COVID-19 Response & Recovery Plan
Our goal is to ensure that young children have quality, nurturing, and safe child care and education as physical distancing and other guidelines continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The next Coalition Call is Wednesday, July 29, 1:30-2:45pm. If you are not already receiving calendar items, please RSVP here.
For more information about this effort and the coalition behind it, please visit our web hub here.
This Week’s Highlights
A few highlights from this last week are shared below. Previous Weekly Digests are available here.
By the Numbers
35 local child care centers are operating now (29% of total registered) — 1 less since last week.
287 local child care homes are operating now (89% of total registered) — no change from last week.
596 referrals completed since the start of shelter-in-place — 16 more since last week.
345 early childhood education providers enrolled for supplies vouchers — 7 more since last week.
- 35 child care centers, 279 child care homes, and 31 family, friends & neighbors
$393,362 has been disbursed for emergency supplies.
$68,159 is still available for emergency supplies.
200 touchless thermometers, diapers, masks and gloves were distributed to various types of formal and informal caregivers and educators by MAOF Resource & Referral.
News
- Updates on Guidance for Child Care Programs and Providers: On July 17, the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division and California Department of Education released updated guidance for child care. This includes updates on the use of face coverings and hand sanitizers, and supersedes previous COVID-related guidelines.
- Monterey County is one of the many counties being monitored for high COVID-19 infection rates. This means, according to the Governor’s order on July 17, all schools must stay closed for in-person instruction and provide distance learning until at least 14 days after removal from the monitoring list. The Coalition is working with schools, the Office of Education, early learning systems, community-based organizations, and employees to provide child care and distance learning supports for children of all ages.
- California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing is providing Resources to Support Social/Emotional Development in Children During the COVID-19 Emergency.
- The Child Care Law Center offers a Q&A sheet that describes license-exempt child care settings, such as family, friends and neighbor care, family co-ops, or nannies, explaining when a caregiver needs to be licensed. This resource is written for child care providers, but can also be useful to parents who want to better understand the differences between various options for child care settings.
- Interested in becoming a child care and education provider? MAOF has funds to support your initial costs and training. Contact Maria Ortiz at 831-757-0775 for more information. Virtual training starts in August 2020.
- In the news: On Monday, KION highlighted child care during the pandemic. See it here.
Resources
- Quality Matters has a series of trainings for early learning educators, including support for programs that are re-opening.
- The Monterey County Health Department has shared a useful flow chart on COVID-19 Exposure FAQ. Find the bilingual chart here.
- Wondering how various activities compare in likelihood of exposure to COVID-19? See this bilingual guide from the Texas Medical Association.
- A bilingual “Find Child Care” flyer is available here in color and here in black and white (for easy copying). A badge for your web page or social media, like the purple one at the top of this digest, is also available here. It links to www.MontereyCountyChildCare.org with the most up-to-date information regarding child care for parents and providers.
- Emergency supplies vouchers for all types of child care providers (except those a part of school districts) are still available and are valid through September 30. To apply for funds, complete this form as soon as possible and email it to RRMC@maof.org. A specialist will follow up to confirm your application and details for receiving funds, as available. More information for school districts is coming soon.
- 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.
- 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.
- Resiliency supports for parents, educators — just about anyone, really — are available through the Health Department’s Forward Together Initiative. Click here for more information.
- Free COVID-19 testing is available. Child care and education providers are strongly encouraged to get tested. Appointments are required. Register by clicking here or by calling 888-634-1123. More information, including times and locations, can be found here on these posters — please post and share within your networks.
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
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.