South Dakota Matters: Child care crisis in South Dakota — on online panel discussion Dec. 16, 2021

South Dakota is experiencing a crisis in regard to a lack of access to quality, affordable child care across the state, and the situation is causing great stress and pressure on working families, daycare providers and employers who are struggling to find workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further restricted access to child care in South Dakota, and as working parents struggle to find safe places to house their children during the workday, or to afford quality care for their children, some are leaving the workforce. Experts worry the entire state economy could suffer if the problem isn’t revolved.

On Wednesday, Dec. 15, South Dakota News Watch will publish a special report on the crisis, and on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Central/6:30 p.m. Mountain, News Watch will host a one-hour online panel discussion with experts who will explain the daycare crisis and discuss potential solutions to the problem.

To sign up to watch the discussion live and submit questions to the panel, please CLICK HERE. Also, the discussion will be taped and posted on Facebook for viewing at anytime after.

The event is the latest in the “South Dakota Matters” series of statewide polls and panel discussions hosted by News Watch, the state’s only independent, non-profit journalism organization.