Marin supervisors adopt five‑year childcare strategic plan to address shortages and affordability

Kelsey Lombardi, coordinator of the Marin County Childcare Commission, presented the commission’s five‑year strategic plan (2025–2030), framing child care as a public‑good issue linked to workforce stability and early brain development. Lombardi said the county’s needs assessment shows that "90 percent of a child’s brain development happens before age 5" and that local demographic data underpin urgent policy choices.

The presentation summarized the commission’s four primary goals: expand access to high‑quality early learning, make early learning available countywide, secure a stable, well‑paid early‑childhood workforce and remove barriers that keep families from accessing services. Lombardi told supervisors the assessment found about 35% of the children served are Latino and 49% are non‑Latino white, and highlighted affordability and a constrained workforce as principal barriers.

Supervisors asked for the plan’s methodology and the sources of data used in the needs assessment; Lombardi pointed to state education department data and local census/community planning information and offered to provide the evaluation methodology via the meeting materials QR code. Supervisors and members of the public pressed for clarity on sustainable funding sources and on strategies to raise provider wages and retain staff.

Public commenters and nonprofit representatives, including Parent Voices Marin, urged the board to include parents directly in decisionmaking and to provide materials in multiple languages. First 5 Marin representatives and other advocates referenced past local funding efforts and urged renewed exploration of stable revenue sources.

After discussion, Supervisor Lucan moved to accept the strategic plan; the motion was seconded and the board adopted the plan. The board instructed staff to follow up on methodology details and to return with financing options and implementation steps during upcoming budget hearings.

The county plans public outreach and follow‑up meetings (including the Childcare Means Business forum referenced in the presentation) to refine funding proposals and workforce strategies.