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Survey created for school district to explore childcare needs within the Valley

The results of the survey can help the district plan necessary childcare support
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A short survey has been created to explore where in the region assistance is needed and the number of children in a household requiring childcare. (Black Press File)

The Comox Valley School District (SD71) is responding to the government’s plea for school districts to support essential service workers and their families with childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To determine the need in our community, a short survey has been created to explore where in the region assistance is needed and the number of children in a household requiring childcare.

While there is no provincial standard for what defines an essential service worker, the district follows recommended general guidelines to define individuals who have employment in one of these fields.

Essential Service Workers (ESWs) are those individuals considered critical to preserving life, health and societal functioning, including emergency responders, front-line health care workers, as well as critical infrastructure and supply chain workers (e.g. food, medicine).

The ministry has further requested to follow a tiered prioritization system to offer services and support.

Tier 1: healthcare workers and emergency responders.

Tier 2: workers supporting vulnerable populations (e.g. social workers, income assistance workers); utilities workers and workers supporting key supply chain functions (e.g. grocery store workers, warehouse workers).

Tier 3: teachers and childcare workers who do not have access to childcare and who are providing care or instruction to children of ESWs.

To best understand the need in the community, consider participating in a short survey. The results of the survey can help the district plan necessary childcare support for all our essential service workers in the local region.

To access the online survey, visit https://bit.ly/SD71_ESWChildcareSurvey.