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.
Our next Zoom update will be during the Local Planning Council meeting on January 12 at 2:30pm. Please contact Laurie Ramirez or click here to join. All are welcome! If you have information, flyers, or events you would like to share in this publication or at the next 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
79% 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 January 3. Stay informed with the Monterey County COVID-19 portal.
News
- The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) announced the availability of additional General Child Care and Development (CCTR) program funds for children from birth to age three and after school children. Click here for more information. If you need technical assistance, contact Laura Keeley-Saldana at Bright Beginnings — we are here to help!
- 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.
- 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.
- You are invited to attend an upcoming workshop on Grief and Advance Health Care Planning on January 12 from 6-7:30pm at Oldmeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave., Seaside. This workshop is presented by the Hospice Giving Foundation and will be held in Spanish. Learn more and share their flyer here.
- 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.
- As of Wednesday, December 15, California Department of Public Health requires universal masking in all public, indoor settings for all people (with some exceptions – like children under 2) regardless of vaccination status. For more information, see the notice from CDPH. This mandate was extended to last through February 15, unless otherwise extended.
- 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.
- Need to find a testing or vaccine clinic in Monterey County? Visit MontereyCountyVaccines.com or find your location in the bilingual flyers below:
- California Early Childhood Online (CECO) offers free online modules on caring for young children from birth to five. Topics include The Power of Play, Dual Language Learning, and Working with Families Experiencing Homelessness. Click here to access the portal and sign up! Certificates of completion are available for each module.
- Clinica de Salud is hiring! They are looking for a bilingual (Spanish/English) Community Health Advocate who is interested in public health. Learn more and share their flyer 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.
- 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.
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.