"Service providers across the state are sounding the alarm on California’s child care crisis. At least 6% of Humboldt County’s child care providers have permanently closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, putting further strain on already struggling providers.
Before the pandemic, 80% of Humboldt County families seeking licensed child care were unable to find a child care spot in the time frame they needed, according to 2019 data from kidsdata.org. Child care became even more scarce once the pandemic hit.
“When we first had the shutdown orders declared in March 2020, only about 30% of our child care providers were still open,” said Kerry Venegas, executive director of Changing Tides Family Services. “Right now, I would say about 73% have reopened but we have had about 6% close permanently.”
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Looking to the future, Hansen asked, “How will Humboldt County use this unique opportunity to make substantive changes for long-term impact?
“How will we leverage the multiple funding streams that will be coming, not just (American Rescue Plan) funds? How will we braid public and private funds to build a stronger Humboldt for the future?” she said. “It’s too easy to fall into the trap of finding a better band-aid for the problems in front of us in the moment … . This moment, these relatively unrestricted funds, give us a unique chance to implement prevention-focused solutions to some of the deep issues facing us.
“I’m looking forward to a community-wide conversation about how to do that,” she said.
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