Early Childhood CARES October 2020 e-News
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October-November Calendar

  • October 5, Deadline to register for Fall Positive Behavior Group
  • October 7, Positive Behavior Group Begins
  • October 9, No ECSE Services
  • November 11, No ECSE Services
  • November 23-27, No ECSE Services

Our 2020-21 service calendar is available to download here.
October is a great month to get your annual flu shot. The CDC recommends annual flu vaccinations for everyone age 6 months and older. Influenza typically circulates from October through April, peaking December through February. Getting a flu shot is especially important this year during the COVID-19 pandemic to help protect your family and our community. Children can get flu shots through their pediatrician or Lane County Public Health. Adults and children ages 7 and older can get flu shots at their local pharmacy, their primary care provider, or Lane County Public Health.
We're hiring!

We are currently hiring temporary teaching assistants for our preschool classrooms. We're looking for people who are patient with young children and willing to learn. Send your resume and references to Jeanine Taylor at jetaylor@uoregon.edu.
Wildfire Resource for Children

This is a free downloadable children's book available in English and Spanish. This story was developed to help young children and their families begin to talk about feelings and worries they may have after they have experienced a large-scale fire in their community.
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Coffee Chats on Facebook and YouTube

On September 23, Early Childhood CARES directors Kim Giansante and LaWanda Potter shared information about our services for fall 2020. This short 13-minute video covers information on comprehensive distance learning as well as in-person services. You can view it on YouTube here.

In another recent video, Natalya McComas, behavior specialist with our program, shared resources and strategies to help support your child with mask-wearing, social distancing, safe greetings, and more. This video has a supplemental handout on back-to-school social-emotional resources, which can be found here. These resources include supports for children who are returning to in-person childcare as well as those who are continuing with entirely remote learning.

Links to previous videos:

What's a coffee chat?: These are 20-minute chats between our Family Engagement Coordinator and service providers or community partners. These sessions will be recorded to our Facebook page and also posted to our YouTube channel. We hope to continue this series throughout the fall, so stay tuned for the latest updates.
The group is designed to help parents decrease negative behaviors in preschool-aged children. Topics covered will include child-directed play, praise & rewards, household routines & rules, and limit setting.

Please note that this group meets in the mornings. If you haven't been able to attend previous groups because of evening schedule conflicts, this may be a good opportunity for you to participate.

The group will be led by Ursula Crawford, Family Engagement & Resource Coordinator with Early Childhood CARES, and Erin Dent, an Early Childhood Special Educator.

Pre-registration is required. Families should provide us with their email address at time of registration. We will be sending information on how to access the Zoom sessions via email. Families must have Internet access and a phone, tablet, or computer that is compatible with Zoom. If you need to borrow a tablet or help with Internet access, please let us know. We don't want technology to be a barrier for families wanting to access this class.

To register:
Call 541-346-2578, Text 541-393-7200, or Email eccares@uoregon.edu
Registration deadline: Monday, October 5.
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Ideas for a Fun & Safe Halloween

October typically brings with it many family traditions including visits to the pumpkin patch, trick-or-treating, and Halloween or Harvest festival parties. However, 2020 is not a typical year and it's important to re-think our holiday traditions to prevent unnecessary spread of COVID-19.

Here's a breakdown of some do's and don'ts this Halloween, per CDC guidelines.

Trick-or-treating: The CDC recommends not participating in traditional trick-or-treating or trunk-or-treat activities, as these are considered high-risk activities for spreading viruses. A low-risk alternative is to have a scavenger-hunt style trick-or-treat search in and around your house with members of your own household.

Pumpkin Patch: Hayrides and tractor-rides with members outside of your household are considered high-risk, says the CDC. To reduce your risk level to moderate, skip the hayride while at the pumpkin patch, use hand sanitizer before and after your visit, and also wear a mask and maintain 6 feet of distance from people outside of your household.

Costume Party: Crowded indoor costume parties are high-risk. To reduce your risk to moderate, attend a small outdoor costume party or parade and maintain 6 feet of distance from people outside of your household. Costume masks are also not a good substitute for cloth masks. Consider a Halloween-themed cloth mask instead. For a low-risk activity, have a costume party just with members of your own household, or a virtual costume party with friends.


This year has been so hard on children with lots of restrictions on things they are allowed to do. You might enjoy brainstorming with your family some ideas of fall activities that you are still comfortable with. This might include decorating your home, making/purchasing costumes, doing a costume photo shoot, carving pumpkins, going for a fall nature walk, baking Halloween treats, and more!

The staff at Adventure! Children's Museum have been at work putting together some fun lower-risk activities for families. This includes a pumpkin scavenger hunt to local businesses, culminating in receiving a goodie bag at the end of the hunt. Cost to participate is $5 which includes the goodie bag and a raffle ticket. This scavenger hunt can be completed anytime between October 13 and 31. Tickets can be purchased on the Adventure! website here.

Nearby Nature traditionally hosts a haunted hike for young children during October. Due to public health concerns, they're moving this event to Zoom this year. More information available on Nearby Nature's website.
The Kids In Transition To School (KITS) Program is a free program offered this fall throughout Lane County for parents/caregivers of students in Kindergarten. KITS has helped kids and families make the important transition to kindergarten for over 10 years! This fall, to support parents with online learning in kindergarten they are offering a parent/caregiver online program: KITS At Home. The program is available in English and Spanish.
We ask families express interest by early October, as groups start the week of October 19.  
 
To find out more:
-          complete the online interest form
-          For help in English: email Denisef@oslc.org or call/text 916-205-6851.
-          For help in Spanish: email Lauraw@oslc.org or call/text 541-606-8350.




























Community Aligned Resources for Eugene & Springfield

The Arc Lane County is collaborating with other local nonprofits to supply food, toiletries, and other essentials to local families in need. Click on the flyer above for a link to the website and more information.

Eviction moratorium through December 31

During this pandemic, many Oregonians are having trouble paying rent. The federal government has declared an eviction moratorium for non-payment of rent through December 31 for individuals earning less than $100,000 per year. You must complete a sworn declaration stating that you meet the requirements and submit it to your landlord. For more information, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Protections for renters page.
Free classes available online through The Child Center. Click here to register online
or call 541-510-9988.
Upcoming Events


BabyConnection: Virtual Meet Up for Moms, Wednesdays, 11 am - noon. Chat virtually on Zoom with Lactation Specialist Debbie Jensen, as well as other moms who have babies under 1 every Wednesday from 11 am to 12 pm. If you are looking for feeding, nutrition, or lactation support—or maybe you just want to meet and connect with other moms—join us by contacting Parenting Now! Enrollment at enroll@parentingnow.org or call 541-434-4343 to get instructions for joining Baby
Connection on Zoom.

Calavera Take and Make Kits. BRING will offer take and make calavera kits in lieu of its annual on-site workshop. Kits include 1 black plywood skull cut out and resuable deorations. This activity celebrates the Mexican Día de los muertos tradition of creating skulls. Craft kits are $5-$10, and available October 5-31 at BRING, 4446 Franklin Blvd., Eugene.

Coastal Babies Support with WellMama. Every second and fourth Monday from 10:30-noon. Support for new and expectant parents in Oregon's Coastal Communities. Join the virtual group on Zoom here.

Family Workshop: Talking about Race and Racism with My Child. Race — I know I have to talk to my child about this, but where do I start? What do I do? What do I say? How much is too much? Experienced facilitators will share practical ways to support families in engaging in meaningful conversations with their children. This virtual workshop is being offered on October 3 from 5-6 pm, and November 14 from 7 am-8 am. Cost of registration is by sliding scale donation. Register here.

Green Start Play Day: Hide Outside, October 13, 10-11:30 am. Celebrate the fall season this month as we learn about nocturnal animals, play camouflage games, and create colorful autumn leaf art. Kids 5 and under only, with an adult. $7 family. Register online or by calling 541-687-9699. Nearby Nature, 622 Day Island Road, Eugene.

The Pumpkin Trail Pumpkin Hunt. Follow the map to local businesses, find the Pumpkin Trail flyers, and when you finish the hunt, you'll win a goodie bag of prizes and a raffle entry. You'll receive a map and further instructions closer to the event, which takes place October 13 through 31. $5 per goodie bag. Register via Adventure! Children's Museum.

Virtual Little Wonders for Preschoolers: Fascinating Fossils, starting Friday October 16. Visit the UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History online for hands-on preschool science activities. Need activity supplies? Little Wonders activity kits are available at the museum for $5 starting September 16. Discounts available for EBT card holders. Pick up your kit Wednesday through Sunday from noon-3 pm. 1680 E. 15th Ave., Eugene.
Support our Program with eScrip

Using eScrip is even easier now with the new Benefit Mobile, Inc. app for iPhone and Androids. Click here for more info or to get the app.

Sign up for eScrip to raise money for Early Childhood CARES when you shop at Market of Choice and other partner organizations. You can designate up to three schools to receive funds when you shop. Signing up is quick and easy at escrip.com.
LaneKids has a parent newsletter. Sign up here.

Check out the LaneKids website for events, parenting classes,
and more!
Resources
Early Childhood CARES Resource Guide 2019-2020
Our annual Resource Guide lists relevant community resources for young families including library storytimes, play groups, childcare options, and more. If you would like a copy of the 2019-2020 Resource Guide — updated in August 2019 — visit our website to download it. If you need a paper copy, contact your service coordinator or email eccares@uoregon.edu.

Free Screening for Siblings
Parents of children receiving services from Early Childhood CARES may request a free developmental screening for younger siblings. Simply call 541-346-2578. Spanish speaking families can call 541-346-0742.

Food
To find an emergency food pantry that serves you or more information, please call (541) 343-2822. Click on your neighborhood below to download the flier.


Imagination Library
The Imagination Library is now available throughout most of Lane County. You can sign your child up to receive a free book by mail every month from birth until he or she turns 5. Details available at the LaneKids website here.
 
About Us:
Early Childhood CARES provides early intervention and early childhood special education to infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children in Lane County. Services are individually designed to address the needs of the young child with developmental delays or disabilities. All services are free of charge to eligible children.

Early Childhood CARES 
541-346-2578 
800-925-8694 
1500 West 12th Ave Eugene OR 97402