Did you know that in-home childcare is the country’s most commonly used childcare arrangement? The majority of child care offered in Alberta is offered out of a childcare provider’s own home. And yet, despite in-home childcare professionals making up the majority of the childcare sector, dayhome providers often struggle to earn the recognition and support they deserve as an integral part of the childcare system in our province.
Without a united voice to represent individual dayhome operators, critical decision-making processes have historically excluded dayhome professionals from having input on matters that directly impact them and their businesses.
That is until 2018, when Embolden PDC established Alberta’s first dayhome support network and membership community.
Embolden PDC has always believed that dayhome professionals can have both autonomy and support and that in-home child care is just as impactful as all of the other childcare arrangements in Alberta.
In-home childcare is unique, and with it comes challenges not experienced by those working in facility-based programs. Unlike facility-based care, in-home childcare providers work long hours without breaks or opportunities to connect with others, increasing their risk of isolation and burnout.
And this unique experience of dayhome operators clearly demonstrates the critical need for support and resources to address these sector challenges. However, the reality is that many dayhome providers experience barriers to accessing resources and support because in-home childcare is largely under-recognized in our society.
With the creation of Embolden PDC, dayhome providers finally have a voice and community that advocates for in-home childcare providers and their work to support Alberta’s childcare sector. No longer undervalued, dayhome providers are now wholly understood and supported as part of a thriving community that truly understands the unique nature of in-home childcare and its challenges. And the change that providers have long desired is slowly being realized through the steadfast advocacy this new organization brings.
As a member of Embolden PDC, dayhome professionals reap all the benefits our community offers, including access to our wrap-around resource network that houses hundreds of resources to help embolden providers as they run their dayhome programs. With each new member, we increase our ability to expand our network and reach, allowing us to continue advocating for dayhome professionals across the province.
Whether you choose a free Provider Account or an Embolden PDC Membership, dayhome providers will no longer experience barriers to accessing resources and support geared to the uniqueness of in-home childcare.
With Embolden PDC, providers are heard and supported.