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.
Vaccines By the Numbers
83% 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 March 14. Stay informed with the Monterey County COVID-19 portal.
News
- California has allocated $130 million to expand the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) services statewide. The Request for Applications (RFA) for CSPP funds are for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) interested in serving full- or part-day preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. New LEAs as well as currently operating CSPP programs are encouraged to apply. The California Department of Education will be hosting a webinar today, March 17 from 3:00-5:00pm to share more. No need to register, just go to this Zoom link and enter passcode 207261. Find additional information about the funding process here. Applications are due April 7!
- On Friday, March 25 from 10:30-11:30am join the Monterey County contractors meeting dedicated specifically to the CSPP Expansion Application. You will have the opportunity to learn from each other, ask questions, and get some technical assistance. Click on this Zoom link to join the meeting and use passcode 793205.
- Even though the state of California lifted its COVID-19 mask mandate on March 11, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) strongly recommends that masks still be worn in child care programs when indoors. Masks help protect young children who are not vaccinated.
- The US government is distributing another set of 4 free COVID-19 tests to every household. Order tests here and find videos showing how to use different brands of tests on this CDC website.
- Join the Propower Early Childhood Safety workshop for Monterey County Early Education staff today, March 17, 6:30-7:30pm. This workshop is free and will help adults learn child protection strategies and age appropriate skills for young children, including how to stay in charge of their bodies, set physical boundaries, and protect them from harm. Register here and use the discount code: MCECE when registering.
- Thinking of starting a business in Monterey County? El Pajaro Business training may be the first step in helping you think through the steps needed to be successful. This 8-week training series meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-11:00am starting March 22 through April 12. Technical assistance and grant funds may be available to help!
- Free flu and booster shots are available for staff, educators, and families on Friday, March 25 from 3:00-6:00pm at the MCOE main campus, room D. Find informational flyers here.
- Family child care providers who cared for at least 1 subsidized child between May and October of 2021 are entitled to an additional stipend from the state of California. Small licensed providers will receive $8,000, bigger providers will receive $10,000, and FFNs will receive $1,500. Check out this fact page to learn more.
- Community Care Licensing issued a new PIN for child care providers on March 9. This guidance includes the use of face masks, sick children or positive COVID-19 test results, children who are exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive, and other important information.
- First 5 Monterey County invites you to attend their virtual Anchor Event for the Infant Family Early Childhood Mental Health (IFECMH) training program with Dr. Chandra Ghosh Ippen titled Metaphors and Core Concepts to Support Trauma Informed Care. Learn more and download the flyer in English or Spanish. Register here.
- It’s not too late to apply for Renovation and Repair funding available to child care homes and centers! Check out the Digital Bundle from the SF Children’s Council that includes a pre-recorded walkthrough of the application process, a list of documents needed to submit with your application, and additional resources. Applications are due March 25 by 11:59pm.
- There is a new initiative called the SMARTER plan for California, which is the next phase of the state’s response to COVID-19. Check out the SMARTER plan here.
- Wondering when you should keep your child home from child care? Check out the Quick-Screening Guide for COVID-19 for parents and caregivers from the UCSF California Childcare Health Program. Find the one-page guide here.
- Join the F5MC IFECMH 3-session virtual training series, “Let’s talk about Bruno!”, on April 13, April 27, and May 4 from 6:30-8:00pm. This training is free and open to those who work with children prenatal through age five and their families in Monterey County. The sessions will have simultaneous Spanish interpretation. Register here
- The Monterey County Preschool Service Corps (PSC) program is looking for new AmeriCorps members for the 2022-23 year who will serve as supports for language and literacy development in partnering preschools. AmeriCorps members receive a monthly stipend, training, benefits, and an education award. For further information, visit Monterey County’s United Way website or contact Taylor Jonte-Saiz, Monterey County Preschool Service Corps Program Manager at (831) 757-3206 x 204.
- The Central Coast Early Childhood Advocacy Network is excited to introduce their upcoming Policy Learning Community 2022! This is a four-session bilingual and virtual workshop for parents and community members to learn about the legislative system, the importance of advocacy, and the power of storytelling. To register, please complete the 5-minute registration form in English or Spanish. The last day to submit the registration form is March 29 at 5:00pm. If you have any questions, please reach out to Erika Arreola at erika@first5monterey.org or at (831) 324-9702.
- Join the First 5 Monterey County team! F5MC is looking for a Communications Coordinator to support websites, social media, talking points, and promotional materials. Check out this job description and apply!
- 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:
- Free Testing Clinics
- Free Vaccination Clinics
- Note: some clinics are short staffed due to COVID outbreaks and may need to close on short notice.
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.