Child Care Solutions Task Force
The Child Care Solutions Task Force was established by Mayor Donna Deegan and the City of Jacksonville to address the rising cost and limited availability of childcare in Jacksonville—issues that directly affect working families, employers, and the regional economy. The group explores and makes actionable recommendations focused on access, affordability, quality, and the childcare workforce.
The Task Force is part of Mayor Deegan’s broader commitment to making Jacksonville more affordable and accessible, while supporting working families and strengthening Jacksonville’s workforce. Parents, employers, and childcare providers across the city have identified the cost and availability of childcare as major barriers keeping some parents—especially mothers—from fully participating in the workforce and creating challenges for small businesses and early learning centers. The Task Force was convened to take a deeper, coordinated look at those issues and to develop recommendations.
Task Force Overview
The City of Jacksonville and the Office of Mayor Donna Deegan have convened a coalition of childcare experts, medical professionals, community leaders, and working parents to examine the high cost of childcare in Duval County. The Task Force gathers data, hears from parents and caregivers, and recommends long-term solutions.
Focus Areas
The work of the Child Care Solutions Task Force is organized around five priority areas:
- Access & Supply – Expanding the availability of childcare options across Jacksonville, including underserved neighborhoods.
- Affordability & Financing – Identifying strategies and funding models that help families afford quality care.
- Quality & Workforce – Supporting childcare providers, improving quality, and strengthening the early childhood workforce.
- Family Navigation & Supports – Helping families understand, find, and access childcare and related support services.
- Employer & Ecosystem Partnerships – Engaging employers and community partners in solutions that support working families.
Kickoff Meeting
The Child Care Solutions Task Force held its initial meeting on November 12, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. in the Mayor’s Large Conference Room on the 4th floor of Jacksonville City Hall.
Kickoff Agenda Highlights
Discussion at the kickoff meeting included:
- Welcome & Purpose – Charge from the Mayor and expected outcomes.
- Framing & Data Snapshot – Current state of childcare access, affordability, quality, and workforce in Jacksonville.
- Problem Statement & Vision – Developing shared language on the core challenge the Task Force is working to solve.
- Working Group Formation– Organizing participants into working groups around the five priority focus areas:
- Access & Supply
- Affordability & Financing
- Quality & Workforce
- Family Navigation & Supports
- Employer & Ecosystem Partnerships
Task Force Members
| Name | Affiliation / Organization |
|---|---|
| Betty Burney | Child Care Center Consultant |
| Angel Carro | Early Learning Coalition of Duval |
| Martha Cox | Episcopal Children’s Services |
| Cheryl Fountain | Early Learning Department, University of North Florida (UNF) |
| David Garfunkel | Jacksonville Civic Council |
| Gregory Grant | JSEB Administrator, City of Jacksonville |
| Coretta Hill | Chief Operating Officer, United Way of Northeast Florida |
| Faye Johnson | Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition |
| Lucy Klausner | Episcopal Children’s Services |
| Isaiah Oliver | Community Foundation for Northeast Florida |
| Akilah Pope | Medical Director, Florida Department of Health in Duval County (DOH Duval) |
| Dr. Natalya Roby | Chief Executive Officer, Episcopal Children’s Services |
| Sara Smith | Family Support Services |
| Cheryl Taylor | Chief Executive Officer, CareerSource Northeast Florida |
| Tawanda Washington | Florida Department of Health in Duval County (DOH Duval) |
| Kortney Wesley | Director of Government Affairs, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) |
| Yasmina White | Parent Leader |
| Colleen Wilson | Jacksonville University |
| Christine Wolfe | Family Support Services |
| LaTonya Wynn-Hall | Childcare Center Consultant |
| ReShawndia & Dontorien Mitchell | Mitchell Learning Academy |