Young mothers still attending school have another level of support to aid them in completing their studies.

A daycare opened in October to provide a safe and caring environment for the children of students wanting to finish their schooling.

The daycare has room for up to 12 children but Centre staff say they are recognizing that, while the intent and need for the daycare is evident, many of their clients are having a difficult time getting their kids to the Centre every morning.

“We are looking at ways to work with other bodies to arrange transportation to the daycare,” says Tony Broman,
executive director of Merritt Youth and Family Services.

Our Place Daycare, located in the Teen Centre across the street form Merritt Secondary, is funded through the Merritt Youth and Family Resources Society.

The coordinator for Our Place, Marilyn Long, says that for a young single parent, it is a challenge pushing a stroller to the centre and then getting themselves to school.

“These are girls that were already having problems dealing with the formal structure of school, says Long.
“The last thing we want to do is create more hurdles for them.”

“We are also offer parenting and life skills classes, teaching things like how to make your own baby food.”

The staff at Our Place recognize that it is important to offer comprehensive support to their clients and is looking at ways to involve the various agencies in town where there may be an overlap of services.

“Early intervention is our goal so that hopefully their kids will not be making the same choices as their parents,” says Long.

The centre employs two full time early childhood educators (ECEs) who provide supervision and activities for the young children.

Our Place Daycare is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from September to June and is open to all parents 25 years and younger who are attending school or college full time.