The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Child Care and Development Division (CCDD) recently posted a message for center and family child care home providers.

Click the following link to learn more about the Infrastructure Grant Program (IGP) for New Construction and Major Renovation (NCMR) funding opportunity for new and/or existing facilities : CCB 22-35: Request For Application: New Construction and Major Renovation.

Building Relationships Through Daily Health Checks



Did you know that a daily health check creates opportunities for providers to welcome the children they care for into the program each day and develop and strengthen bonds with families?

This quick and easy routine helps you better understand each child, makes them feel comfortable and good about themselves, reduces the spread of illness by catching obvious signs of illness before that child enters your program, and develops a routine of communication with parents.



View the Health Guidelines for Child Care Providers handout on our website for additional resources to help keep your program healthy.

Welcome Sacramento County’s Newly Elected

Public Officials and Legislators

Election season has finally concluded. Our collective voices produced new elected public officials and legislators for Sacramento County. Many of us will now likely be represented by new state-level Assemblymembers and/or Senators.

To find out who represents you, type your address in this link: Find Address (ca.gov).

If you want to learn more about some of the new Sacramento-based legislators, you can check out their websites here:

Assembly

Assembly District 07 – Joshua Hoover

Assembly District 09 – Heath Flores

Assembly District 10 – Stephanie Nguyen

Senate

Senate District 8 – Angelique Ashby

Senate District 9 – Roger Niello

Thanking An Outgoing Public Official

We recently had the pleasure of presenting Sacramento County Supervisor Nottoli with an award recognizing his longstanding commitment to families in need of child care and advocacy for the early educators who look after Sacramento County's littlest learners.

We shared our appreciation with Supervisor Nottoli for these accomplishments:

• Supporting our request for $1 million of CARES Act funding for child care providers, helping early learning educators stay in business during the pandemic.
• Standing against proposed funding cuts to Child Protective Services and WIC programs in 2020.
• Designating Child Action, Inc. as an organization to support with funding from the County’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation.
• Approving the Children’s Report Card’s revival. (Click here to learn more about Sacramento County's Children's Coalition.)

Supervisor Nottoli exemplifies what it takes to be a public official, by listening intently to the community, and being thoughtful in his actions. We salute you!

The Importance of Investing in Early Care and Education Programs

Access to affordable, reliable, and high-quality early learning/child care opportunities provides working families with better job stability, producing healthier overall economic security.[1]

Investing in a high-quality child care and early education system—inclusive of our child care subsidy programs and Head Start—that is accessible, is fundamental for robust and resilient local and national economies.[2]

Investing in the child care subsidy program helped parents like the teenaged Angelique Ashby move towards a place of self-sufficiency. In August, Child Action, Inc.’s employees heard directly from now-Senator Angelique Ashby, about how accessing our child care subsidy program allowed her to earn advance degrees, become a celebrated businesswoman, and an eventual state leader!

[1] Support For Working Families - First Five Years Fund (ffyf.org)

[2] Investing in Child Care and Early Education Supports Families and Strengthens Economies | CLASP

Staying Safe During Virus Season

Public health officials are reminding us to take simple and effective steps to protect ourselves and our families against winter viruses, including COVID-19, the flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Follow these tips to protect against winter viruses:

• Get Vaccinated, Boosted (and Treated)
• Stay Home if You’re Sick, and Test for COVID-19
• Wear a Mask
• Wash Your Hands (with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds)
• Cover Your Cough or Sneeze

If you have been exposed to COVID-19, call 1-833-422-4255 or click here to learn more about treatment options.

New Opportunity for 400,000 Californians to Enroll in More-Affordable Health Insurance Through Covered California!

A new federal rule takes effect on Monday, opening the door for nearly 400,000 people to enroll in a more-affordable health plan through Covered California. The change means families who have been ineligible for financial help because one member is insured through an employer may now be eligible for subsidies to lower the cost of their premiums if they enroll in a health plan offered through Covered California.

Click here to read more...

Visit https://www.coveredca.com/

It’s true, Sacramento doesn’t get a lot of snow, but children’s imaginations are captured by the idea of snow, ice, and cold weather. During this cold month of January, explore one of these wonderful read-aloud books about winter.

Stranger in the Woods

by Carl R. Sams

Beautiful real-life photographs and nature sounds make this story of animals encountering a snowman a favorite with children.

The Snowman

by Raymond Briggs

Let children tell their own story as they explore the drawings in this wordless picture book. Children can develop their language skills and sequencing as they tell you what happens first, next, and then.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The snowy Day has been a favorite iconic story since 1963. Beautifully designed with simple language and bright colors, children enjoy following Peter as he explores his snowy, urban landscape.

Happy 94th to Martin Luther King, Jr. You are an inspiration to us all, nearly 55 years after you left us. Thank you for the lasting legacy you blessed us with.