San Diego County Child Care Blueprint

With abundant sunshine, beautiful beaches and parks, a thriving job market, and safe neighborhoods—it’s no wonder families are drawn to San Diego County as a place to raise children. But parents and caregivers face a child care crisis. Many families are spending up to 40% of their monthly income on child care. This unsustainable equation, along with a critical need for competitive provider wages in an industry already hobbled by COVID-19, sparked an urgent call to action. The Board of Supervisors called for a plan outlining a clear path forward on an expedited 6-month timeframe.

The San Diego County Child Care Blueprint (Blueprint) identifies priorities, research- and community-based solutions, and inspirational models to fortify San Diego’s child care system. MIG conducted extensive social and health policy research, drawing on decades of work at the local, State, and national levels—to devise strategic solutions in alignment with community values and State and federal policy. The Blueprint highlights needs for a nurturing system that supports child development and preparation for school, while offering affordable options for working parents and competitive wages for providers.

The all-hands-on-deck approach to plan development relied on collaboration among the Children First Collective (CFC), First 5 San Diego, representatives from workforce development, local philanthropy, the Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the City of San Diego. To build consensus and an actionable path forward, MIG facilitated stakeholder discussions and collaborated with Steering and Action teams to thoughtfully shape an overarching vision, goals, and strategies. Detailed, context-specific actions provide realistic direction for implementation—a task that MIG has since been hired to support.

The Blueprint will be a critical mechanism for resolving San Diego County’s childcare crisis with far-reaching social and economic benefits for the community.