COVID-19 Response & Recovery

The pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has been lifted. Take a look at this factsheet to help understand the risks and benefits of this single-dose vaccine.

Get your second dose! It is important for everyone to become fully vaccinated — if you have received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, you will need to get a second dose. Only fully vaccinated people are adequately protected from the virus. Click here to learn about timing, scheduling, and what happens after your second dose.

Celebrate Día Del Niño in Salinas on Friday, April 30 from 2:00-4:00pm at La Paz Park. There will be free summer activity kits for kids, a Mother’s Day activity kit giveaway from 3:30-4:30pm (while supplies last), and so much more!

Interested in helping your community clean up? Volunteer for the commercial corridor clean up targeting Market Street, Madeira Avenue, Alisal Street, and Sanborn Road on April 30 from 2:00-4:00pm. Register here or contact Karinas@ci.salinas.ca.us.

What does President Biden’s recovery plan mean for families in California? This EdSource article provides a glance at what may come for the young children in our state. Check out The White House press release here and the Department of the Treasury fact sheet here to see how this act could impact you!

As of April 15, all people over the age of 16 are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine! Note: only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for people 16 years and older.

You can now get COVID-19 vaccine appointments through MyTurn.CA.gov or by phone at 1-833-422-4255 (M-F 8:00am-8:00pm, Sa-Su 8:00am-5:00pm).

Wondering what changes once you have been vaccinated? The new Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People from the California Department of Public Health can help answer questions.

Visit www.MontereyCountyChildCare.org for easy steps to finding vaccine appointments and other vaccine-related information.

Vaccines are safe and important to help stop the spread and reach herd immunity against the COVID-19 virus. Bilingual posters from Yolo County are available here to download and share!

More information on COVID-19 and the vaccine is available from Community Care Licensing:

• General info about COVID-19 vaccine for child care providers: frequently asked questions, web links to vaccines, and other information that may be helpful. Directors, managers, and supervisors are encouraged to share this information with their staff and others working with children. Please feel free to copy and share this information.

Testing for COVID-19 is still important to track variants and to keep our community safe. Here is where you can get a list of testing sites in Monterey County.

• Rent, utility, food, and cash assistance are available for those who qualify for COVID-19 relief through United Way Monterey County. Call 211 to find out more and share these flyers with families in need.

• FEMA is managing a program to 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.

Unable to pay rent due to COVID-19? The Attorney General has provided a simple form for tenants to notify their landlords about their inability to pay rent. Click here for the form.

The California Department of Public Health has updated their framework and guidance for schools. Find out what is needed to move forward with in-person learning. Click here for more information.

Think you might have been exposed to COVID-19? Here is a chart that outlines the steps you can take to limit the spread.

The CDC now recommends all persons who have been exposed to COVID-19 quarantine for 10 days instead of 14 days. For the updated guidance (released February 18), click here.

The Monterey County Health Department has a FAQ page that answers many questions related to COVID-19. Check out their site here, which may help you understand how Monterey County is addressing the pandemic.

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.

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.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, sad, angry, or “just not good enough” with your child? Do you know someone who can use additional support including playgroups, classes, and postpartum support? There is help available for parents and guardians who may be dealing with the additional stress of parenting. Please share these important print-ready flyers that include lots of important resources.

April is Child Abuse Prevention month! Check out this inspirational video thanking Monterey County Educators from Monterey County Prevention Council. It features Monterey County kids!

• 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
  
  

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has online family-friendly science activities to encourage wonder and connection to the natural world. Check out these amazing resources here! They also offer online courses in English and Spanish here.