The USD report also found that more than three-quarters of child-care providers are struggling financially, as the fees providers are charging families aren’t enough to cover their operating costs, which typically run as high as $38,000 annually per child in California.Įducation Report: San Diego County’s child care industry is underfunded, understaffed and underused “They make too much money to qualify for the state (or federal) subsidy system … but even in a dual-income household, they don’t always make enough to be able to afford full-time child care,” she said.

Many San Diego families fall into what Baltiyskyy calls the “chasm.” They typically cost $12,900 to $19,500 a year, the report said.Ī report by the San Diego Workforce Partnership found that 40 percent of San Diego families with two children and living on a median income spend up to 40 percent of their monthly income on child care. A growing problemĭemand for child-care spots is rebounding after the height of the pandemic, and a report released in April by University of San Diego researchers says the crunch is worsening.Īccording to the report, the county only has enough licensed child-care facilities to cover half the young children in working families, while the spots that are available are unaffordable for many families. That could help bring more resources to the underserved areas of the city. It’s for this reason Van says he hopes the city would also implement additional programs, such as financial and computer literacy, at the child-care facilities. Van noted the pool that sits just yards away from the rec center - one of the pools that were closed over the summer as a result of a nationwide shortage of carbon dioxide - was just another example of the lack of available activities in the area. However, he hears from other parents about the challenges they face. Van says his family is lucky, as he’s a real estate agent with a flexible schedule and is able to care for his two young kids. Recreation Center, another of the site options. “Given the demographics, the income of the area … it’s a pretty big melting pot with a diverse population … (but) there are limited resources, even at the schools” for youth, Thomas Van said as he watched his child play flag football on a grassy field behind the Martin Luther King Jr. Moreover, many of the rec centers identified are in neighborhoods officials say are child-care deserts, where there isn’t enough care available to serve the families that need it. (Denis Poroy/For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Currently, the city charter says any land dedicated for “park, recreation or cemetery purposes shall not be used for any but park, recreation or cemetery purposes,” unless city voters approve such an exception. Last year, the city’s Department of Real Estate and Airport Management began assessing the 1,100 city-owned properties, looking for facilities with at least 5,000 square feet on the ground floor to create small four-classroom child-care centers and adjacent outdoor space that could be converted into a playground.Ī total of 72 properties were identified spread across all nine council districts, consisting of 18 libraries, 12 office buildings and 42 rec centers. The rec centers are part of the city’s overall plan to adapt dozens of city properties for use as child care by city workers and many residents, some of whom can’t work without it. Politics San Diego OKs ballot measures to lift Midway height limit, eliminate PLA ban, allow child care in parksĬity Council gives final approval to sending ballot measures to voters this November

Dublin rec center child care