Times change: Sisters to close Headstart Program

Lack of affordable housing drives families from area

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez Sr. Nancy Sargent has been director of the CAP Headstart Program for 4 years

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

The Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement are closing their successful Children and Parent (CAP) Headstart Program in Edmonton's inner city.

The early intervention program will end in June after 16 years serving pre-school children from low-income families in the area.

The governing board of the Franciscan Sisters Benevolent Society made their decision based on factors such as declining enrollment, changes in the demographic make-up of the neighbourhood, the availability of similar programs in schools "and the continued difficulties we face in raising funds to meet the increased costs of this program," said Sister Nancy Sargent, the program's executive director for the past four years.

It costs about $650,000 annually to run the program. Seventy per cent of the funding comes from various levels of government. The remainder was raised through donations and fundraising activities. But more often than not, the sisters dipped into their own bank account to help pay for the program.

But the program would have closed even if the sisters had found the funding to continue, Sargent stressed.

"We have done a great job but now it is time to move on," she said. "The need has changed. Now the schools are taking over this (program)."

Below capacity

The program has capacity for 62 to 65 children but at the beginning of the year only 24 had enrolled and the sisters had to knock on doors and even expand their area to increase their numbers to 48. Some parents enrolled their children at Mother Teresa School, which offers a similar program.

Moreover, many families have moved from the area because they couldn't find affordable housing, said Sargent. The sisters' kindergarten program, which is now full with 14 children, will also fold. However, the congregation will continue operating Lurana Shelter for Women, which is now administered by the Lurana Shelter Society.

There are nine Franciscan Sisters in Edmonton - four in active service and five in their retirement home. The Headstart Program was housed in a complex of buildings the sisters own at 11035-92 St.

The Franciscan Sisters have been working with the inner city poor for almost 80 years, mostly serving children.

In 1988 they opened the first multicultural day care in the city and in 1992 they opened the first multicultural Headstart, which met the high need for early childhood development programs at the time. The program started with 16 children and quickly grew over the years to a peak enrollment of 65 families.

Support for parents

Sargent described Headstart as a holistic program that supports parents as the primary teachers of their children and helps children to achieve the skills they need to be successful in life.

The program provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition and parent involvement services free of charge to low-income families.

"Studies show that children and families in Headstart programs reap significant benefits," said Sargent. "They begin their school year better prepared for educational and social challenges and are more likely to go on to complete high school."

"What we are good at is working with immigrant children," added Sargent. "Last year we had children speaking 20 different languages from 17 different countries. But they came out of the program speaking English and well-prepared to enter school."

Sargent, who came from California to run the program four years ago, will continue working with the sisters in Edmonton, including helping at the Lurana Shelter and working with the congregation's associate members.

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