Children’s Fair to Celebrate 4Cs 50th Anniversary

From 4Cs

April 19, 2023

A Note From Our Executive Director

Dear friend of 4Cs,

Fifty years of service is a milestone that 4Cs of Alameda County is proud to celebrate. Five decades ago a group of parents came together in Southern Alameda County to brainstorm how best to support families who needed child care and Community Childcare Coordinating Council of Alameda County was born. A few logo changes, name updates, office locations, and years later and here we are preparing to celebrate 50 years with the community that makes 4Cs of Alameda County such an incredible, impactful family resource center. Speaking of a few years later, I am excited that, after a rain out followed by a couple years of pandemic interruptions, we are bringing back my favorite event of the year – our Annual Children’s Fair! On May 20^th from 10am-1pm we welcome you all to join us for a day of fun, festivities, giveaways, and more. Don’t forget to stop by the Welcome Table and say “hi!” as I look forward to celebrating with all of you as you are part of the community of families, friends, community partners, and child care providers that makes this anniversary celebration extra special.

Be well,

Renee S. Herzfeld

Chief Executive Officer

Community Spotlight

Jackie Amo-Mensah

Intern at 4Cs of Alameda County

“The most fulfilling part of my project was the knowledge and skills I developed from doing the task. Also, realizing the wonderful work 4Cs of Alameda County does for children, families and the community was a wake-up call for me to do more.”

Jackie Amo-Mensah is a graduate student in the final year of her Master of Science in Early Childhood Education program at California State University, East Bay. Earlier this year she reached out to the 4Cs team to see how she could lend her passion for ECE leadership and advocacy (and earn classroom credit) to 4Cs’ work. 4Cs of Alameda County’s Development and Communications team was honored to work with Jackie throughout her internship. She was an incredible asset as she worked with 4Cs Director of Development and Communications, Katie Honegger, and Development and Communications Coordinator, Gabby Mejia, on data information sheets to be used in the agency’s advocacy and policy work. The collaboration was a success all-around with Jackie diving deep into the programs, services, and impact 4Cs has while learning more about design and marketing technology and the 4Cs team thrilled to have the support of such a passionate and dedicated intern. Thank you, Jackie for your hard work, we appreciate you!

News

Enjoy Many Fun Activities at 4Cs Children's Fair

Our Children’s Fair is almost one month away! This FREE community event takes place at our Hayward Office (22351 City Center Drive, Hayward, CA) on Saturday, May 20^th from 10am-1pm. View the flyer available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

Join us for the following:

• Arts & Crafts

Children are invited to get creative by making self-portraits with colorful construction paper and markers.

• Eat. Learn. Play. Bus

The Eat. Learn. Play. Bus will deliver critical resources like books and nutritious meals directly to kids and families.

• Curbie

Hayward Public Library’s bookmobile Curbie is coming and providing library services such as books and information about library cards.

• Photos with Chase

& Stomper

Take photos with our special guests Chase, a rescue dog in training from kid tv series PAW Patrol, and Stomper, the Oakland A's mascot.

• Giveaways

Get your Children’s Fair Passport stamped at each booth and turn it in at the door prize table for a chance to win an awesome prize!

• Community Resources

Local nonprofit social services organizations will be available to connect you to community resources.

And more!!

Thank you to our event sponsor R. Zaballos and Sons, Inc.!

More Than $4,700 Raised for Week of the Young Child

Thank you all for your participation in a wonderful week celebrating children, families, and teachers.

Our Week of the Young Child campaign raised more than $4,700 in support for our essential programs and services that help children, families, and child care care providers succeed.

Today we know more than ever before about the importance of children's earliest years. Yet, never before have the needs of young children and their families been more pressing. Please continue to recognize that children's opportunities are our responsibilities. Let us work together to promote early learning at home, child care, school, and in our communities by celebrating the children in our lives every day!

We look forward to you joining us for next year's Week of the Young Child!

Hayward Promise Neighborhoods (HPN)

Awarded $30 Million for Expansion

4Cs is proud to be the HPN Early Learning Network leader and provide essential programming for Hayward Promise Neighborhoods community members with little ones. We are excited to be a part of this next chapter of HPN, expanding our reach to those in the new Downtown Hayward Promise Neighborhood for the next five years including those living and attending school just outside our main Hayward Office doors! Read more about the exciting news here.

We also provide Family Navigation for parents with children birth to 8 years old living in HPN that are looking for one on one strength-based support and assistance connecting to numerous services. For details see link here. If you have any questions, email Lizbeth Gonzalez at [email protected].

Additional Stipends to Be Issued to Providers

In September, 2022 additional stipends for child care providers caring for children on child care payment assistance programs were authorized via AB 179. If you served children under 4Cs of Alameda County Child Care Payment Programs in April 2022 AND you fill out an ARPA survey (see links below) by June 1^st,you are eligible to receive the $1,442 per child served stipend. The stipends are currently scheduled to be sent by 4Cs of Alameda County to providers in summer, 2023. If you have any additional questions, please DSS subsidized stipend webpage. ARPA survey links are as following.

• English ARPA Survey

• Spanish ARPA Survey

• Chinese ARPA Survey

• Russian ARPA Survey

• Somali ARPA Survey

• Arabic ARPA Survey

Resources

Tax Deadline Extended to October 16, 2023

The state of California and the federal government extended the tax season for disaster related reasons and Alameda County is included in this extension. Read more about the Winter Storm Tax Relief for Californians here.

If you haven't already filed your taxes, you have until October 16, 2023 without being penalized! Get your taxes done at no cost through our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Call our Site Coordinator, Alicia Holland, at (510) 925-4018 to schedule an appointment to drop off your tax documents or you can submit your tax documents through our secured online portal at getyourrefund.org/4cs.

Featured Events & Trainings

THRIVE!

April 20 - May 11

Thursday Evenings | 7pm-9pm

Virtual

¡PROSPERE!

20 de abril al 11 de mayo

Jueves por la noche | 7pm-9pm

Virtual

You are invited to a FREE online parenting series in which you will explore the importance of social life, communication skills, multigenerational homes and blended families. Spanish translation provided. Gift card drawings at every session! View the flyer for more information.

Register here for one session or all four remaining sessions, where you will learn alongside other parents from our facilitator, Coach Diedre Goree.

Le invitamos a participar en una serie en línea GRATUITA sobre la crianza de los hijos que se explorarán la importancia de la vida social, las habilidades de comunicación, los hogares multigeneracionales y las familias mixtas. Traducción en español proporcionada. ¡Sorteo de tarjetas de regalo en cada sesión! Consulte el folleto para más información.

Inscríbase aquí para una sesión o para las cuatro sesiones restantes, donde aprenderá junto a otros padres de nuestra facilitadora, la entrenadora Diedre Goree.

Hayward Promise Neighborhoods (HPN)

Parent Promise Academy

April 17 - June 19 *No class Memorial Day*

Mondays | 10:30am-12pm | Virtual

The 4Cs Hayward Promise Neighborhoods (HPN) department is now registering for the Spring 2023 session. Parent Promise Academy is for HPN and other Hayward parents. The Parent Promise Academy (PPA) is a program where parents of all walks of life may form connections and gain insight from one another. The PPA utilizes the Abriendo Puertas-Opening Doors curriculum which focuses on the different stages of children from 0-8 years old. Earn a $100 grocery gift card if you complete the 9 weekly sessions! View the flyer (PDF) here.

This is an English course. Necessary materials for the class will be provided. Fore more information, eligibility, and registration, please contact Diana Cortes at [email protected].