Our goal is to ensure that young children have quality, nurturing, and safe child care and education as physical distancing and other guidelines continue in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about the COVID Response & Recovery plan here.
Latest Weekly Digests
January 27, 2022 | COVID Response & Recovery for Child Care & Wellbeing
January 20, 2022 | COVID Response & Recovery for Child Care & Wellbeing
January 13, 2022 | COVID Response & Recovery for Child Care & Wellbeing
For past editions and more early childhood development news, click here.
- Learn and Earn by participating in Monterey County’s paid apprenticeship program in ECE! Child care careers are in high demand. Join the fast track and earn a living while you learn the skills through the ECE Pathway. Sign up here or call 831-386-7105. Share this flyer in your community!
- If you haven’t ordered your free at-home COVID test kits, what are you waiting for? Get 4 kits (2 boxes with 2 kits in each) for your family. Place an order for your household here.
- Individuals who are unable to leave their home due to a medical condition may be eligible for in-home vaccination services. Call the Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association at 831-648-3777 to schedule an appointment or call the California COVID-19 Hotline at 1-833-422-4255.
- Child care has been hit hard by the Omicron variant, as reported in an article by CalMatters. Centers are short staffed, children are getting sick, and programs are needing to close for quarantine due to the infectious nature of the virus. To help stop the spread, keep your child at home if they are sick or test positive for COVID.
- Have you experienced grief or loss? Take part in the Healing Memorial Art workshop on Saturday, January 29 from 9am-1pm at Coastal Kids Home Care. Share this flyer and register by calling 831-320-0947.
- Join the Rate and Quality Workgroup hosted by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) on Monday, January 31 from 8:30-10:30am and give your recommendations on subsidized child care rates. This workgroup will explore how the child care workforce competencies and quality standards align with reimbursement rates. Register here!
- January is Positive Parenting Month! Check out the Triple P parenting portal that provides families with positive parenting tips.
- Do you own a small business in King City? El Pajaro Community Development Corporation is offering small businesses (with 25 or fewer employees) grants up to $10,000. Access the application and eligibility requirements here. Physical copies are available at King City, City Hall. Applications are due by Monday, January 31!
- Are you a child care educator or provider? You may be eligible for an ECE Workforce Retention stipend! Learn more and apply here.
- Need to find a testing or vaccine clinic in Monterey County? Visit MontereyCountyVaccines.com or find your location in the bilingual flyers below:
- Free Testing Clinics
- Free Vaccination Clinics
- Note: some clinics are short staffed due to COVID outbreaks and may need to close on short notice
- In addition to scheduling COVID-19 vaccination appointments, My Turn is an online tool that allows Californians to schedule their flu vaccinations and find walk-in clinics in their area. Learn more about the flu vaccine with this up-to-date fact sheet from the CDC.
- With an increase in seasonal flu and COVID-19 rates, the CCLD is urging all licensees and providers to get vaccinated against the flu now even if they have already received a COVID-19 vaccine, including the COVID-19 booster. To assist with these efforts, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a statement to further inform families and communities. Be sure to continue to refer to the CCLD website for COVID-19 information and resources. Previous PINs for licensed providers can be found here.
- Can kids get the flu vaccine at the same time as they get the COVID-19 vaccine? Yes! Boston Children’s Hospital shares why, here. Go to myturn.ca.gov to schedule an appointment.
- Check out the latest version of exposure charts here for school-age kids and employees that work with children. You can review/revise a sample template for school administrators to use when there is close contact with COVID-19 here.
- There is an interactive decision tree if you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 at your school site. Check out this easy-to-follow link.
- Want to know more about the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters? Check out this link from the California Department of Public Health. For some helpful Q&A’s click here. Access the MyTurn.ca.gov website and schedule an appointment.
- The Community Foundation for Monterey County has released a COVID-19 Communications Toolkit here including flyers, social media graphics, and resources to share.
- Save this important number that you can call if you are a school or child care provider and have a potential COVID-19 exposure. Call the Communicable Disease Call Center at 831-755-4521 to report exposure, suspected cases, and for contact tracing. For general COVID-19 questions, you or your families can call the Phone Tree at 769-8700. You can also use this COVID-19 exposure guide for schools.
- Monterey County has released a quick animated vaccine video with a superhero theme. Check out the videos in English and in Spanish, and share them with your communities.
- The CDC has released new COVID-19 prevention guidelines for the K-12 school system (inclusive of TK, they just call it K-12).
- Did you misplace your COVID-19 vaccine card? Sign up for this new digital vaccine card from the California Department of Public Health! Click here to try it out!
- Check out a whole library of vaccine information in indigenous languages! Centro Bilingual and Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety at UC Davis created multilingual videos with three important messages for our community. Click here for the library of videos and share widely!
- Sharing fun and interesting materials with children is one of the best ways to engage them in learning. Check out El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center’s toolkit that includes comic book-style materials about COVID-19 vaccines for children.
- As of January 12, 2022, the CDPH updated COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools. This is in alignment with the CDC’s K-12 guidance, and supports as much in-person learning for students as possible.
- Did you or your family get an IHealth COVID-19 home test kit? Feel free to share these bilingual flyers and these videos in English and Spanish to help with the testing and reporting process.
- Take extra precautions this winter and come back to school and work healthy this new year. Follow these tips to stay safe and protect yourself, family, and friends from the COVID-19 virus.
- Upgrade your mask: Good fit and filtration continue to be the best way to get the most out of your mask. The best masks for preventing COVID-19 include the N95, KN95 and KF94.
- Get vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu: It’s your turn now! It’s recommended for everyone over six months of age to be vaccinated for the flu. You can get your flu and COVID-19 vaccines on the same day.
- My Vaccine Record is an easy way to show vaccination status at venues or businesses that require proof of vaccination. Visit myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov to get your vaccine record.
- Stay home & get tested if sick: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches), or believe you have been exposed - get tested, call your healthcare provider, and stay home and away from others. Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home from work and school if you feel ill.
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Travel tips: Delay travel (both domestic and international) until you are fully vaccinated. If you must travel before being fully vaccinated, consider getting tested before and after travel. See the CDC’s full travel guidance.
- Avoid crowded venues or areas when cases are high.
- Add your phone to the fight: Sign up for COVID-19 exposure notifications from CA Notify.
- Answer the call or text if a contact tracer from the CA COVID Team or your local health department tries to reach you.
- Check with the Monterey County Health Department about local conditions.
- The CDC recommends all people over the age of 2 wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. See the guidance from the California Department of Public Health here.
- Are podcasts your thing? Check out this one from Dr. Osterholm who shares the latest news on the pandemic.
- Sources say that babies may have been impacted by the COVID pandemic more than we realized. The first 1,000 days of a baby’s life are often referred to as their brain’s window of opportunity. Find out more in this article by EdSource.
- During the Coalition meeting on August 25, Patricia Alcocer shared her cheat sheet with phone numbers and hours of operation for various agencies that can help with COVID-19 questions. Her cheat sheet is here!
- Monterey County Office of Education and the Monterey County Health Department have provided a scenario map to help programs respond to cases of COVID-19 on site. Use this communication and action sheet to help you make the right decisions for families and children in your community.
Resources & Tools
- Did you know that FREE meals are available for those who have COVID-19 and are isolated? Call 211, Meals on Wheels, or United Way Monterey County for more information.
- If you cannot pay your rent or are worried about eviction, you should check out these flyers, visit housing.ca.gov, or call (833) 430-2122 for financial assistance. Landlords and renters are encouraged to apply.
- Do you know someone who is uninsured and needs medical services? Esperanza Care of Monterey County is available to low-income residents who do not qualify for Medi-Cal and have no other insurance. Applications can be obtained from the Monterey County Health Department, Natividad Medical Center, or Pacific Health Alliance at (800) 533-4742. Here are flyers in English and Spanish to share with your community.
- Rent and utility assistance is still available through United Way and their partners. Call 211 or fill out an application online at www.mcrenthelp.com.
- Want to know if a family qualifies for state-subsidized child care? A new Family Monthly Fee Schedule by CDSS is now available here, determining if families are eligible based on income and family size. The state preschool eligibility is here.
- Emergency broadband discounts are available to help people stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Benefits include discounts on broadband services and equipment, up to $50 per month ($75 for those on Tribal lands), and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer for qualifying low-income families. See if you qualify for these services and learn more about this opportunity here.
- FEMA will offset funeral or burial expenses up to $7,000. Funds are eligible for US citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens, though there is no requirement for the decedent to be any of these. Apply by calling their dedicated line at 844-684-6333. Our thoughts go out to those who have lost a loved one during the pandemic.
- Do you know someone who was impacted by the 2020 wildfires? Santa Cruz and Monterey County residents who are undocumented and were unable to collect unemployment or access other state funds may be eligible for financial relief if they lost wages, severely reduced working hours, lost employment or housing. Call 831-225-0545 or click here for flyers to share with families and agencies.
- Looking for simple ways to help children with math? Check out these fun videos for all ages.
- A free toolkit to help communities prepare for natural disasters is available for those working with children and youth. Take a look at this great resource, which takes a trauma-informed approach to working with and being ready to help.
- Do your kids say school is “boring”? Check out this article from the Greater Good Science Center that digs deeper into why children sometimes say they are bored at school, with some tips on how to help.
- Do you want to learn more about independent study in California? This short article from EdSource describes how it works.
- Did you miss the PBS NewsHour Specials? Click here to access the entire series. Videos are less than 10 minutes and can be shared with families, leaders, and your community.
- Inclusion Works is available now for all programs. This second edition includes updated strategies to help programs that are working with children 0-12 years of age and their families. The information included is great for children with and without disabilities! Get your copy here.
- Sesame Street in Communities (SSIC) can help educators, families, and children cope with traumatic experiences and challenges as well as build social emotional skills. Their Coming Together and the ABC’s of Racial Justice includes information on how adults can talk about race, prejudice, and skin color. More tips and activities from SSIC are available here.
- Creating Safe, Stable, Nurturing Relationships and Environments for Children is the latest resource from the CDC. It is a collaboration between various experts including the California Department of Public Health, Department of Social Services, Child Abuse Prevention, and others to highlight positive ways to elevate primary prevention and positive parenting. Check out this informative resource and share it with your community.
- Need support helping children with social-emotional or behavioral challenges in your family child care center or FFN setting? California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Network offers free virtual consultation services to those who need help. Learn more here.
- Coastal Kids Home Care is offering grief services for kids, teens, and adults. Funeral assistance associated with COVID-19 as well as other support is available from the Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey County. See flyers here.
- Does your child need more emotional or mental health support than you can provide? The Kinship Center Mobile Response Team provides immediate services to families with a child or youth (ages 0-21) experiencing a mental or emotional health crisis - big or small. Services are available M-F 8:00am-10:00pm, S-S from 11:00am-9:00pm and by calling their 24/7 hotline at (831) 687-4379.
- The Parenting Connection of Monterey County is holding free postpartum support groups for new and not-so-new moms. As always, a 24 hour warm line is available (831) 783-5933. Please share these flyers.
- Did you know that all child care providers can request free consultation services from the California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Network? These professionals are available to promote social-emotional health and wellbeing of children and the adults who care for them. For a free consultation, call 877-524-2422 or visit cibc-ca.org.
- Feeling the pressure of being a parent during the pandemic? Check out the six ways to deal with parental burnout from the Greater Good Science Center here.
- Try out this Stress Buster Tool Kit shared by First 5 Tehama. It provides quick checklists and strategies to help families understand how to identify toxic stress and effectively cope with stress.
- Did you know that at least 30% of California students said they’d lost a loved one during the pandemic? See how schools have helped students cope with grief through counseling and adult support in this article and how schools are focusing on emotional health and relationships in this article, both by EdSource.
- Feeling anxious about socializing with others, even if you’re vaccinated? Check out these 6 Tips for Socialization After You’ve Been Vaccinated from the Greater Good Science Center.
- Children may be experiencing a range of emotions, including stress during this time. Parents can help children prepare for stressful moments by talking about feelings with their children to encourage healthy emotional development. Check out this great resource from Child Care Aware.
- Practicing some simple mindfulness activities with your children can help both adults and children when they are feeling anxious or stressed. Zero to Three provides some easy activities to do with your children that can be fun and beneficial for your emotional health! Check out their activities here.
- 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
- Resources for Teachers and Families
- 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 schools with equity-focused strategies as we move forward toward healing.
- 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 Monterey County 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 in addition to offering free training, marketing, and up to $1,000 in support to new or expanding child care programs in Monterey County. Share these flyers with your friends and family or call MAOF at (831) 757-0775 to learn more.
- Community Care Licensing has issued their Winter Update here.
- Learn about new professional development opportunities available for ECE providers in the coming weeks. See the Quality Matters calendar for upcoming events!
- Early Start provides free services to infants and toddlers (0-3 years) with disabilities and their families. The San Andreas Regional Center serves Monterey County and can provide speech, occupational and physical therapy, nutrition, nursing, and other services. Flyers and information to share with providers and parents are available to help understand the importance of early intervention and prevention. Click here for more information.
- Check out the latest updated COVID-19 guidance for operating early childhood and education programs (November 10). The guidance listed here includes recommendations for face coverings, testing, and mitigation strategies.
- Children’s play is essential to children’s learning and education. CDE has published a new guide for educators, providers, principals, and others. Download The Powerful Role of Play in Early Education for free here!
- Do you want to start a child care business or know someone who does? MAOF is recruiting potential family child care homes and offers free training, marketing, and up to $1,000 in support to help start a new or expanded child care program in Monterey County. Share these flyers with your friends and family or call MAOF at (831) 757-0775!
- Poisonings are preventable. The key to prevention is knowing where the resources are to help you act fast. Know the poison control number! It’s 1-800-222-1222. Click here for a free poster for homes, centers, and businesses.
- Want to be an AmeriCorps Preschool service member? Contact Taylor at United Way of Monterey County for more information. Full- and part-time stipends are available to members who complete their year of service. Check out the job description here.
- The Center for Disease Control has released an immunization and developmental tracker for children 0-6 years old. Click here to view and download the tracker.
- Community Care Licensing has numerous FAQs related to COVID-19 and ECE settings. Be sure to check the website for the most updated information here.
- The Child Care Advocate program has a quick links resource guide that can help programs and parents with questions about any number of topics, including safe sleep, recent PINs, Safe Kids California, quarterly updates, and more.
- If you are reading this, you are likely a mandated reporter for suspected child abuse. Click here for some answers to questions about reporting.
- Water safety is so important for young children! Check out this PIN from Community Care Licensing on water safety in licensed programs.
- There has been a recall of the Kidde TruSense Smoke and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms. This device can fail to alert you to a fire. See the PIN from Community Care Licensing here for the recall information and how to identify if your device is on the recall list.
- Want some fun songs and posters to share in your classroom and community? These great resources were developed by TMD Creative in collaboration with the County of Monterey. Click here to access the shared material.
- The Preschool Learning Foundations (volume 2) is now available in Spanish! Click here to access your copy.
- Governor Newsom announced next year’s budget proposal for California on January 10. Highlights include an additional 36,000 spaces for subsidized child care (in addition to the 110,000 spaces added last year), $1 billion to begin phasing in Universal TK, ECE Mental Health Consultation, and funds for data collection. Check out the Early Childhood section of his budget here.
- Want to know how much ARPA funding came into California and Monterey County? Check out this interactive tool that provides a breakdown by state, county, and city.
- Want to know more about Preschool through Third Grade (P-3) Alignment? Check out this page from the California Department of Education and this summary on the challenges and opportunities in California.
- Where are all the child care workers? As California tries to rebound, child care providers are not coming back to their jobs. Check out this article by Cal Matters that shines light on the problem.
- Wondering what is in the Build Back Better plan for the ECE community? Here’s a brief that explains the child care section of the Build Back Better plan.
- Take a look at the important panel discussion: Childcare is Everyone’s Business sponsored by the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership’s 7th Annual State of the Region Conference. Francine Rodd of First 5 Monterey County and Sonja Koehler of Bright Beginnings joined other speakers to discuss childcare workforce shortages, low wages, and the cost of childcare. Click this link to watch!
- Monterey County is one of the coastal communities that may be seeing a long term decline in K-12 enrollment. See this projection from EdSource that shows Monterey County with a projected 14.66% drop by 2031.
- PBS NewsHour highlighted the child care crisis and took a look at some unique ways that employers and communities are helping to make changes in this timely exposé.
- Want to know more about how the disparity in funding at the school level impacts equity for children? Check out this eye opening article from Forbes on school funding inequities.
- Take a look at this interactive Prenatal-to-3 State Policy Roadmap, which measures the wellbeing of infants and toddlers in each state and shows the progress toward adopting statewide solutions.
- Like podcasts? Listen to this one on what Universal TK means for kids in California.
- Want to see a snapshot of where the funding is going in California’s education system? Check out this link from EdSource for a quick overview.
- Why do some districts offer TK and others don’t? This article by EdSource gives some insight into why some districts are reluctant to provide TK to their communities.
- California’s recovery starts with child care! Read and share this fact sheet with advocates to support the early childhood workforce and recovery efforts. Get the fact sheet here.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation released its report on the Importance of Childcare to U.S. Families and Businesses and cross-sector solutions to recover from COVID-19. Feel free to use this publication in your efforts.
- Workers who have questions about their rights including unemployment, keeping workplaces safe, temporary housing, and other questions during the pandemic can call the California COVID-19 hotline at 1-833-422-4255 or go to the California for All COVID-19 page here.
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:
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 Monterey County, and the United Way of Monterey County.
For more information, please contact sonja@brightbeginningsmc.org.