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Insufficient funding for inclusion is leaving child-care operators in a "very difficult situation," say the YMCAs of Saskatchewan.
"We can either fail to provide adequate staffing to safely and appropriately deliver care to children with exceptionalities, or experience a financial shortfall in delivering the care. Neither is acceptable or sustainable," said a statement issued by the organizations on Tuesday.
Steve Compton, CEO of the YMCA of Regina, told CBC News in an interview Wednesday that they have 18 students, the second-highest number in the province, partnered with the government's enhanced accessibility (EA) grant.
Under the EA grant, not more than $2,000 per month is provided to assist with the additional cost of supervising a child with exceptionally high diverse needs. The grants are approved for a maximum period of 12 months.
"It's challenging for parents to get assessments to get the eligibility for the grant, but it's also challenging for child-care providers to be able to offer specialized care," Compton said.
Compton said the grant also has not kept up with inflation, which is rapidly pushing operators to the point where offering care is no longer sustainable.
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