The Children First Collective convened a group of economists, parents and advocates who took to City Hall on Wednesday to share an update with the Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee about the state of child care in San Diego and the steps the City of San Diego can take to help address the growing challenges that parents, providers and child care workers face.

Before the hearing, CBS8 caught up with Councilmember Raul Campillo, Alexis Primo from Parent Voices, and our own Courtney Baltiyskyy to talk about affordability, access and the San Diego Child Care Blueprint, which lays out the ways local leaders can come together to tackle the problem.

Councilmember Campillo pointed out that for the families that can find care, the cost can feel like taking on a mortgage. Child Care Aware put the price tag at $22,400 on average in California in 2024 — and with inflation on the rise, things aren’t getting any easier.

But it’s not just about affordability. As Baltiyskyy shared, more than 7,000 families in San Diego are currently stuck on waiting lists. Parents simply can’t find care for their kids.

That’s no surprise, with about 2/3 of children in San Diego living in a child care desert, which is defined as “a region where fewer than three child care spaces are available for every ten children under age six.”

For moms like Alexis, that lack of access creates major roadblocks when it comes to pursuing education, building a career, or moving forward in life.

She and other advocates spoke powerfully on Wednesday about the need for attention to and investment in solutions. (Stay tuned for more stories and voices from the hearing!)

The San Diego Child Care Blueprint provides a roadmap to care, with emphasis on creating a well-trained and fairly paid child care workforce, creating more high-quality facilities throughout the county, and making care accessible and supportive of families’ needs, preferences, physical & mental health and socio-emotional needs.

Wednesday’s airing of the Blueprint before the City Council provided a vital opportunity to bring the region together around this shared roadmap for success.