For Directors 

Directors Alerts – EEC

• Governor Baker announced new Executive Orders that strengthen mask-wearing regulations, put in place a stay-at-home advisory, and establish mandatory closure times and gathering sizes in Massachusetts. These became effective at 12:01AM on FRIDAY, November 6th. Please note that EEC licensed programs are exempted from the Executive Order and should continue to abide by and adhere to the Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety regarding mask use for adults and children. (Please see page 19 of The Playbook). Schools are similarly exempted.
• Grant opportunity--fast approaching! Fill out intent to apply by tomorrow! This year's FY21 EEOST Capital Fund special round has been modified to award grants between $100,000 and $250,000 to offset expenses for capital improvements related to the COVID-19 public health crisis. This funding is intended to provide center-based early education and out-of-school time care facilities with resources to make renovations that address health and safety concerns. Please fill out an Interest to Apply form online by November 13th. Applicants must be non-profit center-based programs to apply. For any questions, please contact Denise Karlin at EEC or the Children’s Investment Fund team.
• 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. *Please join us at the next Directors' meeting on Wednesday 11/18 from 2-3:15PM for "Supporting Staff and Yourself in Times of Collective Trauma," a workshop facilitated by Lizzie Feigenbaum and Holly Janssen of the Early Years Project. Join here.
  

For Directors, Providers, Home Visitors, Educators & Families

Health & Wellness

• B3 is thrilled to offer this workshop, presented by facilitators, Melinda Barbosa and Betsy Abrams, Building Community, Connection and Resilience: Understanding the impacts of COVID-19, racism, and trauma on families, children, and community.
  – This workshop is suited for all who work with families ESPECIALLY:
  Family Liaisons; Family Support Workers; Home Visitors; Librarians; Play Group Leaders
  – This workshop Is being offered Monday, November 16, 1:30-4PM AND Tuesday, November 17, 10AM-12:30PM to accommodate schedule. Please choose which works best for you when you register here.
• Communities of Practice have begun for Home Visitors! In order to accommodate more participants, there will be 2 offerings: the first Monday of each month from 1-2:30PM, and the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 9:30-11AM. Watch for registration in your email.
• 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 November 10, 2020.
  
  

For Families

Resources for Families

• 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 virtual events. 
• Center for Families always has activities for families!
• For families, see also the activities under Managing Stress and Anxiety above!

• 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.)