Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) will host a virtual roundtable conversation on childcare, early learning, and their impact on Minnesota families. Even before the pandemic, the shortage of affordable, accessible childcare in Minnesota was a serious concern for policy experts and legislators. In the intervening months, that shortage has reached crisis levels, with disastrous repercussions for working families in our state and across the country.

Without adequate policy solutions, the child care crisis could hamstring our economy for generations. To that end, Congress is currently considering the President’s American Families Plan, a sweeping package of legislation that would make unprecedented investments in working families.

THE CRISIS:

• Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 400,000 more women have left the workforce compared to men, in large part due to childcare responsibilities
• Absent congressional action, employment for women will not reach pre-pandemic levels until 2024, two years after it is projected to do so for men
• Minnesota has the third highest child care costs in the country, averaging $16,945 per child annually

THE EVENT:
"The Return on Investments in Kids and Families," a solutions-focused virtual roundtable conversation about childcare and early learning and their impact on Minnesota families with...

• Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03)
• Clare Sanford, Director, Community and Government Relations, New Horizon Academy
• Bharti Wahi, Executive Director, Children’s Defense Fund of Minnesota
• Debra Fitzpatrick, Policy and Legislative Affairs Director, Children’s Defense Fund of Minnesota
• Ryan Nunn, Assistant Vice President, Community Development and Engagement, Minneapolis Federal Reserve
• Art Rolnick, Senior Fellow, Humphrey School of Public Affairs

WATCH HERE