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.
The next Coalition meeting will be on Wednesday, December 15 from 1:30 – 3:30pm. If you have information, flyers, or events you would like to share in this publication or at the next Coalition meeting, 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.
Vaccines By the Numbers
76% of eligible Monterey County residents ages 5+ have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as reported here by the Monterey County Health Department on November 29. Stay informed with the Monterey County COVID-19 Weekly fact sheet.
News
- Want to know more about the COVID-19 Omicron Variant? The California Department of Public Health has released a fact sheet on their website. Click here to learn more from MCPH.
- The Monterey County Health Department and its community partners will be hosting FREE holiday-themed COVID-19 and Flu vaccination clinics on select Mondays and Tuesdays at Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Avenue in Seaside. Walk-ins are welcome or you can make an appointment online, here. See below for more information.
- Monday, December 6: 10:00am – 2:00pm
- 18+, J&J and Moderna
- Tuesday, December 7: 2:00pm – 6:00pm
- 5+ Pfizer, 18+ Pfizer and J&J, Flu
- Monday, December 13: 2:00pm – 6:00pm
- 5-11 Pfizer, 18+ Moderna and J&J
- Tuesday, December 14: 2:00pm – 6:00pm
- 5+ Pfizer, 18+ Pfizer and J&J, Flu
- Tuesday, January 4: 2:00pm – 6:00pm
- 2nd dose Pfizer, children 5-11 only
- Monday, December 6: 10:00am – 2:00pm
- 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.
- Monterey County Behavioral Health is excited to offer new online groups in English and Spanish for mothers and children ages 0-5. These groups will provide opportunities for mothers to use play to bond with their children and build connections with other mothers. Please share this flyer and help us get the word out.
- The holidays can be a time of increased stress for caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association is offering a Healthy Holidays Mindfulness Practices for Caregivers program on Saturday, December 4 from 10:00 – 11:30am. Discover the power of compassion, gratitude, and resilience in caregiving. Register here.
- 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.
- Universal preschool and affordable child care are key to the Biden Spending Bill. Take a look at what is still up for grabs in this article by EdSource.
- Interested in learning how to bridge differences through conversation and open communication? The Greater Good Science Center has developed a free Bridging Differences Playbook that outlines a step-by-step way to support each other through positive dialogue and understanding.
- Monterey County needs your input! Please complete this brief online survey to share your thoughts on the mental health needs of Monterey County residents. The MHSA provides funding to counties for expanded mental health services and prevention programs. Please feel free to share the survey with the community.
- Want to get involved in the community school movement on the Central Coast? Join the CDE Community Schools Forum webinar on Tuesday, December 7 from 5:30 – 7:30pm by registering here. Check out this graphic that outlines the four pillars of CCSPP partnerships.
- Learn about new professional development opportunities available for ECE providers in the coming weeks. See the Quality Matters calendar for upcoming events!
- 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.