Patagonia, UC Santa Barbara, Cottage Health Join United Way Coalition to Discuss Childcare’s Economic Impact

United Way of Santa Barbara County welcomed 40+ local community leaders in business, government, and  early childhood and education to hear from a panel of childcare experts, moderated by City of Goleta  Councilmember James Kyriaco.  

Representatives from the region’s largest employers and childcare  sector experts joined United Way’s Brighter Futures Childcare Coalition meeting on August 19th at the  Santa Barbara County Education Office for a panel discussion concerning workforce, business, and  community impacts of childcare. Over 40 representatives were in attendance and joined United Way staff,  consultants, and leadership from First 5 Santa Barbara County.  

Panel members included Sheryl Shushan from Patagonia, Yukiko Irie from Cottage Health and the Orfalea  Children’s Center, Annette Muse from UC Santa Barbara, Adrianna Foss with the Audacious Foundation,  Meredith Lipnik with Moms First, and Christina Latner a representative from SLO Family Friendly  Workplaces. The panel was moderated by City of Goleta City Councilmember James Kyriaco, a longtime  advocate for local childcare solutions.  

“Today’s discussion brough together local businesses, both large and small, along with early education  advocates to talk about what is possible to increase access to affordable, quality childcare for working  families,” said City of Goleta Councilmember James Kyriaco. “I look forward to the work of the Brighter  Futures Initiative and United Way of Santa Barbara County as they continue advocating for children and families locally.”  

Patagonia, represented on the morning’s childcare panel, is an innovative leader in employer-sponsored  childcare. Sheryl Shushan, Senior Director of Global Family Services, joined the discussion, emphasizing the company’s belief that “what is right for children is also good for business.” Patagonia has provided  on-site childcare to company employees for multiple decades and now serves over 200 children across  three of its centers.  

“Patagonia grew out of a love for fun and adventure in wild places. As time went on, employees’ children  were showing up in meetings and being toted around in backpacks and became a part of the workplace  culture,” said Shushan. “As more children joined the community, it became clear that parents needed  support and their children needed to play and learn alongside nurturing caregivers, so onsite childcare  opened at our headquarters in Ventura, Calif., in 1983. Today, children are still a part of our culture, and  Patagonia supports working parents by offering benefits like paid parental leave, childcare stipends and  subsidies, and onsite childcare for children 0-5 years old in three locations.” 

The panel discussion highlighted numerous opportunities in solution building in the childcare space,  including various models, revenue streams, systems, and infrastructure options. The panel also raised the  importance of a strong childcare sector in overall community economic health, with significant impacts  on employee retention, workforce health, and individual financial security. According to recent data from  the Bipartisan Policy Center, the cumulative impact on households, businesses, and tax revenues of the  undersupply of childcare spaces in Santa Barbara County are estimated to reach up to $305,589,000  annually. (United Way, Child Care Assessment, 2022) 

“The need for a strong, quality childcare system is well-known,” shared Steve Ortiz, United Way’s  President & CEO. “As a community, it is our responsibility to come together to find collaborative ways to make sure that children and families have access to the tools they need to thrive. Childcare is at the  center of so many economic, health, and academic indicators, and is an effective investment towards this  goal.’ 

United Way has a longstanding commitment to creating collaborative solutions that impact systemic  issues in childhood development and early learning. In 2023, United Way expanded its systems level  efforts in the childcare sector in partnership with the County of Santa Barbara and First 5 Santa Barbara  County. The organization formalized its childcare programs and partnerships through the Brighter Futures  Childcare Initiative, a cross-county multi-sector effort to strengthen Santa Barbara County’s childcare  environment. The initiative now includes multiple impact areas, informed by United Way’s Brighter Futures  Childcare Coalition, a network of over 25 representatives from business, social, and government agencies  that convenes to strategize and foster innovation in collaborative solution-building.  

In 2024, the initiative launched the Brighter Futures Childcare Fund, a tiered approach to investments in  the childcare sector focused on remediating systemic barriers to accessibility and affordability. The fund  provides support to employers seeking to expand or launch childcare facilities, childcare providers and  centers launching or expanding facilities, business and technical support and training to support key  stakeholders in the workforce, and scholarships to support families in affording quality childcare.  

As the Fund approaches its first anniversary of operation, it has already generated over 250 new childcare  spaces and has invested over $800,000 in the local sector, including facilities grants for employers or  providers and childcare scholarships to local families. United Way looks forward to continuing its work in  the childcare sector alongside its growing network of partners in business, government, and philanthropy.  

Brighter Futures Childcare Coalition Members 

Buellton Chamber of Commerce, Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce, City of Goleta, City of Santa  Barbara, City of Lompoc, City of Buellton, City of Solvang, City of Santa Maria, City of Guadalupe, City of  Santa Ynez, City of Orcutt, California Senate, District 21, Office of Supervisor Laura Capps, County of  Santa Barbara, CSUCI, Allan Hancock College, Guadalupe Unified School District, Salvation Army, Office of  Assemblymember Greg Hart, Santa Barbara Foundation, Children’s Resource & Referral of SB County,  Carpinteria Children Project, Future Leaders of America, Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation, Santa  Barbara County Education Office, First 5 Santa Barbara County, Eileen Monahan Consulting, Maria  Chesley Consulting , United Way of Santa Barbara County