"Children Learning, Parents Earning, Communities Growing"
January 18, 2021 | Issue #3
2021 Child Care & End Child Poverty in CA Virtual Advocacy Day- This Week!
We invite you to partner with those noted above for a Child Care & End Child Poverty in CA
VIRTUAL Advocacy Day!
On January, 21 2021, we're coming together as advocates--child care, food programs, safety net, and anti-poverty champions--for our “Child Care and End Child Poverty CA Advocacy Day.” Our landscape has shifted significantly. Let's raise our unified voices in support of California's kids and families. The needs are urgent and we want to provide both immediate relief and solutions to build back better.  On January 21st, we'll advocate for budget proposals that keep families fed, keep child care providers open, and commit to lifting families out of poverty. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unmet need is growing exponentially, yet California is facing an unprecedented budget deficit: we need our decision makers in Sacramento to hear from the field on the impact of this pandemic, and what supports need to be improved during recovery. Don't miss this impactful day of action!
Expert Panel Presenters: Overview of the Governor's Proposed 2021/22 Budget; What has the Governor proposed and where are our opportunities?
  • Kristin Schumacher, CA Budget & Policy Center
  • Erin Gabel, Assembly Budget Committee
  • Sarah Neville-Morgan, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, Opportunities for All Branch - California Department of Education 
  • Jen Troia, Chief Deputy Director, Department of Social Services

Grassroots Advocacy: Supporting Impactful Decision Making Legislative "Prep-talk" 
  • Keisha Nzewi, CA Child Care Resource & Referral Network
  • Jamie Mauhay, Headstart California
For more information, agenda and to register, Click Here!

If you would like to sign on as a partner, please let us know!

Interested in supporting this Event?  Learn more about sponsorships here.

Thank you to our event sponsors:
2021-22 State Budget Updates
A week ago, Governor Newsom released his 2021-22 State Budget Proposal. Click here to read the budget summary along with Department of Finance (DOF) documents with more details.

The proposal released notes to close a $54.3 billion funding gap. Concern of a recession coming on, the proposal casts California's financials in a better position than anticipated.

For our earliest learners from birth to three there is strong concern that the budget proposal again leaves behind their needs and the needs of their working moms and dads to access to care during working hours. Although the budget makes an investment in expanding Transitional Kindergarten and Preschool, candidly those are not the areas that have lacked adequate funding prior to the pandemic and during. Further, in regards to both, and there is awareness of many moving reasons, but monies have been returned due to lack of schools with facilities for three to four year olds and/or reimbursement issues.

Regardless of why monies were historically returned, why would this governor continue to more than fully fund programs where there is not the capacity? Why would threre only be a focus of services being provided on school campuses and not in amazing private child care businesses? Why when so many of California's struggling families have absolutely no access to child care? Why is there a prioritization of learning needs for children after the age of three but not before?

For families with real child care needs outside of a three or five hour day, family child care providers and employers with employees with children birth to three, we must unify and elevate our voices. BABIES MATTER IN CALIFORNIA!

The conversation for child care and early learning must be restarted. The conversation must start with where is the critical need (absolutely with lack of access to infant care), what are the needs of the working family AND the child, and how do we build upon the existing private family child care and center capacity with public partnerships.
The Department of Finance document actually shows a loss of 8,682 child care slots for working moms and families to access in the 2021-22 fiscal year. We must all demand transparency in the California's budget process.
Upcoming Budget Hearings of Interest
  • January 21 @ 10:20 - SEN B&FR Sub 1 - SUBJECT: Governor's Safe Schools for All Plan: Will it Help Schools Open Safely?
  • January 25 @ 10:30 - ASM Budget Committee - Subject: Immediate Budget Action
  • January 26 @ 9:00 - ASM Budget Subcommittee 2 - PROPOSITION 98, TK-12 AND EARLY EDUCATION OVERVIEW OF THE GOVERNOR’S 2021–22 BUDGET
  • January 28 @ 8:00 - ASM Budget Committee - Subject: Immediate Budget Action
  • February 16 @ 2:30 - ASM Budget Subcommittee 2 - TK-12 EDUCATION
California Budget Proposal Expands Transitional Kindergarten, But Does Little To Support Child Care Industry In Crisis

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal calls for a $500 million investment toward the long-term goal of universal preschool, but promises little immediate relief for parents and providers struggling to operate during the pandemic and lacks critical details on how the state will spend new federal dollars for child care.

Expanding transitional kindergarten to serve every 4-year-old and all 3-year-olds from low-income families is one of the goals outlined in the long-anticipated Master Plan For Early Learning and Care released in December. Click here to read full article.
Legislation Updates

To date, 536 bills have been introduced. Of the 536, 295 are Assembly Bills (ABs) and 241 Senate Bills (SBs).

Eloise Gomez Reyes introduces AB 92 - Child Care Family Fees
With an emphasis on equity, AB 92 seeks to ease barriers to child care with the creation of a new sliding scale for family fees. With California being among the most expensive states for child care services in the nation, costs can eat up to 20% of an average family’s income. Which is significantly higher than the 7% maximum considered ideal by the federal government. 

Although state and federal subsidies exist to help families pay for child care, family fees continue to create barriers by making services unaffordable to working families. The proposed sliding scale in the bill would reduce family fees, tailoring costs according a family's ability to pay.

"By increasing the affordability of child care to working families, this bill will benefit the economic recovery of the state by helping parents remain in the workforce and achieve economic stability." Fact Sheet
Eloise Gómez Reyes was sworn in as a California State Assemblymember for the 47th Assembly District. She is the Chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee and also serves on the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee, Budget Committee, Judiciary Committee, Utilities and Energy Committee and Legislative Ethics Committee.
Upon being sworn in to her first term, Eloise was named Co-Chair to the Legislative Ethics Committee. In the second year of her first term, she was appointed Assistant Majority Whip - a leadership position that ensures that legislative floor session operates efficiently. Click here to read full biography.
Other bills of interest the field:
NOTE: If there is a piece of legislation that you would like to highlight, email here. Remember the distribution of this update is roughly 6,200.
Legislative Hearings of Interest
  • January 21 - JOINT HEARING BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE NO. 4 ON STATE ADMINISTRATION AND HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT upon call of the house
  • January 28 @ noon - SELECT COMMITTEE ON LATINA INEQUITIES - Unseen Latinas: Economic and Health Impacts on Latinas during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Federal News
Biden Harris $1.9 Trillion Dollar Relief Package Announced  

Last Thursday, the incoming Biden-Harris administration announced a $1.9 Trillion Dollar relief package, with $40 billion for child care. The NWLC and partners are analyzing the proposal and its contents could change during the legislative process, but key highlights are below.  

·        $25 billion dollar emergency stabilization fund: The Biden-Harris administration intends this fund to be used for child care providers who are in danger of closing and help with the increased cost burden of being open during the pandemic, among other things. The proposal states that the fund will “help providers pay for rent, utilities, and payroll, as well as increased costs associated with the pandemic including personal protective equipment, ventilation supplies, smaller group sizes, and modifications to make the physical environment safer for children and workers.”  
·        $15 billion towards CCDBG: The proposal expands on the $10 billion towards child care in the December relief package with an additional $15 billion. Citing the hundreds of thousands of women who have left the work force during the pandemic, the proposal states that the funds will help women reenter the workforce and “help rebuild the supply of child care providers, and encourage states to take meaningful steps towards increasing the pay and benefits of child care workers. In his speech, President Elect Biden highlighted the need for fair pay for caregivers, who are mostly women of color.  
·        Making child and dependent care tax credit (CDCTC) refundable: Under the proposal, the CDCTC will be expanded and made refundable for one year. Families will be able to claim a refundable credit of up to $4,000 for one child or $8,000 for two or more children.  Families making less than $125,000 annually will receive 50% of eligible expenses, and families making between $125,000 and $400,000 will receive a partial credit. The proposal also temporarily expands the Child Tax Credit for families with very low incomes, and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for workers not claiming children. 

We are grateful that the new administration’s proposal included a desperately needed $40 billion dedicated investment in child care. Prior to the pandemic, our country lacked a child care system capable of meeting the needs of children and families and providing quality jobs to child care workers. The pandemic exposed and exacerbated many of the challenges families and providers face. We know that the Biden-Harris proposal will prevent further losses of child care programs caused by the pandemic and help to stabilize the sector. We must learn from these lessons and take necessary steps to build a system that provides children, families, and child care providers with the resources and supports they need and deserve. 

House Ways and Means Committee Releases Framework to Achieve Health and Economic Equality 
On Tuesday, January 11th the House Ways and Means Committee released a staff report aimed at addressing the role that racism, ableism, and other social and political determinants of health have in perpetuating inequality in the United States. The report includes an important critique of the current Child and Dependent Tax Credit (CDCTC) and cites the committee’s support of a fully refundable child care tax credit.  
 
Most reviewed federal bills:

1.H.R.127 [117th]To provide for the licensing of firearm and ammunition possession and the registration of firearms, and to prohibit the possession of certain ammunition
2.H.R.133 [116th]Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
3.H.R.6395 [116th]National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
4.S.4031 [116th]American TRIP Act
5.S.3418 [116th]STORM Act
6.S.3548 [116th]CARES Act
7.H.J.Res.4 [117th]Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States limiting the pardon power of the President.
8.H.R.748 [116th]CARES Act
9.H.Res.14 [117th]Censuring and condemning President Donald J. Trump for attempting to overturn the results of the November 2020 presidential election in the State of Georgia.
10.H.R.9051 [116th]CASH Act of 2020
CDE Information & Updates
Webinar Announcement: CDE, Early Learning and Care Webinar on COVID-19 Guidance 

Attention: Executive Directors and Program Directors of All CDE Subsidized Early Learning and Care Programs

The CDE would like to thank those who are attending the webinars in our ongoing webinar series. The goal of these webinars is to continue to build a partnership with the early learning and care field and foster open communication and transparency. Through these webinars, the CDE will provide guidance and information on the work we are doing and answer questions that come in from the field.
 
The CDE is holding our next webinar on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, to provide updates on the following topics:
 
  • Recently released and ongoing CDE guidance work
  • Program Quality Implementation Updates
  • Fiscal Updates        
 
The CDE will be answering questions sent into the ELCDEmergency@cde.ca.gov email box and questions submitted live through the Questions and Answers component of Zoom. Any questions not addressed on the webinar will be shared with the team working on answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Before submitting your question, please check the Frequently Asked Questions webpage to see if your question has already been answered This webpage is located at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/covid19elcdfaq.asp.

Below is the information you will need to participate in the webinar. 

Date of Webinar: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 

Time of Webinar: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Topic: CDE Webinar on COVID-19 Guidance for Early Learning and Care Contractors  
 
In order to access the Webinar please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88081688636
 
Dial by your location
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
        +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
        +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

Webinar ID: 880 8168 8636
Passcode: 192841
Management Bulletin 21-01
Subject: COVID-19 Guidance regarding Local Planning Councils and California Resource and Referral Programs

Management Bulletin (MB) 21-01 is available on the CDE, ELCD Management Bulletins web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/allmbs.asp. The CDE, ELCD is releasing updated guidance to Resource & Referral (R&Rs) programs and Local Planning Councils (LPCs) regarding requirements and instructions to support family need during the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) State of Emergency in California.
To the extent possible, R&Rs must work directly with families whose children are enrolled in Emergency Childcare, and as the local R&R program, to assist families in accessing and navigating ongoing subsidized or nonsubsidized childcare services that meet the family need. The LPCs must continue to plan for early learning and care (ELC) services that meet the needs of the families in the local community during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. The LPCs must continue to assess and identify local child care needs. They should also continue to direct the community to available resources that support children and families in the community.
Key guidance for R&Rs includes, but is not limited to:
  • Coordinating childcare supply and referral to meet local childcare needs. 
  • Meeting ongoing data requirements.
  • Engaging in community outreach.
Key guidance for LPCs include, but are not limited to:
  • Partnering with the local agencies to encourage best practices and provide strategies and resources to the field.
  • Reporting newly emerging data about care needs for children of essential workers and the greater community to the CDE and the CDSS.
  • Connecting essential workers to needed childcare services, as applicable.
Changes to the Child Development Nutrition and Fiscal Services (CDNFS) Apportionments Schedules

Attention: Executive Directors and Program Directors of Early Learning and Care Programs
As of January 1, 2021, contractors receiving apportionments from Child Development Nutrition and Fiscal Services (CDNFS) may notice an increase to their child development program apportionments. Contractors typically receive monthly apportionment payments that represent an advance for the following month. For example, the apportionment payment received at the end of November provides an advance to contractors for December services. Beginning with the February 2021 apportionment payment, CDNFS will now process advance apportionments representing payment for two months. For example, the apportionment payment received at the end of January 2021 will now provide an advance to contractors for February and March services.
12-Month Eligibility Regulations

All Early Learning and Care Program Executive Directors, Program Directors and other interested parties:

This notice is to inform interested parties that pursuant to the requirements of Government Code section 11346.4(a), the 12-Month Eligibility Regulations have been posted to the CDE Proposed Rulemaking and Regulations web page and can be found at https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/lr/rr/calworks12monthelig.asp.
Any interested person, or that person’s authorized representative, may submit written comments relevant to the proposed regulatory action. Comments must be received by the Regulations Coordinator prior to or on January 20, 2021. Instructions on how to submit public comments can be found on the CDE Proposed Rulemaking and Regulations web page listed above. All written comments received by CDE staff during the public comment period are subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act.
Impact Inclusion State Leadership Team - Request for Applications (Early Learning and Care)
The CDE has established a workgroup with the purpose of sharing challenges, barriers, and best practices for inclusion of children with exceptional needs in early learning and care settings, and to continuously improve the inclusion of children with exceptional needs in high-quality California early learning and care programs. The workgroup, formerly known as the Impact Inclusion State Leadership Team (SLT), consists of representatives from the CDE, the State Department of Developmental Services, the State Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Intervention, local educational agencies, appropriate county agencies, regional centers, and resource and referral agencies.
Authority: Education Code Article 23.5 Section 8492 (a)(5)(k)
The SLT is currently requesting applications from the following representatives:
  • Regional Center
  • Resource and Referral Agency
  • Family Resource Center
  • Parent of a child birth through five years old
If you are interested in serving one of these roles as a participant in the SLT, please complete the attached application and submit it to the Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program (IEEEP) mailbox at IEEEP@cde.ca.gov no later than January 22, 2021.
New Contractor’s and New Program Director’s Resources
Click Here to see resources and CDE Department Contacts
CAPPA is committed to supporting our field with a coordinated calendar. Click here to see current calendar of events. If you have an event to add, email CAPPA and it will be added.
The Weekly Good
An uplifting way to start the week, for those of us who need a break from the chaos that is our lives.
During this time where we are all stressed, it would be great to celebrate the positive. Each week we will celebrate everyday heroes, inspiring movements and great things happening in our field. 
From the from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation:

Dear friends,
Our fifth annual National Day of Racial Healing is just one week away.
Many people would like to talk about the impact of racism—and the need for racial healing—but don’t know where to start. Over the past five years, many have found creative ways to engage in honest, powerful and moving conversations and experiences to build relationships and lay the groundwork for racial healing.

With this day, our goal is to bridge divides, affirm our common humanity and together, create more just and equitable communities.
Please join us on Tues., Jan. 19, 2021 beginning at 3 p.m. ET along with our host, Baratunde Thurston, and featuring John Legend, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Hasan Minhaj, Maria Hinojosa, Aloe Blacc, Storm Reid and more.
To RSVP for the National Day of Racial Healing, find other virtual events hosted by organizations near you, and download action kits to bring racial healing to your community, visit https://www2.wkkf.org/e/541352/2021-01-12/5v44w3/609362620?h=nphpKQtS92CdzI4jH0EUojILBNqQWsSHJyPsIlOBWYc.
Healing is at the heart of racial equity.
#HowWeHeal
Agency Shout-Out
Valley Oak Children’s Services
Touching the HEART of Children, Families and our Community through:
Health, Education, Advocacy, Resources and Training
January 13, 2021
By Beth Hamer and Mona Kazemi


As a critical infrastructure essential business, Valley Oak Children’s Services (VOCS) has remained open throughout the entire duration of the COVID-19 pandemic to support families, children, child care providers, and the community. We recognize and honor that child care and professional support of the child care infrastructure is essential to not only the workforce here in Butte County, but also to the economic recovery of the County.
To give some general background, our current agency contracts include: multiple subsidized child care contracts – which include CalWORKs and Non-CalWORKS contracts, an Early Head Start Partnership (EHS), the Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP), Parent Voices, Butte Parent Café, Behavioral Health Services, Literacy Program, Resource and Referral (R&R), Preschool Development Grant (PDG), Child Care Food Program, Emergency Foster Care Bridge Program, Family Child Care Home Education Network (FACES), and Fingerprinting Services. We are also the Preventative Health and Safety Hub for nine counties. Our annual budget amount for fiscal year 2020-21 is $14,564,450. The majority of this money is put back out into the local economy through resources and materials for families and providers and payment to child care providers.
The area of child care is a unique one in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools are closed for distance-learning and hybrid models, but many parents and guardians are still essential and must work. In addition, child care providers have been encouraged to stay safely open to provide care for the children of essential workers. As a Resource and Referral and an Alternative Payment Program agency, VOCS is a critical support for families, children, and childcare providers in Butte County. 

Click here to read full article.
Field Happenings and Resources




Children's Council San Francisco

Let us know what your organization is doing, we would love to feature you in the coming weeks!        
Upcoming Partner Events
Spreading the Word about the CalEITC & YCTC (California Earned Income Tax Credit and Young Child Tax Credit) 
January 21, 2021
10 am – 11 am
 
You are invited to join First 5 Association and First 5 counties for a webinar discussing strategies, tools, and messaging for communicating with families, and those who support them, about the California Earned Income Tax Credit and Young Child Tax Credit. 
‌
January –
Evidence Says Webinar Series – Program Leadership – January 21, 2:00 pm PST
Click here to learn more

February –
The Leadership Challenge Workshop – February 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 2021
Click here to learn more.
Interesting Reads
Mayor London Breed Announces $25 Million Early Education Economic Recovery Program


San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today announced $25 million in financial assistance for San Francisco's early care and education programs, which care for approximately 10,000 children across the city. These child care and education programs provide essential services for San Francisco families, however, many are struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk of permanently closing. Mayor Breed and former Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee created the Early Education Economic Recovery Program with funding from revenue unlocked by Proposition F. The Program will help San Francisco's early child care and education programs remain open and give them the resources they need to offer high-quality services to the children in their care.
CAPPA Member Only Benefits

Not a member?





COVID-19 Weekly Zoom Calls:
Our commitment to you is to have scheduled at least once per week a call wherein we can all connect. As questions arise, forward them to CAPPA so that we can address them on these calls. Look for a weekly email to register. Recording and Q&A will also be posted on the Member's Only page. 
Best Practices
CAPPA has been working on Best Practices and policies to support you during this challenging time.
Visit the Member's Only website to view today!
Sample of webinars available on the Member's only website:
HR Webinar on Telecommuting, Best Practices for Program Integrity (Fraud Prevention), Provider Reimbursements, Adults & Trauma, Enrollment

Visit the CAPPA Member's Only website for more information on this webinar series and other benefits available to CAPPA Members.  
CAPPA's 2020-21 Board of Directors
President
Rick Richardson
Child Development Associates

Vice President
Michelle Graham
Children's Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County

Treasurer
Beth Chiaro
Child Care Resource Center 

Secretary
LaVera Smith
Supportive Services Fresno

Past President & Public Policy Advisor
Martin Castro
Mexican American Opportunity Foundation

Public Policy Chair
Gina Fromer
Children's Council of San Francisco 

Members-at-Large
Karen Marlatt
Valley Oak Children's Services

Tina Barna
Catalyst Community

Abby Shull
YMCA Childcare Resource Service 
 
Leslie Reece
Family Resource & Referral of San Joaquin County

Jeanne Fridolfs
Napa County Office of Education

Mike Michelon
Siskiyou Child Care Council

Marco Jimenez
Central Valley Children's Services Network

Joie Owen
Glenn County Office of Education

Tracey Strack
Child Action, Inc.

Kendall Hirai
Crystal Stairs, Inc. 

Denyne Micheletti Colburn
CAPPA CEO

The representation of the CAPPA board spreads across all agency types and sizes, and represents voices from nearly every region in California 
ELCD/CDE, DSS & CCLD Updates
January 13, 2021
Management Bulletin 21-01: COVID-19 Guidance regarding Local Planning Councils and California Resource and Referral Programs
January 13, 2021
December 31, 2020
December 28, 2020
December 10, 2020
December 9, 2020
Management Bulletin 20-19a: Guidance on Family Fees for FY 2020-21
December 11, 2020
Job Openings
Is Your Organization Hiring?
Post your job announcement here for thousands to see!
There is no charge for CAPPA members.
Non-members will be charged a fee of $75.
Please email us your posting!

Colusa County Office of Education

Child Care Resource Center (CCRC)

Child Action, Inc. Sacramento

Davis Street Family Resource Center, Alameda County

Solano Family and Children's Services


Colusa County Office of Education
Of Interest
Become a Monday 
Morning Update Partner! 
Our Monday Morning Update supports our Early Learning & Child Care field with timely information about what is going on in California and nationally; as well as dates to be aware and upcoming events. 

Our weekly Monday morning distribution is to more than 6,200 federal and state local agencies, resource and referrals, contractors, legislators and their staffs', centers, parents, providers, state departments and advocates. 

To help support the continuation of this resource and or advertise in the Monday Morning Update, click  HERE.

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The Children's Foundation is a non-profit organization (501(c)3), Taxpayer Identification Number is 03-0521444. Your generous donation is tax deductible.