News
Immediate Financial Assistance available to qualifying households. Still needed: Donations and volunteer support are needed for those displaced by the floods. Help those in need through the following Storm Relief Donations
- Community Foundation for Monterey County: Storm Relief Fund https://www.cfmco.org/impact/montereycountystormrelieffund/
- Community Foundation Santa Cruz County: https://www.cfscc.org/funds/disaster-fund
ALL IN Monterey County: Donation Distribution Center at Monterey Fairgrounds: https://www.facebook.com/allinmonterey
For Educators
- Disaster Guide for Immigrant Californians: The CDSS released an updated Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians in English and Spanish, providing information about the various types of federal, state, and local disaster assistance available in California. Although some resources are restricted to individuals or households with eligible immigration status, there are many services available to all Californians impacted by disasters.
- Calling all Monterey County licensed family child care educators and centers! Quality Matters Monterey has released the 2023-24 application for new Quality Matters sites. Join a community of ECE professionals, receive coaching, technical assistance, stipends, and resources to support your professional growth. Learn more about Quality Matters and watch this video for highlights.
- CPIN provides free ECE classes for educators. Get your professional development hours and learn new ways to work effectively with children and families. Check out their calendar for upcoming events in Region 5, which includes Monterey County.
- Do you know someone who is thinking about providing care for children? Monterey County is in need of providers who are thinking of starting a family child care home. The Nurture virtual training provides support and technical assistance, which also provides funds to help you start! Deadline to register is April 17! Contact [email protected] or 510-996-2361 for more information.
- Family Matters offers tools to help families build awareness of choosing quality early care and education of their choice for a strong start to kindergarten and beyond. Take a look at the resources and training opportunities for families.
- Need the latest COVID-19 info for early care and education? The most current information from the California Department of Public Health is here. Quarantine and Isolation guidance covers everyone including child care, schools and businesses.
- The next monthly open door session with mental health consultants (IECMHC) are available for caregivers with questions, concerns, and challenges about young children. Join them via zoom on April 19, 6:00pm-7:00pm
- ECE Community College students: ECE Career Educational Support grants are available for help with tuition & textbooks. The Child Development Training Consortium is offering these funds on a first come first served basis.
For Families
- CalFresh Food Benefits: Some individuals and families were eligible to receive federally-funded Disaster CalFresh food benefits. Although the disaster benefit is ending, you can see what you will be receiving after the disaster.
- Did you know that TK is the largest cohort among all grades? Read What families should know about TK in this EdSource article.
- Confused about Preschool, UPK, and TK? Choosing a quality program for your child is one of the most important decisions a family can make. Learn about early education and child care options for your child at any of the following zoom trainings hosted by MCOE from 6:30pm-7:30pm:
- The parenting Connection of Monterey County invites you to their annual Birth & Family Fair. Join them on Saturday, May 6 from 11:00am-3:00pm to learn more about resources in our community for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and the parenting journey. Please help share this opportunity with the community.
- It’s not too early to enroll in summer activities! Check out the Y’s offerings including summer camps and other activities.
- Summer Camps have fun activities for kids when school is out. Check out the Spring Parent Magazine Summer Camp Guide.
- Connect with other moms and their children (0-5) at the Maternal Well-Being play groups. In person and ZOOM groups are being offered. Learn more or call Sandra Avina at (831) 796-6118.
- Fun activities for you and your family are happening at the Salinas Library. Check out their calendar of events for times and dates.
- Looking for child care? Go to Montereycountychildcare.org or Mychildcareplan.org for help finding the right care for your child.
For All
- The Red Cross has immediate financial assistance for households impacted by the floods. Share this information with your community to get them the help they need.
- Monterey County needs businesses that support families, both behind the scenes with strong family policies and in the public eye as a service to families. Ready to apply to become a Bright Beginnings Family Friendly Employer? It’s easy! Learn more and certify your business here. Child Care businesses are encouraged to apply!
- Are you or others you know interested in starting a child care business? MAOF is recruiting potential family child care homes and is offering free training, marketing, and up to $1,000 to new or expanding child care programs in Monterey County. Learn more or call MAOF at (831) 757-0775.
- Need to find a COVID-19 testing or vaccine clinic in Monterey County? Visit MontereyCountyVaccines.com or find a location in the flyers: Free Testing and Free Vaccination sites.
Monterey County Vaccines By the Numbers
Overall, 81.3% of the eligible population in Monterey County have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. For more details on COVID health data, visit the Health Departments website here. Stay informed on all things COVID-19 on the Monterey County COVID-19 portal.
COVID-19 Information
COVID-19 Vaccine Information ➡️ click here to learn more…
General COVID-19 & Public Health ➡️ click here to learn more…
Resources & Tools
Financial Relief for Families ➡️ click here to learn more…
All Ages Learning & Development Supports ➡️ click here to learn more…
Resilience & Mental Health Resources ➡️ click here to learn more…
Child Care & Education Quality & Business Tools ➡️ click here to learn more…
Policy & Advocacy ➡️ click here to learn more…
Our goal is to ensure that young children have quality, nurturing, and safe child care and education during and post-pandemic. For more information about this effort and the coalition behind it, please visit our web hub here.
News and resources are shared below. Previous Weekly Digests are available here.
If you have information, flyers, or events you would like to share in this publication, please contact or send information to: [email protected].
Want more information from Bright Beginnings? Stay up-to-date and join the mailing list for the BB Weekly Recovery Coalition Digest, Maternal Mental Health Task Force, and the BB Quarterly Update.
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 Monterey County
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].