Child care access is one of the first issues the city’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Social Infrastructure will look at, the group decided Thursday.
It was the group’s second meeting, and commissioners worked to narrow down their areas of focus, which included social services access, local racism issues and elder abuse.
In tackling the child care issue first, research consultants from Praxis Strategy Group will gather data to quantify the problem, including how much child care is available locally and how many parents need to put their children in child care.
Lack of proper child care is an issue across the country, not just in Grand Forks, said Bret Weber, City Council member and co-chairman of the social infrastructure commission.
One possible solution would be to find volunteer senior citizens to provide child care, which would also address a problem of senior citizens’ isolation, Weber said.
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Ray Siver, who is representing the Grand Forks Senior Center on the commission, said that idea could work.
Another way to possibly address the child care problem would be for the commission to gather a proposal for legislative funding or changes, Weber said.
The commission has several other topics it plans to address with the hope of concluding work by November or December. Its next meeting is May 29, and more information on the commission is available at www.grandforksgov.com .
