May 12 | Weekly Digest: COVID-19 Response & Recovery for Child Care & Wellbeing

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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

84% 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 May 9. Stay informed with the Monterey County COVID-19 portal.

News

  • Is your program or agency interested in providing a COVID-19 vaccine location for children under 5 once available? If so, complete the CDPH request form to prepare for your pop-up event or mobile vaccine location when the time comes!
  • With an uptick of COVID-19 cases in our area, check out the Monterey County Health Department webpage on treatment of the illness. 
  • The Monterey County Office of Education will be hosting a FREE COVID vaccine and booster shot clinic in partnership with VNA Health tomorrow, Friday, May 13 from 3-6pm at MCOE’s Main Campus, 901 Blanco Circle in Salinas, inside Meeting Room D. Individuals wishing to receive a booster shot must bring proof of previous vaccination.
  • Want to know more about quarantine and isolation recommendations? Here’s the latest information from the CDPH. The guidance for child care programs is located here
  • Looking for summer or after school activities for your child? Here is the Monterey County Children and Youth Activity Guide with great ideas for keeping your child active and engaged this summer. 
  • Are you interested in participating in a focus group on the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) (Preschool, TK)? Complete this interest form and receive a $50 participation stipend if selected. Focus groups will be in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
  • Learn and earn with the Hartnell paid apprenticeship program in Early Childhood Education. There is still time to sign up for the first year of this amazing opportunity! See the flyer here for information.
  • Provide your input on the evolving Universal Pre-K movement in Monterey County. The next input session will be held on Wednesday, May 18 from 9-10am. Click here for the flyer and Zoom link. 
  • Interested in serving children after school or during the summer months? The Community Foundation for Monterey County is offering expanded learning grants for public and private programs to serve school age children with enrichment and academic support. Learn more here. Applications are due Friday, May 13.  
  • MPUSD is enrolling toddlers, Pre-K, TK, and Kindergarteners! Check out and share these flyers with your community. Download the application here
  • Build capacity to support the quality of infant and toddler care in your programs and enhance the professional development of your teachers. Apply for the Program for Infant Toddler Care trainer certification by Monday, August 15.
  • Calling all Monterey County licensed family child care educators and centers! Quality Matters Monterey has released the 2022-23 application for new Quality Matters sites. Join a community of ECE professionals and receive coaching, technical assistance, stipends, and resources to support your professional growth. Complete the application here or contact ECE Specialist Gelacio Gonzalez at ggonzalez@montereycoe.org for more information. Applications are due June 15. 
  • 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. 
  • 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.