February 2019
FROM OUR CEO, KELLY O'LAGUE DULKA
"In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do was skipping stones. I was fascinated by the way the stones would bounce across the water and leave a trail of concentric circles. I loved watching the beautiful circles that spread out from the bounce of a simple stone.

When I think of the effects of kindness, what comes to mind for me is the image of those concentric circles. One small act of kindness can ripple out the way the water does. Have you ever been the recipient of an unexpected act of kindness? It's amazing how nice it is, right? And, research shows that when someone is on the receiving end of kindness, it makes them more likely to treat others with kindness in response.

Over the past year, we've been offering workshops at Child Care Links on the effects of stress and trauma on children. We've studied how trauma affects brain development, social and emotional well-being and even physical and mental health. Sadly, we know that a high percentage of children experience one or more traumatic events by the time they reach kindergarten. Often we aren't even aware of the trauma children have experienced. There's a saying that has really resonated with me. It goes like this, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about."

During the month of February our call to action at Child Care Links involves kindness. Recognizing that everyone carries hurts and hopes and heartache, we hope you will join us in finding ways to be a source of care and compassion for those around you. Just a simple act of kindness can have a huge impact. Years ago, out of the blue, someone came up to me at an outdoor cafe in San Francisco, handed me a small bouquet of flowers and said, "I just wanted to tell you that I hope you have a really good day." Of course, that small gesture left a lasting mark on my heart. I never saw that person again, never had the chance to appropriately thank him, but all these years later, I still remember his simple act of kindness.

Let's inspire each other this month to be kind to those around us. Share your acts of kindness with us, those you've given and those you've received, on social media. Use the hashtag: #CCLKindnessProject. If you aren't on social media, email them to me ([email protected]) and I'll share them for you.

I believe that together, by inspiring kindness, we can change the world.

Upcoming Events & Trainings
SHARE THE LOVE EVENT!
Saturday, February 23rd
80 Swan Way, Oakland, 94621
10.00AM - 12.00PM
Child Care Links has been collecting lots of great clothes, toys, and books, and we want to share them with YOU! Visit us in Oakland on Saturday, February 23rd from 10.00AM - 12.00PM to browse all of our items and shop for FREE!

Items available:
  • Infant clothing, toys and additional baby items
  • Adult clothing
  • Shoes
  • And so much more!

Questions? Contact 510.568.0306 for more information!
P L A Y G R O U P !
Mondays (4 week session)
February 4th, 11th, 25th, & March 4th
Fireflies (0-18 months)
9.00AM - 9.45PM
Bumble Bees (18 months - 3 years)
10.00AM - 10.45AM
February 6th & 20th
When Mental Illness Lives at your House: Helping Children Cope
6.30PM - 8.30PM
|LICENSE EXEMPT PROVIDERS|
February 7th
Fighting Dirty:
Germs go down the Drain
6.30PM - 8.30PM

*For those caring for a family member, friend, or neighbor's child(ren)*
February 9th
EMSA CPR & First Aid
9.00AM - 5.30PM
Cost: $90.00
February 9th
Mixed Media Art for Children
10.00AM - 12.00PM
|PARENT WORKSHOP|
February 12th
Child Care Links OAKLAND OFFICE
Choosing Quality Child Care
6.30PM - 8.00PM
February 12th
A Deeper Look into VAK & Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences
6.30PM - 8.30PM
|LICENSE EXEMPT PROVIDERS|
February 13th
Child Care Links OAKLAND OFFICE
Help Me Grow:
Is this Behavior Normal?
11.30AM - 1.00PM

*For those caring for a family member, friend, or neighbor's child(ren)*
February 13th
Child Support 101:
Learning, Enforcing and Asking
6.30PM - 8.30PM
|PARENT WORKSHOP|
February 19th
Positive Discipline and
Redirection Strategies
6.30PM - 8.30PM
February 23rd
Mastering Record Keeping and
Tax Preparation
8.30AM - 11.30AM
February 23rd
Reducing your Risks:
Legal & Insurance Issues
12.00PM - 2.00PM
|PARENT WORKSHOP|
February 28th
Strengthening Families:
Raising the Resilient Child
6.30PM - 8.30PM
|Join us at the Zoo|
March 1st, 12PM
Are you receiving payment from Child Care Links to provide child care for a family member, friend, or neighbor's child(ren)? We appreciate YOU and the amazing care you provide to children , and we want to invite you for a FREE afternoon at the Oakland Zoo!
WHAT'S GOING ON AT CHILD CARE LINKS?
THANK YOU EDDIE PAPA'S!
Looking for a place to eat this weekend? Check out Eddie Papa's in Pleasanton! Child Care Links is so excited that Eddie Papa's has chosen Child Care Links as their "family focused charity" this month! The restaurant is dedicating 1% of all the special's sales to Child Care Links.

|Eddie Papa's|
4889 Hopyard Rd, Pleasanton
Friday Night Movie Night! Child Care Links hosted our first Family Night Movie Night featuring Toy Story! Over 45 community members joined us dressed in their cozy jammies and favorite blankets!
|Child Care Links in the News|
Child Care Links was featured in the Pleasanton Weekly newspaper! We are so honored to be chosen as the front page and an additional two pages inside! A big thank you to Jeb Bing, Pleasanton Weekly Editor, for visiting Child Care Links and reflecting the impact Child Care Links is having in our community!
|Child Care Links in the Community|
Child Care Links was honored to co-sponsor this year's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Fellowship Breakfast! Those who joined us were entertained by Emcee, former Mayor of Dublin, Tim Sbranti, Keynote Speaker,  Brian Copeland , and  Pleasanton Unified School District  Superintendent, David Haglund. Honored at the event were Legacy Award Winners, Lis a McNaney, Founder and Executive Director of Culinary Angels, and Joanna Livingston, Founder of A Cup A Joey.
For Our Child Care Providers
Winter 2019 Child Care Quarterly Update
Community Care Licensing has posted their Winter Quarterly Update! Be sure to stay up to date on all changes that effect your child care program!
Follow us on Pinterest? Check out all of our creative Pinterest Boards and get creative ideas to implement into your classroom and child care program!
For Our Families
Parent Workshops!

Child Care Links strongly believes that it takes a village to raise a child and we are here to be apart of your village! Join Child Care Links on the THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH for FREE parent workshops! Every month, Child Care Links will have an opportunity for parents to strengthen their parenting skills, and learn from other parents in their community!

Dinner and child care provided!
February 19th
Positive Discipline & Redirection Strategies
March 19th
Fundamentals of Child Development
April 16th
The Spirited Child
May 21st
Birth Order & Sibling Rivalries and the Importance of Routine
June 18th
From Opposition to Cooperation
OUR DIAPER DONORS
A Special Thank You to Our "Diaper Darlings" and all others who have contributed to our pantries whether it is time, energy or money. We couldn't do it without YOU!

Satabhish Aeka ~ Afsheen Afzal ~ Shruti Agarwal ~ Diane Anderson ~ Salvation Army ~ Julie Ashmore ~ Jane Kraemer Baker ~ Chaitali Bandyopadhyay ~ Mary Baptist ~ Deborah Barker~ Denise Berkowitz ~ Kathy Bernandez ~ Blazing Fire Church ~ Boys Team Charity Pleasanton League ~ Lenisha Brewer ~ Tracy Brown ~ Nicola Brown ~ Jill Buck ~ Julie Camberg ~ Judith Caminiti ~ Amy Carr ~ Eric & Paulette Carr ~ Carrie Chambers ~ Kristen Charlson ~ Ann Clark ~ Crosswinds Church ~ Kate D'Or ~ Bibek Das ~ Ian Davidson ~ Chuck Deckert ~ Delia & Charlie DeLaRosa ~ Nicole Denney ~ Camille Denzel ~ Alyssa de Quina ~ Shelley Despotakis ~ Dublin Unified School District ~ Annie Dulka ~ Kathy Dulka ~ Kelly O'Lague Dulka ~ Ryan Duncan Anderson ~ Captain Craig Eicher ~ Amanda and Victor Ferrer ~ Marilyn Foletta ~ Free to Be Me Child Care ~ Kendra Frerich ~ Helen Fulgado ~ Lisa Garcia ~ Lori and Paul Garcia ~ Marty Garcia-Cotter ~ Kristen Geller ~ Gingerbread Preschool ~ Erin Green ~ Kristie Gross ~ Charlotte Guinn ~ Noelle Hannula ~ Jim Hanscom ~ Hindu Community and Cultural Center ~ Jamie Hintzke ~ Angela & Garrett Holmes ~ Becky Hopkins ~ Jennifer Hosterman ~ Bonita F. Hourel ~ Amanda Houston ~ Tami Ingram ~ Karen Kallestad-Miller ~ Nikki Kotz ~ Sara Kwan ~ Lakeshore Learning ~ Kimberly LaRosa ~ LaDonna and Gary Leach ~ Joanna Livingston ~ Sisi Mac ~ Sarah Mann ~ Ken Mano ~ Marilyn Mattoon ~ Debbie Marshall ~ Kurt McAninch ~Ruth McAninch ~ Michelle McDonald ~ Stephanie McGough ~ Joelle McGlothlin ~ Kimberly McLellan ~ Tiana Megofna ~ Amy Miller ~ Mollie Molin ~ Wendy Montgomery ~ Nancy Mullins ~ Alice Nakanishi ~ Dorian Nasby ~ Debbie Nemecek ~ North Pleasanton Rotary Club ~ Renee Palm ~ Dezarae Patterson ~ Colin and Anneke Proudfoot ~ Woody Queen ~ Kathleen Redmond ~ Angela Register ~ Heather Rizzoli ~ Rotary Club of Pleasanton ~ Bonnie Russell ~ Gwen Salzborn ~ Susan Schall ~ Share the Spirit East Bay News Group ~ Laurie Shields ~ Harshmeet Singh ~ Dina Sklovskaya ~ Janel Sloan ~ Linda Smith ~ Jennifer Solari ~ St. Clare's Episcopal Church ~ Dick Stafford ~ Marie and Padraig Stapleton ~ Marissa Stein ~ Bob Tedrick ~ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ~ Stefanie Tomlinson ~ Valley Family Child Care Association ~ Austin Verive ~ Arany Uthayakumar ~ Dawn Wilson ~ Marjorie Wong-Gilmore ~ Carly Yamaichi ~ Lea Yancey ~ Kathy Young

If you would like to donate diapers,
please email [email protected]

Are you coming to my event?
DATE AND TIME
2/6/19 1:00pm - 2/6/19 5:00pm

I'll be there!
Maybe
I can't make it