continuing to receive high quality child care services. With the children and families’ needs in mind, our Board of Directors agreed to take on this challenge.”
In January, child care services will resume at the 150 University Ave location as well as at A.A. Wright School for the Before and After School programs.
Family Centre officials said it is hoped that parents and children will experience minimal disruption in services and programming.
Hours of operation will continue as they have, from 6:30am – 5:30pm.
An information session is being held on Dec 17th for parents who would like to know more about the transition ahead.
As well, communications are being sent to families who currently use the Wallaceburg Child Care Learning Centre as plans move forward.
The Family Centre has been offering high quality child care in Wallaceburg for 20 years.
It began initially as a Supervised Home Child Care program; and quickly evolved to respond to the needs of families in Wallaceburg offering infant care through school age care at the 61 McNaughton Ave location.
The Family Centre was also elected to expand its services through the Best Start initiative, with additional sites at St. Elizabeth School, Holy Family and Christ the King Schools. This provided more options for families needing infant/toddler care, preschool care and before and after school services.
The Family Centre boasts full enrollment to their programs each year.
“This additional location affords us the opportunity of the Centre’s expansion, responding to families who want positive early childhood experiences where children can grow physically, emotionally and socially in a family centered setting,” McDowell added. “Our staff is excited for this new challenge, the opportunity to welcome new colleagues, children and families, and to add a new site to our family of centres.”
Parents wishing to learn more call Karen at 519-627-7122 or Darlene at 519-627-7771.
To register for child care services at any of the locations please do so at www.chatham-kentchildcare.ca.
Also beginning January 5, 2015 Growing Together Child Care Services will be taking over all operations of Chatham-Kent May Court Childcare Learning Centre including the before and after school child care and the extended day program at Tecumseh Public School in Chatham.
Growing Together has been offering child care serving South Kent families for the past 31 years and currently offers childcare services in the elementary schools in Blenheim.
“We are very pleased that our Board has obtained new child care providers for our families at Tecumseh Public School, Chatham and A.A. Wright Public School, Wallaceburg,” stated Taf Lounsbury, superintendent for the Lambton-Kent District School Board. “The January 5, 2015 start date means that families will not experience a disruption in services.”
Brian Worrall, the communication officer for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, told the Sydenham Current that Health and Family Services are waiting for “everything to be signed off” before they make a formal announcement.
