Patty Siegel

Patty Siegel was the founder and executive director of the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network, where she played a pivotal role in shaping state and federal childcare policy. She established one of the nation's first child care resource and referral agencies, the Childcare Switchboard, which later became the Children's Council of San Francisco. Siegel's advocacy led to the passage of federal legislation creating the Child Care and Development Block Grant, providing subsidies to low-income families seeking childcare. She served on the Governor's Advisory Committee on Child Care Development and was one of the original state commissioners for the First 5 California Commission, supporting funding of education, health, and childcare programs for children under age 5 and their families. Siegel also inspired and guided the development of Parent Voices, a grassroots, parent-led effort to engage and empower parents in the policy process. She was a graduate of the University of California, Davis.

updated 2016