COVID-19 Response & Recovery Plan
Our goal is to ensure that young children have quality, nurturing, and safe child care and education as physical distancing and other guidelines continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The next Coalition Call is Wednesday, September 9, 1:30-2:45pm. If you are not already receiving calendar items, please RSVP here.
For more information about this effort and the coalition behind it, please visit our web hub here.
This Week’s Highlights
By the Numbers
76 local child care centers are operating now (29% of total registered) — 1 more since last week.
291 local child care homes are operating now (89% of total registered) — 4 more since last week.
751 referrals completed since the start of shelter-in-place — 14 more since last week.
358 early childhood education providers enrolled for supplies vouchers — 1 more since last week.
- 37 child care centers, 284 child care homes, and 37 family, friends & neighbors
$414,645 has been disbursed for emergency supplies.
$46,876 is still available for emergency supplies.477 new users have accessed the Monterey County Child Care Website between August 1 and August 31.
News
- Infant Family Early Childhood Mental Health with First 5 Monterey County: This training series is designed to strengthen a diverse workforce of Monterey County partners across all systems. Offered virtually and free for those who work with children prenatal through age five and their families. Participants must live or work in Monterey County. Enroll here by this Friday, September 4.
- Join the next Quality Matters cohort! Open and free to licensed Family Child Care Educators and Center-based Educators. Apply here by this Monday, September 7. Participants will receive coaching, technical support, and materials to improve their child development program, and will become part of the ongoing Quality Matters community.
- California Early Childhood Policy Council Advisory Committee meetings are open to anyone interested in providing input to the development of Early Learning Systems in California:
- Quality Matters is offering new professional development opportunities for all child caregivers and educators:
- Interested in opening a Family Child Care Home? Learn more about how from the local Resource & Referral agency, MAOF, in a two-hour orientation on Thursday, September 16, 6:00-8:00pm. RSVP at 831 757-0775.
- Early education and the needs of early educators and caregivers are essential to an equitable, resilient, vibrant Monterey County. Various Coalition members are ensuring these perspectives are integrated in economic development and emergency planning countywide, participating in various committees such as:
- Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy — led by the County Administrative Office
- Community Resilience Plan — led by the County Office of Emergency Services
- Regions Rising Together — led by the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership
- Digital Equity (DEQ) Team — led by the Monterey County Office of Education
Resources
All Ages Distance Learning Supports
- It is estimated that 97% of all students will engage in distance learning starting in the fall.
- Distance learning looks different for every school, every grade, and every family. Quality Matters has shared resources for families and child care and education providers, click here and scroll to the bottom to learn more.
- PVUSD released “8 Tips for Families During Distant Learning in Mixteco” — watch the video here and please share.
- We as a community are getting creative on how to provide child care and distance learning supports for children of all ages. While we don’t have all the solutions to this complex puzzle, here are a couple resources (available in multiple languages soon):
- Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is leading the way in providing child care to its employees. Read more in the Monterey Herald, and check out a FAQ for Temporary, School-sponsored Child Care.
- Enrollment for school-based early learning is still open! Families enrolled in preschool, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten are eligible for free meals and have access to learning tools. Some schools are online, some are packet-based, some are a blend. Contact your school to find out more. Enroll in MCOE Early Learning Programs (Head Start & State Preschool) here.
- An Alisal Union School District Kindergarten teacher created a Spanish and English site full of fun, music-filled learning activities called Kinder Rockets. It’s gone nationwide!
Child Care & Education Quality & Business Tools
- Monterey County Office of Education and the Monterey County Health Department have provided a quick scenario map to help programs respond to cases of COVID-19. Use this communication and action sheet to help you make the right decisions for families and children in your community.
- Guidelines for cohorts of children were released on August 25 by the California Department of Public Health with more information on group sizes including those in licensed child care and exempt child care programs on school campuses. A cohort is defined as no more than 14 children and no more than 2 adults for in-person supervision and limited instruction. Click here for an overview of guidance for group sizes and face coverings.
- Find the most recent guidelines from the California Department of Public Health for day camps, schools, and child care providers.
- Interested in joining the AmeriCorps for Monterey County? United Way is looking for 12 people to join the Preschool Service Corps. This position is for 11 months and includes a stipend adding up to $16,000 for the year, health care, and child care benefits. There is a high need for members in King City, Greenfield, and Salinas. Adults living in the community or outside of Monterey County are encouraged to apply. Part-time and full-time opportunities available.
- Child Care & Education Businesses: There are still funds available through the Monterey County Works-Small Business Rapid Response Grant Fund. Small business owners can receive grants up to $2,500 to support their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find the grant guidelines and application here.
- Emergency supplies vouchers for all types of child care providers (except programs of school districts) are still available and are valid through September 30. To apply for funds, complete this form as soon as possible and email it to [email protected]. A specialist will follow up to confirm your application and details for receiving funds, as available. More information for school districts is coming soon.
Children’s Activities
- As of late August, there were over several hundred active fires throughout California with three of those raging in Monterey County. First 5 Monterey County is here to support the health and safety of our community. Check out their Wildfire Resources webpage for information for families as we navigate through this challenging time.
- COVID-19 Child Care & Wellbeing Response & Recovery coalition partners have posted valuable resources on how to talk about diversity and racism with young children. Check out what First 5 Monterey County has shared:
- The Learning Resources for Children and Families page has activities for children to do at home along with anti-racism resources that include how to talk to children about racial bias, how to talk about race, and books that explain race and diversity.
- The Learning Resources for Children and Families page has activities for children to do at home along with anti-racism resources that include how to talk to children about racial bias, how to talk about race, and books that explain race and diversity.
- Engage children with the Census activity book in both English and Spanish. It is quite cute and fun! Find more information through First 5 Monterey County here.
Resilience and Mental Health Resources
- Dr. Susan Swick from Ohana, Montage Health’s new child/adolescent behavioral health program, offers several videos for parents to support their children during the pandemic. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to find videos on topics like managing tech time or handling strong emotions.
- Social Emotional Learning is a critical part of supporting the children and families in our community. This Social-Emotional Roadmap provides critical practices for reopening with equity focused strategies as we move forward toward healing.
- Resiliency supports for parents, educators — just about anyone, really — are available through the Health Department’s Forward Together Initiative. Click here for more information.
Public Health
- PVUSD released information about the COVID-19 in Mixteco — watch the video here and please share!
- PGUSD high school students are making free protective visors for Monterey County. Place your order here.
- Free COVID-19 testing is available. Child care and education providers are strongly encouraged to get tested. Appointments are required. Register by clicking here or by calling 888-634-1123. More information, including times and locations, can be found here on these posters — please post and share within your networks.
It Takes a Coalition
The emergency response providing coordinated solutions for child care and education is led by a coalition of early childhood champions, united under the Bright Beginnings Strategic Framework to better support all young children and their families, to prepare every child for life and school. This coalition is ever-growing:
4th Monterey County Supervisorial District
30th California Assembly District
Building Healthy Communities
CAPSLO
Carmel Unified School District
Child Care Planning Council
Child Development Centers and Continuing Development Incorporated
Children’s Council
Early Development Services
First 5 Monterey County
Go Kids, Inc.
Health Department
MAOF Resource & Referral & Alternative Payment Program
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
Natividad Medical Center
North Monterey County Unified School District
Office of Education – Early Learning Program
Office of Education – Educational Services
Public Health Office
Quality Matters
Salinas City Elementary School District
Social Services – Child Abuse Prevention Council
United Farmworkers Foundation
United Way of Monterey County
YMCA
A special thanks to the coordinating team and major funders: Bright Beginnings Backbone, Child Care Planning Council, First 5 Monterey County, MAOF Resource & Referral, Quality Matters, and the United Way of Monterey County.
For more information, please contact [email protected].