For Directors 

Directors Alerts

• EEC posted Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for Reopening on June 1st. It sets forward the minimum requirements that programs must meet in order to re-open. Templates, checklists and the procedure for submitting re-opening documents will be released in the coming weeks.
• This recorded webinar, Practical Ways to Help Children in Child Care Cope with COVID-19 Crisis: A Perspective from Child Life Specialists, talks about the 5 essential needs children will have when they return to our programs. Concepts behind each need and practical tips make this a “must see.” 
  
• State Representative Marjorie Decker is hosting a Virtual Town Hall on early childhood on June 3rd at 4PM. If you are unable to watch it live, click here for that recording.
• EEC also posted a recorded webinar of a Panel on Emergency Child Care for Group and School Age Providers. Featured providers shared their experiences providing emergency exempt child care.
• B3 is a grant partner with researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health who are studying how childcare professionals think and feel about local policies for healthy eating and physical activity in childcare centers. After a 3-month pause due to COVID-19, we are interested in continuing to interview both directors and teachers.  In spite of being closed, we hope you will support this research intended to improve children’s health. Interview participants will receive a $50 Target gift card after a 30-40 minute interview. If you willing to be interviewed, please contact: Julia DeAngelo, Research Coordinator at [email protected] or by phone (203.962.5550).
• Shared Services MA has 2,000 easily editable, pragmatic resources, including step-by-step guides, policies, handbooks, job descriptions, budgeting tools, forms, and checklists – saving you valuable time. Note programs are currently being offered free membership.
• Click here to learn about Families First Coronavirus Response Act extended family and sick leave for employees caring for a child because the child’s school or childcare provider is closed due to Coronavirus.
• The McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership is offering a 4-part webinar series, Navigating the New Norms. Series features Tom Copeland, Susan MacDonald, Cynthia Jackson, and Geania Dickey. Registration is by individual webinars; fee is $25 for each webinar.
• B-3 Mentors, Bess Emanuel and Polly Smith, are facilitating Cambridge Directors Support meetings on Zoom every Friday at 2PM (open to all Cambridge directors). Check your email inbox every Friday morning for the Zoom link.

Funding

• Many U.S. Representatives and Senators have co-sponsored new legislation, the Child Care Is Essential Act, to create a $50 B child care stabilization fund within the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CBDG) program. Funding would: provide grants to support provider’s operating expenses; keep staff on payroll; offer working families tuition and copayment relief, and promote health and safety through compliance with public health guidance. Contact your congressional delegation to express your support of this legislation.

For Teachers

Curriculum Support & Professional Development

• A new list of Professional Development opportunities will be emailed to Directors on Monday, June 8th by Emily Callejas.  

For Families

Activities for Families

• The Center for Families has a great webpage entitled At Home Activity Ideas and Story Time Videos.
• Sesame Street has created resources designed to spark playful learning, offer children comfort, and focuses a bit on parents themselves. Families will find interactive games, videos, printable activities. Their resources are not just for children; there is lots of  information for parents as well!

Resources for Families

• Early Years Project has created 3 parent tip sheets: Supporting Independent Play, Responding to Children’s Anxiety, and Working from Home with Young Children.