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Strathcona County residents now have access to a child care information bank, the first of its kind in Alberta.
"We created this because parents are asking about child care - where they can get child care (and) who's available to give child care," said Lori Prediger, manager of Family Resource Services for Strathcona County.
The bank, which can be accessed online, will provide parents with information as well as a list of child care providers, and Prediger estimated that there are 36 daycares, out-of-care schools, preschools and family day home agencies within the county.
Parents will also have access to an online guide to choosing quality child care for their children, which offers tips on things to watch out for when searching for child care providers, questions to consider and other suggestions.
She said the bank is intended to incorporate private caregivers.
"We know there's numerous private child care providers, but currently, there's no place that is a bank - a list - of those available in the community," Prediger stated.
"We wanted to provide that opportunity, plus help parents understand that those that would be on the bank would have at least the minimum of a criminal record check done."