FROM OUR CEO, KELLY O'LAGUE DULKA
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"Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” ~Plato
I grew up in a family of readers. My mom loved to read and she cultivated in my sister and me a love of reading. Visits to the library were frequent, books were treasured and reading for fun was part of every day.
I didn't realize as a child what an incredible gift my mom was giving me. When I became a mom, this gift, the love of reading, is something I wanted to give my children. Ultimately, though, the gift was mine. I see my kids, all now in their twenties, reading about current events, reading for pleasure, reading to broaden and expand their thinking. And now we have another generation of little ones to read with. Reading really is magical!
Jacqueline Kennedy is quoted as having said,
"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all."
The United States is facing a literacy crisis
. Yes, crisis. It isn’t new, but its impacts upon our kids, our economy, and our society are far-reaching and expanding. How bad is it? Take a look at some numbers. More than 30 million adults in the United States cannot read, write, or do basic math above a third-grade level. Children whose parents have low literacy levels have a 72 percent chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves. These children are more likely to get poor grades, display behavioral problems, have high absentee rates, repeat school years, or drop out.
At Child Care Links, our primary mission is to help families access the resources they need to thrive.
Clearly, one of the best ways to do that is to promote literacy! This month, we are encouraging you to
join our Race to Reading Adventure
!
Every book you read entitles you to one entry in our contest! Read a book to a child and get two entries! All you have to do is email us at
[email protected]
and tell us the name of the book(s) you read and the date you completed the book. We will enter you into our Child Care Links Race to Reading Adventure drawing. Thanks to our generous donors, some of our lucky readers will win gift cards to Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Starbucks , Peet's Coffee or Vitality Bowl.
We will also be hosting a Family Read Night on March 29th! Join us in Pleasanton or Oakland for an evening of family fun while we cultivate a love of reading!
One last thing...when you're done reading a book, consider donating it to Child Care Links. If you need a book to read, stop by and pick one up at our office.
Together we can tackle the literacy crisis and build a better future for the kids in our community!
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Join Child Care Links as we celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with some of our favorite stories!
We don't want you to miss this event so we are hosting two Family Read Nights on March 29th, one at our Pleasanton Office and one at our Oakland Office.
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March 29th
5.30PM - 7.00PM
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WHAT'S GOING ON AT CHILD CARE LINKS?
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SHARE THE
LOVE
On Saturday, February 23rd, Child Care Links once again partnered with the local community to collect gently used items to re-distribute to the Oakland community. Families had the opportunity to shop for interview attire, shoes, infant and adult clothing, and household items all for FREE! Our Diaper Pantry was also open, and our families were able to receive free books, diapers and wipes! Our staff and volunteers played and read stories to children as their parents learned about the importance of talking, reading and singing to their child, picked out interview attire for upcoming job opportunities, and even did a little birthday shopping for their children. One amazing little girl was even able to stock up on tutus and dresses
(see adorable picture below)!
Don't worry, if you weren't able to make it on Saturday, there is still time to shop! Drop by Child Care Links in Oakland during business hours to browse all of our donations and diapers, and take anything you need!
*Diapers are on a first come, first served basis. To receive diapers, families must bring
valid photo ID
and be
currently receiving child care assistance
through Child Care Links.*
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Advocating for YOU!
State Capitol, Sacramento
Child Care Links CEO, Kelly O'Lague Dulka, attended R&R Day in the Capitol along with over 100 other R&R advocates. Kelly spoke with legislators about
the importance of child care, and how it is effecting the families in our community. During her visits, she had the
opportunity to meet with Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan! Together, they talked diapers, child care, and how we can partner together to meet our community's needs!
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It Takes a Village!
Child Care Links is so thankful for the community members who are invested in our Diaper Pantry and have partnered with Child Care Links to bring diapers into our agency so we can turn them around and provide them to the families in our community!
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This month, Vanessa Dilks, Director of Community Services, was invited to speak at John Knox Presbyterian Church to speak about our Diaper Pantry! A BIG thank you to all those that donated after hearing about our program.
Child Care Links also received a VERY generous donation from the North Pleasanton Rotary Club who facilitated a diaper drive that resulted in 2333 diapers! This will provide so many babies with clean diapers, and reduce the stress on their parents now that they can change their diapers more often.
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We LOVE volunteers!
Child Care Links had the pleasure of attending Golden Gate University's Professional Development Fair. We connected with students looking to donate their time and resources to help advance the cause of local nonprofits.
If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, click below to contact Child Care Links today!
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Making a Difference in the Community!
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Child Care Links is SO very proud of our CEO, Kelly O'Lague Dulka! She recently received the Jenny Doehle Leadership Pleasanton Award from the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce. This award is presented each year to an individual who demonstrates the principles of the Leadership Pleasanton program and best exemplifies the program’s goals of giving outstanding community service.
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FREE Child Care Referrals!
Child Care Links assists families seeking child care by providing FREE child care referrals and information on available child care options in the cities of Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, and Sunol.
Check out the video below on some information regarding choosing quality child care!
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Let us help you find the best fit for you
and your family!
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FREE Tax Preparation!
Free tax preparation is available for low-to-moderate income (earning less than $66,000) individuals, families and seniors. Assistance is available from January 30th - April 14th at the below locations:
- Dublin Tri-Valley Career Center
- Pleasanton Public Library
- Las Positas College
IRS certified volunteers are available to e-file state and federal taxes for FREE. Clients can get their refund in as little as 10 days!
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Milestone Tracker
From birth to age 5, your child is reaching milestones every day. You will see it in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move!
Track your child’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with illustrated checklists, tips for encouraging your child’s development, and what to do if you concerned about how your child is developing.
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For Our Child Care Providers
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The Community Care Licensing Division’s Child Care Program has posted the following PINs on their
website
. This important information is regarding the Child Care Inspection Tool Pilot and the Safe Sleep Awareness Campaign in English and in Spanish.
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Increase in Child Care Visits!
The Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Child Care Program will be increasing their monitoring of child care facilities. It is their hope that through increased visits Licensing Program Analysts will be able to provide more technical guidance and assistance to licensed child care providers. This can lead to fewer citations and administrative actions.
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Upcoming Events & Trainings
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|Join us at the Zoo|
March 1st, 12.00PM
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!
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March 6th & 20th
The Impact of Early Adversity on Lifelong Health
6.30PM - 8.30PM
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P
L
A
Y
G
R
O
U
P
!
Mondays
(4 week session)
March 11th, 18th, 25th, &
April 1st
Fireflies
(0-18 months)
9.00AM - 9.45PM
Bumble Bees
(18 months - 3 years)
10.00AM - 10.45AM
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March 9th
Desired Results
Development Profile (DRDP)
8.00AM - 4.30PM
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March 12th
Healthy Snacks & Dietary Adjustments for Children
6.30PM - 8.30PM
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|LICENSE EXEMPT PROVIDERS|
March 13th
Child Care Links
OAKLAND OFFICE
Healthy Snacks & Dietary Adjustments for Children
11.30AM - 1.00PM
*For those caring for a family member, friend, or neighbor's child(ren)*
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|PARENT WORKSHOP|
March 19th
Fundamentals of Child Development
5.30PM - 7.30PM
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March 23rd
Desired Results Development Profile
Planning with Data (DRDP-PWD)
8.00AM - 4.30PM
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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
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Blazing Fire Church ~ Boys Team Charity Pleasanton League
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Lenisha Brewer ~ Tracy Brown ~ Nicola Brown ~ Jill Buck
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Sharon Caldeira ~ Julie Camberg ~ Judith Caminiti
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Amy Carr ~ Eric & Paulette Carr ~ Carrie Chambers ~ Kristen Charlson ~ Ann Clark ~ Crosswinds Church
~
Kate D'Or ~ Bibek Das ~ Ian Davidson ~ Mike Dean ~ 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 ~ Lucinda Scanlan ~ 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,
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