COVID-19 Response & Recovery for Child Care & Wellbeing
Our goal is to ensure that young children have quality, nurturing, and safe child care and education during the pandemic. For more information about this effort and the coalition behind it, please visit our web hub here.
If you have information, flyers, or events you would like to share in this publication please contact Laura@BrightBeginningsMC.org.
This Week’s Highlights
A few highlights from this last week are shared below. Previous Weekly Digests are available here.
Stay up-to-date and join the mailing list for the Bright Beginnings’ Weekly Recovery Coalition Digest, Maternal Mental Health Task Force, and the Bright Beginnings’ Quarterly Update here. It’s free!
Monterey County Vaccines By the Numbers
Overall, 79.6% of the eligible population in Monterey County have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Stay informed with the Monterey County COVID-19 portal.
News
- Schools are ready for kids, and taking all of the necessary precautions to keep them healthy. Here are a few things that can help your child get ready for the new year:
- Vaccinate your child against COVID-19
- Keep your child home if they are ill
- Wash your hands and your child’s hands
- Keep your distance in large gatherings or wear a face mask
- There is still time! Preschool, Transitional Kinder and Kindergarten programs are still enrolling students for in-person learning. Contact your local school for more information. Here are some tips for a less stressful start to their first school days.
- You may be hearing that Monkey Pox is in Monterey County, however it is very rare in children. Dr. Deneen Guss, Monterey County Superintendent of Schools, has provided some information here that may reassure you.
- Middle Schools and High Schools in California have new start time requirements! As an example, the MPUSD bell schedules and more information about the reason behind the late start times is located here.
- The California Department of Public Health updated their guidance for K-12 programs on July 22. Read the full update here.
- Persons in a child care setting, regardless of vaccination status, do NOT need to quarantine after an exposure.
- All exposed persons 2 years of age and older are strongly encouraged to wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after exposure.
- Anyone who develops symptoms, even if they previously had COVID-19 or are vaccinated, should isolate and get tested.
- Join the Hartnell ECE Apprenticeship Program and get a paid job in ECE while taking ECE courses in the evening. We need ECE teachers who love working with young children. Share thisflyer.
- Looking to make a difference in Monterey County? Bright Beginnings is looking for an Integrated Services Program Manager! Help spread the word and view job announcement here.
- The Parenting Connection of Monterey County will be hosting in-person and virtual Wellness Groups for parents in English and Spanish that are struggling with any of the emotional stressors that can result from becoming a new parent. As always, the Support Warmline is available to receive voice and text messages 24hrs a day from both families and professionals: (831) 783-5933. Register here.
- English:
- 2nd Thursday of the month, 6:00pm – 7:00pm via Zoom
- 3rd Thursday of the month, 10:00am – 11:00am at Parents’ Place Library, Pacific Grove Adult Education
- Español:
- 2nd Thursday of the month, 10:00am – 11:00am at the NEW PCMC Play and Learn classroom, 1212 Riker St, (Temple Beth El), Salinas
- Access MCOE’s Early Care and Education Department virtual magazine for future professional development opportunities available for ECE providers here!
- There are additional funds available for materials, training, and fees associated with starting new and expanding child care programs in Monterey County! Contact Maria Ortiz at the Resource and Referral at 831-757-0775 for information
- The Monterey County Preschool Service Corps (PSC) program is looking for new AmeriCorps members for the 2022-23 year to support language and literacy development in partnering preschools. Visit Monterey County’s United Way website or contact Taylor Jonte-Saiz at (831) 757-3206 x 204 for more information.
- Check out the Quality Matters calendar for future professional development opportunities available for ECE providers!
- Need to find a testing or vaccine clinic in Monterey County? Visit MontereyCountyVaccines.com or find your location in the bilingual flyers below:
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…
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 sonja@brightbeginningsmc.org.