February 7, 2025
Menlo Park City Council
701 Laurel Street
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Dear Mayor Combs, Vice Mayor Nash, and Honorable Members of the Menlo Park City Council,
I am submitting my public comment on Agenda Item G in strong support of the recommendations in The Future of Early Learning and Care in Menlo Park report from Solutionary Advisors and urge the City Council to adopt these strategies to strengthen Menlo Park’s child care infrastructure.The report provides a clear, data-driven roadmap to address challenges at Belle Haven Child Development Center (BHCDC) and Menlo Children’s Center (MCC) while ensuring long-term accessibility and sustainability. It highlights ongoing shifts in the child care landscape—including remote work, the expansion of Transitional Kindergarten, and persistent issues of cost and access—that continue to impact families and providers. To meet these challenges, working families need easy access to clear, up-to-date information to connect with providers offering high-quality, affordable care that supports their child’s development and aligns with their schedules, including flexible full-day options where needed.
At the county level, leaders are also taking action to address these longstanding challenges. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Commission on the Status of Womens Fund the Future report in October 2024, affirming that child care is essential to economic stability, particularly for women, single mothers, and families of color. In December, the Board created a staff position to implement the Action Plan for Women and Children, prioritizing expanded child care access as a key strategy for economic growth and family well-being. Menlo Park has an opportunity to align with and build on these efforts.
As we look to the future, there is already a countywide roadmap in development to guide long-term solutions. The San Mateo County Child Care Blueprint, led by a multi-sector coalition of public and private partners, is shaping a comprehensive strategy to expand high-quality, affordable child care. Supported by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, First 5, 4Cs, Build Up, SMCOE, and philanthropic organizations such as CZI and SVCF, the Blueprint will provide data-driven, community-informed solutions to help local governments plan for the future of child care infrastructure.
To ensure that Menlo Park is well-positioned within these broader efforts, I urge the City Council to seriously consider the recommendations from Solutionary Advisors, while ensuring alignment with countywide strategies:
* Strengthen outreach and engagement to ensure families can easily find and access available child care options, improving enrollment and better utilizing existing slots.
* Expand infant and toddler care capacity to address the unmet demand for high-quality early learning options.
* Implement affordability measures such as sliding scales to make child care accessible to families at all income levels.
* Increase access to flexible scheduling and full-day care options that align with parents work schedules and provide continuity of care for young children.
These strategies are a long-term investment in Menlo Park’s economic stability and community well-being. Studies show that every $1 invested in child care generates $1.88 in economic activity, reinforcing that child care is not just a service but a critical piece of public infrastructure. By adopting these recommendations, Menlo Park has an opportunity to create lasting benefits for families, employers, and the local economy while ensuring that Belle Haven Child Development Center (BHCDC) and Menlo Children’s Center (MCC)—valuable and beloved public programs—are positioned to thrive and continue meeting the needs of children and working families in the future. I appreciate the City Council’s leadership in addressing these challenges and urge the Council to take decisive action in adopting these strategies to support sustainable child care solutions for Menlo Park families.
Sincerely,
Dayna Chung
Menlo Park Resident, Executive Director of Community Equity Collaborative & Member of the Commission on the Status of Women for San Mateo County
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Dayna Chung (Pronouns: she/her/hers)
Community Equity Collaborative
Co-Founder & Executive Director
www.communityequitycollaborative.org
*What are pronouns and why are they in my email signature? More information.
