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The July FOCUS Forum featured three dedicated and brilliant panelists whom discussed the state of child care in Onondaga County. Child care has been a constant struggle for working adults, and the COVID-19 pandemic placed additional strain on the system as parents worked from home and daycares closed. Child care therefore is a pressing and multifaceted issue in our county that requires holistic solutions. Topics that were covered in this forum included the importance of the early childhood system, detailed information regarding child care in Onondaga County, services provided by the County, and a report on Governor Cuomo’s Child Care Availability Task Force from Task Force member Sarah Merrick.
Panelists for the FOCUS Forum include Laurie Black, Director of the Early Childhood Alliance (ECA); Sarah Merrick, Commissioner of the Onondaga County Department of Social Services – Economic Security; and Lori Schakow, Executive Director of Child Care Solutions. The 77th New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul graciously gave opening remarks at the beginning of the forum.