The Sunrise Infant/Toddler Centre, the new baby day care available for both Comp and college students, had its grand opening on Dec. 5, with a full house of visitors to see the facilities.

The centre is located in the old public school board offices in the Weyburn Collegiate building, next door to the main entrance to Southeast Regional College, and they have room for 11 children, six infants and five toddlers.

"We are available for parents under the age of 22 who are continuing their education, either to finish high school or to access programs at the college," said Lynne Buchanan, the superintendent of student services for Sunrise School Division and chair of the board for the Sunrise Centre.

While the centre is located in space donated by the school division, the centre is independent of the school division and operates as a non-profit organization with their own seven-member board of directors, she explained.

The centre is currently about half-full, but when filled to capacity there would be three full-time workers required under the formula mandated for day cares by the province. This formula stipulates that facilities like this must have one staff person for every three babies, and one for every five toddlers.

The centre operates through operating grants and subsidies from the federal and provincial governments, along with donations of money or toys or supplies from their supporters. There is a fee structure for those using the centre, and there are subsidies available for teen parents who need financial help.

"We still need some high chairs, toys and books for infants and toddlers, and arts and craft supplies," said Nicole Wendt, director of the centre.

Besides providing day care space while they study in school, the centre also provides parent education courses and information, and in cooperation with outside agencies such as The Family Place, the Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP), public health services and the Violence Intervention Program (VIP).

"The feedback we've gotten is the majority of the parents would have chosen not to go back to school if this centre wasn't available to them," said Wendt.

"We had a comment from a parent-to-be, that she is so excited that this centre means she can continue to go to school," added Buchanan.

Part of the help given the young parents is a requirement that they spend some time with their children at the day care, and they are helped with simple life skills as making healthy snacks for their children, and playing with them.