San Diego, CA
San Diego eyes fix for challenges to opening child care facilities
Why this matters
San Diegans pay more for child care than their peers across the United States. Meanwhile, a shortage of child care providers persists locally.
The city of San Diego is working on ways to make it easier for child care providers to open new facilities.
The city recently received a $25,000 grant from the National League of Cities Early Learning Network to hire a consultant to facilitate better communication between licensing and permitting officials, local fire marshals and child care providers.
City partners are leading the search for a consultant who will plan meetings, document outcomes and provide feedback about the current child care system. Leaders want to hire for the position as soon as possible.
From the Documenters
This story came by way of a news tip by Matthew Miuccio, a Documenter in inewsource’s San Diego Documenters program, which trains and pays community members to document what happens at public meetings.
Right now, the offices operate in silos that act as barriers to facilities, according to Tara Ryan, a program coordinator at the city’s Office of Child and Youth Success. Misunderstandings between offices cause confusion for providers and delay their ability to open, she said.
The goal is to create a more straightforward licensing process. The licensing office and fire marshals have to be on the same page about what’s required to clear providers to open, Ryan said.
San Diego County has recommended child care improvements since 2022, after COVID-19 caused many providers to close. Officials say the pandemic “exacerbated an already overwhelming problem.”
The child care industry has continued to struggle despite government efforts to intervene. And a majority of San Diego parents still say it’s a challenge to find child care, according to data commissioned by San Diego Foundation.
“There still are provider shortages,” Ryan said. “It’s really a huge system and it’s broken.”
City, county and community partners are working on how to address the problems identified within the county’s Child Care Blueprint, a document outlining goals for San Diego’s child care system.
Key highlights include the need for advancements within the child care workforce, specifically, more training, community support and competitive wages. Other goals aim to create better facilities in child care deserts and provide access to child care that meets a wider range of needs.
“The Child Care Blueprint represents the first time the county has had a coordinated, multi-sector plan to align these efforts and move forward with shared priorities,” said Dezerie Martinez, an early education special projects coordinator at the San Diego County Office of Education.
So far, leaders of the reform efforts have identified funding to develop a City of San Diego guidebook on the child care facility permitting and licensing process. They have also developed plans for a countywide navigation hub that connects child care workers, providers, families, employers and parties interested in the local child care sector on a platform to share facility information.
The city, county and community groups are promoting community interest for child care reform.
To kick off next steps, the city and community partners will host an event next month, “Child Care Blueprint in Motion: Celebrating Progress, Building the Future,” on Thursday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to noon.
More details and updates about the event will be available in the coming weeks on San Diego Office of Education’s social media.
Type of Content
News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.