For 30 years the Innisfail Family Day Home Society has worked to help make a difference in the lives of family and children.
The non-profit organization scheduled a 30th anniversary celebration to celebrate this milestone at the Innisfail and District Historical Village on May 23 that included a barbecue, face painting, a bouncy house and other family-oriented activities.
This Innisfail Family Day Home Society is an accredited early learning and child care services provider that serves Innisfail, Olds, Bowden, Penhold and Springbrook. The agency provides consultation, training and support to local child care providers with the goal of encouraging families and the community to work together for the benefit of young children.
The Innisfail Family Day Home Society was first established in May 1983. Co-ordinator Enola Nygren has been with the organization since August 1985.
“It's amazing to think that that time has gone by,” Nygren said of the Innisfail Family Day Home Society's 30th anniversary. “As we look back we are now caring for children of children that we cared for. It's just really quite exciting to have them come through and be with us again but as parents, not as children.”
A lot has changed has over the years, Nygren said, but the one thing that hasn't is the high demand for child care services.
“There is a shortage of child care in Alberta,” she said. “They've been saying that in the ‘80s and ‘90s and their still saying that now. We can't seem to keep up with the demand.”
The Innisfail Family Day Home Society screens, supports and monitors local professional caregivers. There are currently 16 child care providers in the area, Nygren said.
Today, parents can receive government subsidies and can be confident that local providers are regulated by government standards. The Innisfail Day Home Society has been accredited according to Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services since 2008. This sort of accreditation was not around 30 years ago, Nygren said.
The Innisfail Day Home Society has a staff of three and works underneath an advisory board that includes two parents, two child care providers and three community members.
Other than providing training, support and monitoring for local providers, the organization has a toy-lending library and also a resource library for parents.
Going forward, Nygren said the hope is to see the number of professional child care providers grow.
“We'll continue providing child care. We hope to increase the number of homes that we have in each of the communities but that makes the community stronger.”
She said the organization will continue to pursue community partnerships.
“We are really excited. This has been great. We have has a lot of community support over the past 30 years.”
