District of Early Years and Child Care Needs Survey

The District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board (DPSSSAB) is seeking to improve Early Years programs and services for young children and their families in our service area. If you are a parent or guardian of a child or children aged birth to 12 years, we want to assess our services based on your experience. Please take a couple of minutes to help us by sharing your thoughts about the programs. All personal information provided in this survey will remain confidential.

As a thank you for completing this survey, we would like to enter your name into a draw for one of four $25.00 gift cards from Walmart. To enter into the draw, please include your name and contact information at the end of this survey.

1. Are you a parent or guardian of a child, birth-12 years?  Parent  Guardian

2. How many of your children are aged:  Birth-6 years  7-12 years

3. What is your postal code?

4. Do you reside in:  Henvey Inlet First Nation  Magnetewan First Nation  Shawanaga First Nation   Other

5. Do you identify as any of the following?  Indigenous  Francophone  Newcomer to Canada  None of the above

6. Are you currently visiting an Early Years Child and Family Centre (OEYCFC) located in the District of Parry Sound?  Yes, once per week  Yes, twice per week  Yes, three times per week  Yes, once per month  No, proceed to question #9 7. Which activities have you participated at an OEYCFC? Feel free to choose more than one answer.  Parent resources/support, e.g. Triple P Parenting Program  Parent workshops  Pre or post natal support  Parent/child activity, e.g. Moms to Moms, Music and Movement  Story time or reading activities  Giving my child an opportunity to play with other children  Meeting and spending time with other parents  Special outings or events, e.g. Literacy Day, Touch A Truck, Week of the Child  Other (please specify) ______

8. How do you think we could better support you and your family at an OEYCFC? Feel free to choose more than one answer.  More public information and/or advertising about the activities and services available  Provide transportation  Having a program in my neighbourhood or that is close to my home  Having hours of operation that meet my needs, e.g. evenings and weekends  Offer more variety of activities and services that I am interested in  Make the environment more warm and welcoming  Offer more food and/or snacks  Provide more services and activities that are appropriate to my culture  Other (please specify) ______

9. If you have never attended an OEYCFC in the District of Parry Sound, please tell us why. Feel free to choose more than one answer.  Not aware that they exist  Lack of transportation  I can't attend during the hours the program is open  Not sure what services are available  I don't feel comfortable going  I have thought about going but never have  There are physical barriers  Other (please specify) ______

10. If you have never attended an OEYCFC in the District of Parry Sound, what would make you interested in attending or make it easier for you to attend? Feel free to choose more than one answer.  More public information and/or advertising about the activities and services available  Having someone to talk to about the program and the activities that are offered  Having a program in my neighbourhood or that is close to my home  Having hours of operation that meet my needs, e.g. evenings and weekends  Having someone to go to the program with  Other (please specify) ______

11. Please identify the main type of child care you are currently using. Check all that apply (). None Licensed Care Licensed Care Unlicensed Unlicensed Care Parent/Guardian in a Child in a Home Care Unpaid Only Care Centre Paid (e.g. family, friend) Birth-12 months (Infant care) 12- 30 months (Toddler care) 30 months - 4 years (Preschool care) JK-SK

School Age

12. Please identify any challenges you may have experienced when looking for child care? Feel free to choose more than one answer.  Lack of information about child care  Services to support my child with special needs  Cost of child care is too high  Applying for child care fee subsidy in not user friendly  The child care hours do not work with my work schedule  The child care building is not accessible  Unsure about the quality of child care  The child care is not reliable  Transportation is an issue  I am on a wait list for child care  Hard to find care when my child is not able to go to school, e.g. sick, emergency  Hard to find care when there is a school holiday e.g. PD Day, summer, before and/or after school  No challenges

13. Please identify anything else that you would like us to consider in order to meet your early years and child care needs in the District of Parry Sound.

14. If you would be interested in participating in a discussion group to help us understand how to best support our families, please provide your name and contact information below.

Name: ______Email: ______Contact Number: ______

15. For draw entry, please provide:

Name: ______Email: ______Contact Number: ______