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!
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 23. Stay informed with the Monterey County COVID-19 portal.
News
- Interested in learning more about Universal Pre-Kindergarten in Monterey County? Family Child Care Educators and Family, Friends & Neighbors (FFN) are invited to attend an informational session dedicated to answering questions on Thursday, June 2 from 6-7pm. Join via Zoom here, and check out the flyer here. Spanish translation will be available.
- First 5 Santa Cruz County is hosting PreKindergarten for Kids: a Town Hall for Families on Tuesday, May 31 from 5-6:15 pm on Zoom. This free, bilingual virtual event will provide local families with information, tips, and resources about early care and education options for their children in the two years before they enter Kindergarten. Register here.
- 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!
- Looking for summer or after school activities for your child? Monterey County’s InPlay Summer Activity Guide is now available with great ideas for keeping your child active and engaged.
- Monterey Peninsula College is looking for feedback on how to use Measure V funding to improve infrastructure and facilities. Several advocates spoke in favor of allocating resources for onsite childcare at the new Marina Education Center. Here is more information about the MPC Measure V Bond. If you are interested and able to send comments regarding the need or interest for a childcare center, please email jfinnell@mpc.edu.
- The California Work & Family Coalition is offering a part-time paid summer internship (remote) starting in mid-June. The internship will be a great experience for anyone interested in learning more and getting hands-on experience working on legislative campaigns. Please help spread the word to students past and present and any others looking for a short internship. Look here for more information.
- Health Resources and Services Administration announces the availability of new funding to support community-based doulas. There is $4.5 million for hiring, training, certifying, and compensating community-based doulas in areas with high rates of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Check out their link here.
- Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) received praise for their work and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Take a look at the full Grand Jury Report here.
- 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 flyers here for information or contact Laura@brightbeginningsmc.org for more information.
- MPUSD is enrolling toddlers, Pre-K, TK, and Kindergarteners! 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.
- Did you miss the community meeting on UPK in Monterey County? Check out the powerpoint presentation from Laurie Ramirez, Local Child Care Planning Council.
- 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 for more information. Applications are due Wednesday, 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.