February is Black History Month!

America for All Americans

February is designated as Black History Month and has been for many decades now. It is a time for us all to reflect on the contributions of African Americans and to have discussions about how those contributions have changed the lives of us all.

Although many believe Black History Month creates division and controversy, it still affords us one month to open our minds to the awesome odds African Americans have endured and how they have made important contributions towards making America the great nation it continues to be.

Child Action, Inc. strives to recognize and acknowledge the contributions of all races. Please join us in recognizing the contributions of African Americans and how they have made life in America better for all.

How to Get Licensed – An Introduction to Family Child Care

Do you love caring for children? Are you currently caring for a child informally or are you looking for a way to turn something you enjoy into a business? Families across Sacramento need the flexibility and stability Family Child Care Home programs can provide. It is possible to build your own home-based business and generate the income to support your family as a licensed child care provider.

Child Action, Inc. coordinators can help you learn how. Contact us at (916) 369-0191 or info@childaction.org to explore the steps to get licensed or register for our upcoming informational workshop to learn more about a career as a licensed Family Child Care Provider.

February 21, 2023

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Zoom

Now Enrolling!

Virtual Parent Café

Join us, and other families, for conversations on parenting. Attend our upcoming virtual Parent Café, which is a structured, small group discussion that engages parents and provides an opportunity to support each other. Parenting can feel hard, you are not alone.

At this Café, we will explore anger, strategies for handling and diffusing negative confrontations, and reflect on how our own experiences can impact the way we interact with our children.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

10:00 am to 11:30 am on Zoom

All participating families will receive a free gift!

Call (916) 369-0191 or email workshops@childaction.org to register.

Important! Two Product Recalls

Fisher Price again announced their recall of 4.7 million Rock ‘n Play Sleepers. They ask that the public stops using them and requests a refund or voucher for a different product. CONTACT: 866-812-6518 or www.mattel.com. Click here to read the full recall notice.

Kids2 also again announced their recall of 694,000 Rocking Sleepers.

Stop using this product and get refund. CONTACT: 866-869-7954 or www.kids2.com. Click here to view the full recall notice

Internet Safety

Many parents worry that the Internet will expose their children to inappropriate information. Here are some guidelines developed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to help children have a safe and rewarding online experience:

• Limit time spent online.

• Remember that chatting online is the same as talking to strangers.

• Don’t share personal information online and never agree to meet online “friends.”

• Never give children credit cards or passwords that enable online purchases or access to websites.

• Remind children that not everything they read or see online is true.

• Use the parental control feature from your online service provider or purchase software that restricts access to certain websites.

• Teach children to communicate with the same courtesy online as they would when speaking to a person.

• Insist that children follow these guidelines on computers outside of the home as well, such as at school, the library or a friend’s house.

Spending time online with a child, exploring and periodically participating, gives parents an opportunity to monitor and supervise the activity. It is also an opportunity to learn together.

To learn more, visit our Media Violence handout (and others!) by clicking this link

Governor’s January Budget Proposal

As constitutionally required, on January 10, 2023, the Governor presented his budget proposal to the legislature. The Governor’s plan takes several measures to address the predicted $22.5 billion deficit. His proposed budget does not include any new funding for child care programs.

Click here to read early care and education (ECE) highlights from the budget.

For many, Lunar New Year, which begins January 22, 2023, presents a period to reflect on the past, honor new beginnings and welcome the fortunes of the new year ahead. It is also a chance for those who celebrate to celebrate life, gather to share meals, exchange gifts and decorate homes.

Let’s come together, in this new year, to wish good health, good fortune and joy to everyone celebrating the Year of the Rabbit.

Tax season will soon be upon us!

Each year, we are required to provide independent contractors to whom we paid $600 or more per calendar year with an end of year statement that contains the total amount paid during the calendar year.

To comply with IRS regulations, we issue forms 1099-NEC for all childcare payments and other non-employee compensation and a 1099-Misc for all other income, such as stipends.

Some providers may receive two 1099's from us.

Please consult your tax professional for information on the 1099 forms and how they affect your tax filing.

For information on the payments from us, please call our Fiscal Department at 916-369-3224.

Important! In order to continue to receive valuable community information from us, please add Child Action, Inc. to your list of approved senders in order to avoid our emails landing in your spam folder.

Resources

Healthy Day Checklist from National CACFP Association

Encourage these practices with the children and adults in your care and their families:

Connect: Make time to listen and share with each other. Ask a creative question to start the day.
Nutrition: Stay energized with healthy snacks and drinks. Drink plenty of water and eat one fruit or vegetable with every snack or meal.
Movement: Boost attention and mood with physical activity breaks. Get at least 60 minutes of physical activity.
Learning: Work together to stay motivated and engaged. Plan together to accomplish “must do” tasks like homework or chores.
Celebration: Create joyful moments that promote healthy choices. Take a break to focus on what’s going well.
Rest: Practice calming strategies and sleep quality tips. Reserve at least 9 hours for a great full night of sleep.

Visit https://www.cacfp.org/2023/01/04/healthy-day-toolkit/ for more tips.

Make Your Voice Heard!

Sacramento County Behavioral Health Services (BHS) values stakeholder input and asks for your help in deﬁning the areas of focus and need for their next Innovative Programs. They thank you for your time and thoughtfulness as they strive for holistic mental health outcomes and equity.

Participate in the INNOVATION SURVEY before the survey closes on 2/14/23 by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q9W8Q2H

You are also invited to give input at the next Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Steering Committee meeting on Thursday, 2/16/23 from 6-8 pm.

Zoom Meeting ID: 161 680 5390

Zoom Call‐In Number: (669) 254‐5252

Encourage Physical Activity Through Reading!

It’s a Tiger! by

David LaRochelle and

Jeremy Tankard

This book is great for children to imitate and act out as you read. The main character runs into and away from the tiger over and over in this fun and silly book.

I Got the Rhythm by

Connie Schofield-Morrison and Frank Morrison

Follow an energetic girl around her neighborhood as she uses her senses to celebrate her own internal beat. Spend as much time on each page as you want, creating new rhythms for children to follow or have them come up with their own.

Press Here by

Hervé Tullet

Children can practice following directions, anticipating cause and effect, and make guesses about what will happen next.

Community Event!

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