Future of Child Care & Solutions to Move Forward | A KPBS Parents Event

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You're invited to Future of Child Care &amp; Solutions to Move Forward | A KPBS Parents Event. Refreshments provided.

Southwestern College

The child care crisis continues and solutions aren’t coming fast enough. Join us as KPBS editor Claire Trageser moderates a panel discussion on what to do about it. We’ll discuss the current state of the child care crisis in San Diego and what solutions might be able to move us forward so that all families in the region can access quality care.F﻿ree parking. Free child care. Refreshments provided.Panelists (learn more about our panelists below):- Courtney Baltiyskyy, Vice President of Policy &amp; Advocacy, YMCA of San Diego County- Tina Ngo Bartel, Director of the Center of Excellence (COE), San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges- Connie Serrano, Child care Provider and Owner of Sunshine's Preschool- Tessa Tinkler, Director of Research for The Nonprofit Institute, University of San Diego - Claire Trageser, Deputy Investigations Team and Digital Fellowship Editor, KPBS Venue details: This event will take place at Southwestern College in conference room L238. Free parking will be available. Chula Vista <a href="https://www.swccd.edu/about-swc/campus-maps-and-directions/chula-vista-campus/_files/cv-campus-map-jan27-2023.pdf" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Campus Map</a> and <a href="https://www.swccd.edu/about-swc/campus-maps-and-directions/chula-vista-campus/index.aspx" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Directions</a>

Dr. Tessa Tinkler serves as Director of Research for The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. With a background in education and psychology, she has twenty years of experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation in PreK-12 schools and nonprofit organizations. Her recent work has included research in childcare and early childhood education, the economic impact of the nonprofit sector, and trust-building in funder-grantee relationships.

As the Director of the Center of Excellence (COE) for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges, Dr. Tina Ngo Bartel oversees data and research initiatives that support evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement. Her work at the COE helps colleges develop programs that meet employers’ workforce needs and advance students’ economic and social mobility. The COE produces critical studies such as the "Childcare Industry Workforce Needs," "Recession-Resilient Jobs," "Equity Gaps in Priority Jobs and Programs," and "Teacher/Education Occupations." With over 10 years of research and project management experience, Tina has brought in more than $20 million in grants to the San Diego-Imperial region for education and workforce development.

Courtney Baltiyskyy (she/ her) is an advocate for children, youth, and their families. She has over 15 years of experience in child and youth program development and is now the Vice President of Policy and Advocacy with the YMCA of San Diego County. Courtney helps strategize for social impact focusing on multiple policy issues including child care, expanded learning programs, and mental and behavioral health. She holds a BA from Whittier College and a MPA from San Diego State University. Courtney served in the Peace Corps in Ukraine and still works to support communities there. She also helps facilitate the Children First Collective San Diego, a local advocacy group focused on all having access to affordable, quality child care. Many would say she has built a career on leveraging the intersections between sectors through a collaborative spirit, innovative thinking, and evidence-based decision making. Connection to nature through gardening and exploring the outdoors with her two young kiddos gives her joy.

Connie Serrano has been working in the child care industry for over two decades. She worked at the Neighborhood House Association as a preschool teacher for 20 years. In early 2020, she decided to pursue her life goal of operating her own licensed home daycare and opened her doors. She saw firsthand the increasing need for child care facilities, an issue exasperated by the pandemic, and quickly outgrew her home daycare. She opened a development center serving 18 months to five years old in November 2022 and is currently looking for additional facilities to open new centers.

As Deputy Investigations Team and Digital Fellowship Editor at KPBS, Claire Trageser leads KPBS' efforts to train and support the station's award-winning journalists in developing digital-first content like podcasts, YouTube videos and data visualizations. She works collaboratively with the news team to produce and enhance investigative and enterprising stories. As a reporter, she focused on covering the child care industry and did extensive reporting on the growing childcare crisis.

Health Protocols and Recommendations:KPBS is delighted to create a memorable experience for you. We are paying close attention to local and state public health orders and CDC recommendations. We recognize that these recommendations change from time to time, based on local case positivity rates, hospitalization rates and other factors. In order to ensure the experience is safe for all, we are asking all guests, volunteers and staff to observe our health protocols and recommendations:<ul><li>Before arriving at this event please assess your health. If you observe any runny nose, cough, tickle/sore throat, fever, body aches or any other unusual symptoms, please stay home.</li></ul><ul><li>Although masking is not required, you are welcome to wear a facial covering at your discretion, including times when you cannot maintain a comfortable social distance or when indoors. If you would like a facial covering, one will be made available at our check-in table.</li></ul><ul><li>KPBS staff will routinely clean and disinfect the check-in area and other hi-touch surface areas. Hand sanitizer will be available for all to use at the check-in table.</li></ul><ul><li>If you test positive for COVID-19 up to 14 days following the event, please notify our team as soon as possible.</li></ul>These protocols are in compliance with San Diego County and SDSU guidelines. We appreciate your cooperation.