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.
If you have information, flyers, or events you would like to share in this publication 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.
Stay up-to-date and join the mailing list for the Bright Beginnings’ Weekly Recovery Coalition Digest, Maternal Mental Health Task Force, and the Bright Beginnings’ Quarterly Update here. It’s free!
Monterey County Vaccines By the Numbers
Overall, 79.1% of the eligible population in Monterey County have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Stay informed with the Monterey County COVID-19 portal. Here is this week’s Monterey County COVID-19 Weekly Update.
News
- Only 53% of eligible residents in Monterey County have received at least one COVID-19 Booster dose. Let’s get everyone who is eligible boosted!
- Vaccines for younger children are available! Families with children under 5 should contact their child’s pediatrician, visit a local clinic that provides vaccines for children under 5, or go to myturn.ca.gov.
- Visit Vaccinate ALL 58 to learn more about the safe and effective vaccines available for all Californians 6 months and older.
- Share a fun book that helps children understand the importance of getting vaccinated! Download “A Shot for Potter & Spots” from First 5 Santa Clara County.
- The California Department of Public Health has posted new 2022-23 K-12 School Guidance on the Schools Hub here. A testing framework and FAQ are here.
- Need a COVID-19 home test for your staff or families? We have free kits available at the Bright Beginnings office. Contact Cristina@brightbeginningsmc.org to get some for your program or home!
- Do you think your program has a COVID-19 outbreak? Child care providers can complete this form and submit it to Monterey County Public Health, when children are present and a child has tested positive in that setting. If a child has tested positive outside of that child care setting and does not attend the child care center, then they may report the positive case here.
- Are you willing to give your feedback to support children and families in Monterey County? Provide your input to the Local Child Care Planning Council by answering a few questions here.
- Remember, water safety is important during hot months. Here’s a link from Community Care Licensing on how to keep children safe around water activities.
- Looking for summer or after school activities for your child? The Monterey County InPlay Summer Activity Guide is now available with great ideas for keeping your child active and engaged.
- The Parenting Connection of Monterey County will be hosting in-person and virtual Wellness Groups for parents in English and Spanish that are struggling with any of the emotional stressors that can result from becoming a new parent. As always, the Support Warmline is available to receive voice and text messages 24hrs a day from both families and professionals: (831) 783-5933. Register here.
- English:
- 2nd Thursday of the month, 6:00pm – 7:00pm via Zoom
- 3rd Thursday of the month, 10:00am – 11:00am at Parents’ Place Library, Pacific Grove Adult Education
- Español:
- 2nd Thursday of the month, 10:00am – 11:00am at the NEW PCMC Play and Learn classroom, 1212 Riker St, (Temple Beth El), Salinas
- MPUSD is enrolling toddlers, Pre-K, TK, and Kindergarteners! Share these flyers with your community. Download the application here.
- There are additional funds available for materials, training, and fees associated with starting new and expanding child care programs in Monterey County! Contact Maria Ortiz at the Resource and Referral at 831-757-0775 for information.
- Thinking of starting a new business, or need some 1:1 support? Check out thistraining series from El Pájaro Community Development Program.
- The Monterey County Preschool Service Corps (PSC) program is looking for new AmeriCorps members for the 2022-23 year to support language and literacy development in partnering preschools. Visit Monterey County’s United Way website or contact Taylor Jonte-Saiz at (831) 757-3206 x 204 for more information.
- Check out the Quality Matters calendar for future professional development opportunities available for ECE providers!
- 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.