(upbeat music) - PBS Utah's "Utah Insight" team explores the state's childcare crisis in a digital first series.

Reporter in-house, Lauren Steinbrecher, joins us today with more information about this important issue.

Hi Lauren.

Thank you so much for being here.

- Yeah, thanks for having me.

- Okay, so the program is going all digital?

- Yes.

Yeah, we're meeting people where they're at, and most people are watching a lot of YouTube now, and even just scrolling through reels on Instagram.

So we're doing a lot of digital first content of episodes on YouTube, reels on Instagram, Facebook, and hoping that, you know, the algorithm does its thing.

- Yeah.

Oh, I'm sure it will.

Let's, and let's talk about the childcare crisis in Utah, because this impacts so many families.

- Yes.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

So as I was kind of digging into this topic, there are just so many different facets to this and so many, like 100 different ways that I could go.

But in the main piece that we did, we highlighted two programs that, one is in Park City, one is in Salt Lake City, and really seemed to be working for those communities, and they're really innovative and actually capturing the attention of some national organizations and kind of becoming models that could really work for helping solve the crisis.

- Wow.

And so what is it they do specifically?

- Yeah, so one tackles affordability, which a lot of parents face challenges with just paying for childcare.

They're paying like a whole mortgage.

So that one subsidizes, that's in Park City, helps parents be able to afford childcare.

The other one is accessibility, so it actually puts childcare where people live.

So it's on the first floor of an affordable housing complex.

So all parents have to do is just go downstairs, drop their kids off, and then head off to work.

- Oh, wow, so some real solutions you're tapping on, which is always so good.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

Anyway, I'm so glad you're doing it.

And you follow, briefly, just three families?

- Yeah, so we follow three families and kind of the challenges that they're facing and as it relates to those programs and how those programs could really be helpful and are helping.

And yeah, we also explore other topics on social media as well.

- Wonderful.

Well, thank you so much for telling us about it.

Thanks.

- Yeah.

- And if you'd like to know more about what's coming up with the exploration by Utah Insight of childcare, can we fix it?

Go to pbsutah.org/utahinsight.

Pbsutah.org/utahinsight.

I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact."

(upbeat music) - Local events, arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

Here on Contact, we introduce you to local events and organizations that serve your neighborhood.

If you work for a nonprofit and would like to appear on our show, please visit pbsutah.org/contact.