Midday Edition Special: COVID-19 And The Childcare Crisis

For many parents of young children, the pandemic has made childcare the most challenging issue of their lives. For some who have kept their kids home, caregiving has affected their ability to work. For others who don’t have the option to work at home the health risk posed by sending their child to day care has to be weighed against loss of income. And, the childcare centers and the people who operate them have lost income and are struggling to stay open.

KPBS Investigative reporter Claire Trageser has been reporting on this issue and on Monday on Midday Edition she moderates a special program, “COVID-19 And The Childcare Crisis.”

THE PANEL

Dr. Lea Austin, the director of the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley where she leads research and policy agenda aimed at improving the status of early educators. She has extensive experience in the areas of workforce development, racial equity, early childhood leadership competencies and curricula, and public policy and administration.

Rebecca Fielding-Miller, an assistant professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine's division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health. Her research examines structural drivers of HIV and gender-based violence in the United States and sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on the intersection of race, gender, and economic inequality.

Randy Lum, a scientist, husband, and father of two children ages 1 and 3.

Holly Weber, the owner and operator of Magic Hours Children's Center. She began her career as an expert in early childhood education management in 1990. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science with an emphasis in early childhood education.

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