Governor's Child Care Task Force to address state shortages Share Updated: 6:59 PM CDT May 4, 2021 Share Updated: 6:59 PM CDT May 4, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS CREATED A CHILD CARE CRISIS IN IOWA. SO, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS RESPONDED WITH A NEW CHILD CARE TASK FORC KCCI’S CYNTHIA FODOR SPOKE WITH A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE TODAY ABOUT THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT. THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED THE TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE CHILDCAR SHORTAGE IN THE STATE. WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHILDCARE COALITION THAT SAYS THE GROUP HAS 100 DAYS TO COME UP WITH BIG, BOLD RECOMMENDATIONS. THEY HAVE BEEN PUSHING LAWMAKERS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS TO PROVIDE STATE FUNDING. >> PRIOR TO THE COVID RELATED ISSUES, WE ALREA HAVE -- IOWA HAS A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF WORKING PARENTS. IT IS REALLY JUST ESCALATING THE ISSUE AND IT BROUGHT IT TO LIGHT THAT THE CHILDCARE SYSTEM CRUMBLED DURING COVID AND WE HAVE TO START TO REPLENISH THE AVAILABILITY AND THE ACCESSIBILITY OF CHILDCARE AND CERTAINLY THE CHILDCARE WORKFORCE BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH. SINCE COVID, MANY PARENTS HAVE DECIDED NOT TO RETURN TO WORK BECAUSE CHILDCARE IS JUST TOO EXPENSIVE. THE IOWA HOUSE HAS APPROVED A NUMBER OF BILLS TO HELP FAMILIES BUT THOSE APPEAR TO HAVE STALLED SO FAR IN THE SENATE. THE TASK FORCE WILL