SMC Report Connects Childcare/Caregiving to Women’s Economic Well-being

The San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) released Fund the Future, a report on the findings of a two-year project studying women’s experiences with child care, caregiving, and economic equity. The report’s findings and recommendations were based on survey responses from more than 600 San Mateo County women, 34 in-depth interviews of individuals and organizations, and feedback from participants in the CSW RISE 2024 Women’s Leadership Conference. Fund the Future will serve as an advisory report for San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors. 

Childcare was one of the report’s key focus areas, based on CSW’s finding that San Mateo County has a shortage of childcare providers numbering 2,829, and 17,157 fewer childcare spaces than needed. The survey of 600+ women included questions designed to understand the impact of childcare and caregiving issues on the well-being of San Mateo County’s women. Childcare issues cited by survey respondents included the following: 

• 88% of the women surveyed for the Fund the Future study stated that issues related to childcare and caregiving had a significant impact on their economic and personal well-being. 
• 30-40% of respondents had to reduce work hours or decline promotions because of childcare constraints. 
• Issues related to childcare resulted in loss of income, housing instability, and heightened levels of stress and stress-related illnesses.   

In its final report, the Commission on the Status of Women pointed to San Mateo County’s track record of investing in expanded access to high-quality childcare. The report recommended additional actions to strengthen the childcare sector and improve access to childcare for San Mateo County women and families, such as: 

• Create and invest in an Office of Women & Children.
• Create a blueprint for childcare.
• Prioritize childcare programs and work toward a childcare infrastructure.
• Build on San Mateo County’s commitment to pay equity for workers by encouraging and promoting pay equity across businesses and nonprofits located in San Mateo County.
• Increase awareness of CalSavers and CalKids and continue to support guaranteed basic income programs.
• Expand and scale programs that address the shortage of early childhood educators, including career pathway programs, apprenticeships, and child development associate programs with pathways to 4-year degree programs.

The full report, including research and survey data, details about the report recommendations, and information about the County’s Commission on the Status Women can be found on the San Mateo County CSW website.