Childcare Access
Our Childcare Shortage is Growing
Affordable childcare helps San Diego parents work and children learn. But care, especially for infants and toddlers, can be hard to find and afford. Learn what is causing the shortage and what Measure B would fund.
Why is Childcare Access a Challenge?
San Diego County has far fewer licensed infant and toddler care spaces than families need. High costs and worker shortages also make care harder to find and afford.
The Issue at a Glance
Access to childcare affects children, working parents and family finances.
A San Diego County study found that nearly half of children ages 0–5 who may need childcare do not have a licensed option available.
Parents may spend months - or even years - looking for care. Many families cannot afford the options they find.
Childcare providers also face worker shortages and rising costs. Some cannot care for as many children as their license allows because they do not have enough staff. Others may have to close.
Uncertainty about federal funding for programs such as Head Start could put even more pressure on San Diego families and childcare providers.
Shortage of licensed infant and toddler care in San Diego County.
Of parents surveyed said finding childcare in San Diego County was a challenge.
See Source
Of local childcare providers surveyed said they had trouble hiring qualified staff.
See Source
Working Parents
Without dependable childcare, San Diego parents may work fewer hours, leave a job or turn down work or education opportunities. This can reduce family income and make it harder to plan for the future.
Childcare Providers
Many childcare providers have little room in their budgets as costs for workers, buildings, food and supplies rise. When they cannot hire or keep enough caregivers, they may have to serve fewer children even when families are waiting.
Infants, Toddlers & Young Children
Quality early care helps young children learn, grow and build social skills. When care is hard to find, San Diego families may struggle to give children consistent support during the first five years, when the brain grows quickly.
Understanding San Diego’s Childcare Shortage
Available Care, Costs & Workers
Parent-Choice Childcare Vouchers
Help paying for childcare. San Diego families could choose the provider that best meets their needs, including licensed childcare centers, licensed family childcare homes and some care that does not require a license.
Childcare Provider Stipends
Payments to help childcare providers hire and keep workers and continue serving local families.
Early Childhood Mental & Behavioral Health
Mental and behavioral health services for young children, including programs run through First 5 San Diego.
Child Safety & Development
Programs that help young children stay safe, learn and grow during their earliest years.
Voter Considerations
Voters may think about questions like these:
- What role should government play in helping families find and afford childcare?
- Is a county sales tax the right way to pay for childcare services?
- How would childcare vouchers and provider payments work?
- Would the funding create more childcare spaces or mainly help current providers stay open?
- How should the county measure whether childcare is easier to find and afford?
FAQs
Infants and toddlers require lower child-to-staff ratios. That makes their care more expensive. Worker shortages, high costs and limited space can also keep providers from adding more openings.
Costs vary based on a child’s age, the type of care and where a family lives. A 2022 regional study estimated that full-time center care for two young children (one infant and one preschooler), without financial help, cost $33,929 a year.
A provider may be licensed to care for more children than it can actually serve. A worker shortage, high costs or hours that do not match families’ needs can leave some licensed spaces unused.
Head Start is a federally funded program for eligible children from birth to age 5 and their families. It provides early learning and other support. This program has its own income eligibility and is for low-income families. Changes in federal funding or program rules could reduce local services and put more pressure on other childcare programs.
Measure B could fund childcare vouchers for families, payments to help providers hire and keep workers, and mental and behavioral health services for young children.
No. Measure B would provide funding for childcare and early childhood programs, but it would not guarantee a space for every child. Access would still depend on available providers, workers, program rules and whether a family qualifies for support.
Get the facts. Stay informed.
Sign up for Measure B updates, research and community stories from San Diego Foundation.
