The Greater Des Moines Partnership and Young Professional Connection have partnered to offer a bimonthly series of forums on public policy issues affecting Iowa, with the first one addressing the challenges of child care. The forum is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Panelists include:

• Claudia Garcia Brown, Conmigo Early Education Center.
• Lora Patton, Child Care Resource and Referral of Central Iowa, Orchard Place.
• Mindi Vanden Bosch, Vermeer Corp.
• Dave Stone, United Way of Central Iowa, who will be the moderator.

The panelists will discuss legislative proposals to address child care and how Central Iowa can ensure accessible and affordable child care options for its workers. Registration for the forum is free. Future forums will take place on April 20, June 15, Aug. 17, Oct. 19 and Dec. 14. Topics and speaker information will be announced closer to the date of each forum.