For Directors 

Directors Alerts – EEC

• A huge shout out to all who attended B3’s Week of The Young Child Events!!! Thank you all for sharing in this joyful journey with us.
• The Board of Early Education and Care met on April 13th. The agenda included: Engagement Update - Discussion; Strategic Plan Implementation-Educator Initiatives; and Budget Updates. You can watch a recording of the meeting 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. You can access the schedule for October through May here.
  

For Directors, Providers, Home Visitors, Educators & Families

Health & Wellness

• To celebrate the Week of The Young Child, the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation and Firestarter Interactive are partnering with The Hunt Institute to make Starting At Zero: Reimagining Education in America available to anyone, free of charge, during the month of April. If you haven't yet seen the film, here's your chance! We hope you will join the celebration.
• State of Babies Yearbook: 2021
  Learn about the data. Hear from experts. Join the conversation. Take action to support. On April 22 at 2PM, we will bring together three expert panels to tackle the tough issues facing families today and lay out the strong, permanent, national policies that will ensure these families – and their babies – have what they need to thrive.This year's Summit promises to deliver new insights on what's facing our families, and how we can better support them and their families. Register here.
• Find It! Updating, Accounts, and Connecting: Find It Cambridge is a website that serves as a one-stop-shop to find activities, services, and resources in Cambridge. It’s also a free promotional opportunity and a great referral tool to share with families. Please update your program’s information on Find It. Andrew can be reached by email or phone (617.686.2998).
• The Home Visiting Guide has been updated! Access it here.
• 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.
• 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

• Check your email for B3’s Online Training Resources for the Early Childhood Workforce List.
  
  
  

For Families

Resources for Families

• Center For Families Resource: The Fuel Assistance Program assists households in Cambridge and Somerville with winter heating costs between November 1st and April 30th. Renters and homeowners in both cities are eligible to apply if they meet federal income guidelines. If you are in a no-heat situation or facing immediate utility shutoff, fuel assistance can be provided within 24 hours to eligible applicants. Call 617.349.6252 for immediate assistance. Find out more here.
• The Center for Families April Newsletter, available here, is packed with great programs for families. Offerings include: Virtual Zumba continues this month, Pajama Story Time dates, Sing-alongs, a museum visit, and more!
• Enjoy science and math together with new ideas daily to do with your child in the April 2021 At-Home Activity Calendar! Designed for children birth to 4 years old but all ages are welcome to try the activities. View calendar. The goal is to have fun! Parents – you can change the ideas to match your child’s age and interest. Brought to you by Let’s Talk/Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative and Center for Families. Questions: Call or text 617.800.9154 or email here.
• Now enrolling: Riverside Early Head Start is a home-based early childhood program that provides comprehensive parenting and family support to low-income pregnant women and families with children zero to three years of age. They work with families residing in Cambridge, Medford and Somerville. They are currently providing virtual home visits using different platforms such as Phone, Zoom and WhatsApp. Learn more here. Apply here.
• Cambridge Public Schools Home Based Early Childhood Program is recruiting families! Children must be between the ages of 18 months and 3.5 years old. Home visits can occur on a porch, in a yard, at a park, or virtually. Each visit includes free books and materials, as well as fun and engaging activities. Contact Joy Harper 617.349.6724 [email protected] or Peggy Beucler 617.349.6849 [email protected].
  
• 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. 

• 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 winter events. 

• 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.)