When someone says “frontline staff” or “essential worker” what are the jobs that come to mind? For many, child care providers don’t make the list, but they should. COVID-19 has shown just how little attention is given to the challenges child care providers face, and our data show that a lack of financial and government support has forced more than 600 child care providers to close in San Diego County.
The bottom line: Without access to quality child care, working parents across San Diego will be unable to return to work, which jeopardizes our economic recovery and widens the educational gap already present in our community.
We worked closely with community partners, and child care providers to elevate these concerns to local legislators, and on Tuesday, August 4, the County Board of Supervisors delivered a major victory to the hardworking child care providers in our community.
The Board voted unanimously to appropriate $25 million in funding from County of San Diego CARES Act money for stipends for child care providers. This funding will help the thousands of local child care providers make up for lost wages and pay for the expenses they need to keep their facilities safe and operational.
We are proud to work with our partners at the San Diego Foundation and Child Development Associates to distribute these funds in the coming weeks.
