San Mateo County taps TOOTRiS for $10M child care push

San Mateo County has chosen TOOTRiS to run a new Childcare Central Initiative backed by a $10 million investment approved by the Board of Supervisors. The effort is meant to help families find care, access financial aid and lower costs through a countywide hub and a public-private pilot for working parents.

Why it matters: - San Mateo County says its child care shortage is hurting families, employers and the local economy. - County estimates show a need for more than 1,400 infant child care slots and more than 7,500 school-age spaces. - The county estimates child care challenges cost working families about $775 million a year in lost productivity. - The new programs are designed to make child care easier to find and more affordable for working parents.

What happened: - The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $10 million child care investment. - The county selected TOOTRiS to power the new Childcare Central Initiative. - The initiative includes the SMC Child Care Hub, a countywide navigation platform expected to launch in fall 2026. - The initiative also includes the SMC Tri-Share Pilot Program, expected to launch in 2027.

The details: - The SMC Child Care Hub will give families a centralized place to search for child care. - The hub will also let families explore available financial assistance and enroll in care. - The SMC Tri-Share Pilot Program targets families who earn too much for traditional child care subsidies but still cannot afford care. - Participating employers will contribute toward child care costs. - San Mateo County will provide matching funds to help reduce expenses for eligible employees. - Employers throughout San Mateo County may be eligible to participate in the pilot. - Organizations interested in learning more are being directed to contact TOOTRiS. - TOOTRiS says it connects families to more than 230,000 licensed child care providers nationwide with real-time availability. - TOOTRiS also offers employer child care benefits aimed at improving recruitment, retention and productivity.

Between the lines: - County leaders are framing child care as core infrastructure, not just a family benefit. - The Tri-Share model spreads costs across employers, government and families, which can help reach workers who fall through existing subsidy programs. - The initiative signals that the county is trying to address child care as both an access problem and a workforce issue.

What's next: - The SMC Child Care Hub is expected to go live in fall 2026. - The SMC Tri-Share Pilot Program is expected to begin in 2027. - TOOTRiS will work with San Mateo County to help launch the programs and connect interested employers. - More details on employer participation should emerge as the pilot moves closer to launch.

The bottom line: - San Mateo County is pairing public funding with employer participation to expand child care access and ease costs for working families.