There’s a big demand for people who want to work with little kids.
Hastings County officials say they’re trying to attract more people to the Early Childhood Education profession, amid growing needs.
Early Years & Child Care Manager, Juliee Harrison, says the County needs to create 730 new spaces for children, aged 0 to 6, by 2026.
But to do that, they need more workers. The County has an advertising campaign on and is working with a partner to create a docuseries, both with hopes of drawing new people to the field.
The County is also working with Loyalist College on a grant program that gives financial support to first-year ECE students.
Harrison says the North Hastings area is “a good example of a rural area that struggles to meet the child care needs of its residents, due primarily to a (Registered Early Childhood Educator) shortage.”
The wait list to get a spot at North Hastings Children’s Services was at 69 last month.
She says relief could be on the way, as there is a licenced home child care agency in the County that may plan an expansion into North Hastings.