For Directors 

Directors Alerts – EEC

• EEC is asking that everyone continue to adhere to their COVID health and safety plans; refer to the Playbook, and keep lines of communication open up if something happens in your facility.
• The Board of Early Education and Care met on Tuesday, October 13 from 2-4PM. Meeting materials will be made available here and a live broadcast of the meeting will be aired here.
• Extended CPR and First Aid Policy: EEC recognizes that this is a critical time for all child care staff to be trained in Pediatric CPR and First Aid. It is also a difficult time due to current limitations on course availability. While the requirement for these certifications continue to apply, EEC is waiving the current re-certification timelines and instead adhering to expiration dates listed on certification documents. You can read more about the policy here.
• The EEC Advisory Board, the legislatively appointed board of EEC advisors, met on September 25. A recording of the meeting can be found here.
• The Cambridge Directors Support Zoom meeting, led by B3 mentors, takes place every other week. Days and times will alternate between Tuesday and Wednesday for these meetings going forward. You can access the schedule for October through May here.

For Directors, Providers, Home Visitors, Educators & Families

Health & Wellness

• Dominique Jean, a school nurse, will answer your urgent COVID-19 symptom questions (Is this dry cough from COVID-19 or due to allergies?). She can be reached at: 781.803.0766. 
• For non-urgent COVID-19 related calls, please call 617.665.3648. One of two nurses will reply to all hotline phone calls and emails after they have checked the phone line or email account.
  
• For more complex medically related questions, Directors should contact MA Dept. of Public Health’s epidemiologist Dr. Katherine Hsu at 617.983.6948 or [email protected]. 
  
• EEC’s Reopening Plan requires programs to provide contact information for their local Board of Health.
  • This information should now be:
    Address: 119 Windsor St., Cambridge, MA 02139
    Phone: 617.665.3648
    Email: [email protected] 
    

Managing Stress and Anxiety

• The resources provided by The Massachusetts Association for Infant Mental Health continue to be a good place to start for your own mental health and for the mental health of those you are taking care of.
• EEC and the Pyramid Model Consortium are offering a series of ePyramid online trainings focused on strategies to support educator’s own social and emotional wellness as well as the children and families they serve.
• The Federation for Children with Special Needs has created Mindful Mondays, a weekly opportunity for educators to practice self-care through mindfulness. Come join other educators from across the state for yoga, meditation, journaling, and sharing of challenges and successes. No previous experience is necessary.

For Teachers

Curriculum Support & Professional Development

• Click here to see B3’s Online Training Resources for the Early Childhood Workforce dated October 13, 2020.
  
  

For Families

Activities for Families

• Click here for WGBH’s Family Fun at Home that has activities for children ages 3 to 5.
• Find It Cambridge is regularly updating its Virtual Activities at Home category with online and at-home activities for all ages of children and adults to enjoy.
• Check out the Cambridge Public Library website for fun virtual events.
• For families, see also the activities under Managing Stress and Anxiety above!

• The Center for Families offers free programming and supports for all families living in Cambridge with children birth-8 years old. Center staff are available to support families in connecting with community resources, provide one-on-one support, and provide access to the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, which helps parents understand more about their child's development. You can find information on current programs in their monthly newsletter here. Want to learn more about the Center for Families and connect? You can also reach them via email or call at 617.349.6385.
• Parents and caregivers who are experiencing any kinds of problems related to their children can call the Parental Stress Line for support: 1.800.623.8188. The Parental Stress Line is staffed by volunteer counselors who are sympathetic and nonjudgmental and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
• Boston Children’s Hospital has published Parenting during the coronavirus pandemic, a helpful resource for families to get expert insight, advice, and tips for talking about COVID-19 with children as well as resources for helping families cope during this time. A must-visit page for anyone engaged in providing child care, facilitating hybrid or remote instruction, and generally living through this time with children of any age.

• Postpartum Support International (PSI)
• MCPAP for Moms
  
• JF & CS Postpartum Depression Support Group: “This Isn’t What I Expected”, Tuesdays, 1-2:30PM. For more information, please contact Debbie Whitehill via email or 781.647.JFCS (5327) x1925. Register for the video support group. (New participants should register at least 24 hours in advance.)