On Thursday, the Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation (PCRC) announced they're creating a new program in conjunction with Red River College and Industry Training and Employment Services. The Program is known as the Family Child Care Skills Up Project and aims to create 15 home daycare's in the community. The Canadian Federal Government and the Provincial Government are funding this new program.
Victoria Espey's the Executive Director of the PCRC and explains they're looking for specific participants; people who are unemployed or underemployed. In the coming year, a screening process will take place, and once individuals get past this, they will begin taking classes ranging from early childhood care and education to emergency first aid/CPR.
Espey stresses there is a need for this program as there are 400 children on the childcare waitlist in Portage and the poverty rate is extremely high. She believes this program will aid both the childcare issues as well as help improve the poverty rate.