By Jondi Gumz
Could child care be the key to upward mobility?
The 2024 Uplift Central Coast report, covering six counties including Santa Cruz and Monterey, concluded, “Childcare access is a serious constraint for workers and families.”
What about Capitola?
Chloe Woodmansee, assistant to the Capitola City Manager, said, “To my knowledge, there is one childcare facility in the City of Capitola. There is potential for a future childcare facility at the Capitola Mall, dependent on the property owner/developers interest and potential proposals.”
So here is a need — and a business opportunity for stay-at-home moms to offer child care in their home to their neighbors.
On Nov. 8, more than 300 people attended the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership State of the Region conference focused on economic mobility — housing, digital equity and child care.
“All these are growth pathways to a strong economy that’s inclusive,” said Tahra Goraya, MBEP president and CEO, who has two daughters 10 and 8.
“We have a unique moment in time to be bridge builders,” she said. “Put aside ideological difference to work on solutions.”
Rachel Barker, Brookings Institution fellow who worked on the state-funded Uplift Central Coast report, said thousands of residents across the six counties (including San Beinto, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties) provided input.
One troubling finding: Only 25% of jobs pay a living wage, offers health insurance and provides stability in terms of keeping the job or leading to another job that pays a living wage and offers health insurance.
Lack of access to child is a problem in all six counties, according to an analysis of the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network and census data.
In Santa Cruz County, child care spaces are available for only 36% of children age 0 to 12.
To start and operate a daycare in your home, you need a state “Family Child Care Home License” and a business plan.
Locally, El Pajaro Community Development Corp. offers free workshops and consulting for moms to start a home day care.
See www.elpajarocdc.org.
The Santa Cruz County Office of Education Child Development Resource Center has a provider map from 2022 at https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/miguel.rocha5573/viz/SantaCruzCDRC2022/ForFamilies.
The Uplift report point out that parents who work on weekends need child care, and the map shows 322 sites for preschools and 39 sites for weekend child care.
In Monterey County, Bright Beginnings advocates for early childhood development.
Two years ago, a $49 parcel tax for child care garnered 41% support when a majority support was needed to pass. But Hartnell College got a $484,000 state grant to support free training and paid apprenticeships for aspiring preschool teachers who face income and language barriers.
She suggested real estate developments include child care space — which Cabrillo College plans to do in Aptos.
“The old ways of doing business don’t work,” said Sonja Koehler of Bright Beginnings. “We need more innovation — tap into talent in our community.”
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To learn more about Hartnell’s apprenticeship program contact Christian Regalado at Salinas Valley Adult Education Consortium, (831) 386-7105 and [email protected].