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 in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The next Coalition Call is Wednesday, September 23, 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
97 local child care centers are operating now (81% of total registered) — 7 more since last week.
291 local child care homes are operating now (89% of total registered) — 2 more since last week.
793 families requested a referral since the start of shelter-in-place — 23 more since last week.
1 public comment was made at the June 15th Board of Supervisors meeting, supporting their investments to address the digital divide universally, and especially for students in distance learning.
News
- Monterey County is making progress toward a less restrictive tier in California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, and positive COVID-19 infection rates have dipped low enough that elementary schools are invited to apply for a waiver for in-person instruction. As a county, we remain in the restrictive purple Tier 1 for business and other activities. To maintain the decrease in transmission rates, health officials urge residents to continue to wear masks, wash hands frequently, and keep at least six feet apart — because it’s working! Here is an updated list of testing sites.
- The next delivery of health and sanitation supplies is coming from First 5 California! If you are an Early Childhood Educator in Monterey County, you are eligible to receive supplies. Items include hand sanitizer, masks for adults and children, and thermometers. Most supplies will be available in early October (date pending).
- Center-based Care & Education: contact Laura@brightbeginningsmc.org
- Home-based Care & Education: contact Maria at 831-757-0775
- The deadline to apply for health and sanitation supply vouchers is September 30. All types of child care providers, except programs of school districts, are eligible to apply 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.
- New Management Bulletins and state guidance for subsidized child care have been released. The most recent MB 20-17 includes information on distance learning and the requirements for ensuring that state contractors for child care are meeting mandates.
- Guidance on family fees for state-subsidized child care and education programs has been released, in anticipation of Governor Newsom signing SB 820. Starting September 1, 2020, family fees should be collected for children who attend in person. Family fees are waived for July and August 2020. For families that continue to shelter in place and/or receive distance learning only, fees will be waived until in-person instruction resumes. For more information, state subsidy direct contractors can contact the Monterey County State Consultant, Deborah Rawson.
- During these challenging times, listening to each other is more important than ever. Since March, several community groups have had conversations with about 900 households, asking how families are faring during the pandemic and what they need. They found that the most pressing concerns are about basic needs, like food and shelter. Read the report here in Spanish and here in English.
- Coalition members and the community are mobilizing resources to connect distance learners with the equipment they need to be able to attend their online classes, like desks, earphones, and other materials. For example, some school districts are lending furniture to home-based child care and education programs as they expand their services to school-aged children.
- Click here for a map of FREE wireless internet access for students and families across Salinas. And click here to learn how to access FREE wifi in the parking lots and outdoor areas of your local libraries and colleges.
Resources
All Ages Distance Learning Supports
- It is estimated that 97% of all students will engage in distance learning starting in the fall.
- Distance learning looks different for every school, every grade, and every family. Quality Matters has shared resources for families and child care and education providers. Click here and scroll to the bottom to learn more.
- PVUSD released a video in Mixteco: “8 Tips for Families during Distant Learning.” Watch the video here and please share.
- We as a community are getting creative on how to provide child care and distance learning supports for children of all ages. While we don’t have all the solutions to this complex puzzle, here are a few resources (available in multiple languages soon):
Public Health
- PVUSD released information about the COVID-19 in Mixteco — watch the video here and please share!
- PGUSD high school students are making free protective visors for Monterey County. Place your order here.
Resilience & Mental Health Resources
- Dr. Susan Swick from Ohana, Montage Health’s new child/adolescent behavioral health program, offers several videos for parents to support their children during the pandemic. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to find videos on topics like managing tech time or handling strong emotions.
- Social-Emotional Learning is a critical part of supporting the children and families in our community. This Social-Emotional Roadmap provides critical practices for reopening with equity-focused strategies as we move forward toward healing.
- Resiliency supports for parents, educators — just about anyone, really — are available through the Health Department’s Forward Together Initiative. Click here for more information.
Child Care & Education Quality & Business Tools
- Monterey County Office of Education and the Monterey County Health Department have provided a scenario map to help programs respond to cases of COVID-19. Use this communication and action sheet to help you make the right decisions for families and children in your community.
- Guidelines for cohorts of children were released on August 25 by the California Department of Public Health with more information on group sizes including those in licensed child care and exempt child care programs on school campuses. A cohort is defined as no more than 14 children and no more than 2 adults for in-person supervision and limited instruction. Click here for an overview of guidance for group sizes and face coverings.
- Find the most recent guidelines from the California Department of Public Health for day camps, schools, and child care providers.
- Child Care & Education Businesses: There are still funds available through the Monterey County Works-Small Business Rapid Response Grant Fund. Small business owners can receive grants up to $2,500 to support their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find the grant guidelines and application here.
Children’s & Family Activities & Resources
- An Alisal Union School District Kindergarten teacher created a Spanish and English site, called Kinder Rockets, full of fun, music-filled learning activities. It’s gone nationwide!
- 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.
- Resources for Teachers and Families
- First 5 Monterey County offers a Wildfire Resources webpage for families and children.
- Monterey County Office of Emergency Services has resources for those impacted by wildfires. Information on debris removal, housing and shelters, safety and wellness, and many other resources are available here.
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.