% - Wednesday, Murch 21, 2900 - Nocth Shore News

NORTH SHORE OFFICE GETS COMPLAINTS

Health director warns of illegal day cares

been there, there's no guarantee’ 9 care will be as checked out to make ven after licsnsing, Kimmeit

Ik BILL. Kimmett gave just one the day-care operator has
sure it has adequate facilities tor said the commuunity-care facilities

piece of advice to working parents, through a social assessment to en- | Kimmett sat.
it would be to urge them to use sure a “good, stable, moral char- Kimmett’s team abo investigates the number of children at will hcensing team) make occasional
licensed day-care facilities. acter." This includes investigating Che programs and activities plan house. spot checks to review applications.
the credentials of the applicant. ned for the children to ensure Once the applicant has jumped A list of all day-care facilities on
By ELIZABETH COLLINGS “People who operate illegally Cley’re recersing enough sumula- through these hoops, he or she the North Shore is availabie at
haven't had an assessment, so for Uion. qualifies for a six-month interim North Shore Health, 253 East 14th
people to drop their claldren off Finally, the house where the day — licence before being fully heensed. St.. North Vancouver.
The director of environmental
health at North Shore Health says
legal day cares are a problem on
the North Shere for both parents
and the children attending them.
“Unless there’s an accreditation
system, there’s no standard
because kids can’t speak for
themselves. We see things which
concern us,’” Kimmett said.
t

Although he doesn’t know how §
many unlicensed day cares exist on |
the North Shore, Kimmett
estimates his office receives at least ff 4 2
one complaint a day. a

“We get enough referrals and
complaints that it's probably just
the tip of the iceberg,’' he said.

Problems associated with illegal
day cares that Kimmett's starf has
encountered include transporting

sete aeaty conditions. ico ah Op Pay Pi Perens ALL REGULAR STOCK + DETAILS AT FABRICLAND

seals, unsanitary conditions, too . : fp Retals at
many children for the facility's > ae” fg | Bab dd *VWEMBERS
floor space, no outside play area ~ ‘ BUY } onan iet ‘
and inadequate programs for the Jf oo : ee eoeo GET
children. "Mas : | : f
In B.C., anyone providing care . eat Soy _ 2d ,
for three or more children not < ee ~ Exclusive
related by blood or marriage is re-
quired by law to obtain a com-
munity-care facilities licence.
On the North Shore there are
195 licensed day cares comprising
1,585 day-care spaces.
Kimmett said the licence means

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