Wednesday, March 31, 2021 |
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Greetings!
As March and Women's History Month comes to a close, there is much to reflect on.
On Tuesday March 16, eight people were killed, six women of Asian heritage, marking a terrible contribution to a year-long spike in violence against Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders in the US—with seniors and women particularly targeted. Since then there have been additional attacks targeting people of AAPI descent, from NYC, to Oakland, and San Francisco, adding to the over 3,800 incidents reported this year.
We stand against anti-Asian racist and misogynistic violence and support anti-racist actions such as the rallies held over the weekend and expansion of The Community Safety Teams as we search for and build deeper solutions to the systemic racism and gender discrimination that devalues the lives of immigrant, Black, Latin American, and LBGTQIA community members, dividing and driving increased inequities.
We offer a list of resources to read, donate, volunteer, and learn more ways to stand in solidarity with our Asian-American and Pacific Islander community:
To build strengthened communities and a vision of where we want to go, we also offer:
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A Ted Talk by Heather McGhee, now chair of Color of Change, and her book just out, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We can Prosper Together, described as “a powerful new exploration into the self-destructive bargain of racism and its rising cost to all of us (including white people), from one of today's most insightful and influential thinkers.”
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Our ECESF Principle, “Education at its most impactful is rooted in love and relationship, and is an act of liberation—self-actualizing for all unique experiences and social identities—which nurtures the soil of a democracy and humanity.” As early care educators working with families to nurture and educate our youngest, we recognize the importance of creating safe and loving spaces that honor and deeply recognize each of us, both those providing and for whom we provide care. We also recognize that systems of educators exist within broader community systems and that we must make changes in both to create the nurturing, life-affirming world and relationships we seek. See our full principles here.
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A Special ECESF event on the History of Caregiving. On March 24, All Women’s Pay Equity Day, we held a special event by Max Dashu of the Suppressed Histories archives disrupting the dominant way of understanding caring for children, to imagine equitable and community involved ways of caring for children and ourselves. Missed the event? The talk is available here.
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A celebration of authentic living. March 31 marks International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day to celebrate transgender and non-binary people in our community, honor living authentically and visibly.
We look forward to working with you to promote equity rooted in love and relationship during the Week of the Young Child (10-16) & May 1st Worthy Wage Day. All offer opportunities to let our community know the importance of the work of caring for and educating young children. What are you planning? Let us know at info@ecesf.org.
In this newsletter you will also find compensation planning information for educators, COVID-19 vaccine updates, ECE policy resources and articles, as well as upcoming conferences, symposiums, and forums you don’t want to miss!
With much appreciation,
Sara & Anna
ECESF
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48Hills Early Care Educators Series
Teaching Behind the Mask
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48hills—"Teaching Behind the Mask is a series of voices from infant, toddler, and pre-school classrooms across San Francisco. It’s a collaboration between Barbra Blender, Eliana Elias, and the remarkable early-childhood education teachers who continue to serve children and families during the pandemic." Find links to the latest article by Aici Zhow as well as past installments in ECE in the News—read & comment!
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ECESF promotes and encourages voices of educators working at San Francisco sites. Let us know if you have something to share! At info@ecesf.org.
We are highlighting two educator led projects and initiatives below:
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Lesson Up!
Introducing "Lesson Up!" A podcast to innovate, advocate, validate, illuminate, and empower the early care & education profession. This podcast is a labor of love and an act of courage on behalf of all the early care educators out there that do not feel seen or heard during this pandemic – and long before! Meet the educators/podcasters and listen to new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on the website.
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Sign the petition!
San Francisco Educators for Equity created the petition "Gavin Newsom: Create an inclusive and equitable early care and education system in California" to voice concerns and recommendations around the new California Master Plan for Early Learning and Care. You can read more and sign the petition here.
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San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education (OECE) and First 5 SF are currently working on developing policy options for compensation and have been hosting roundtables with administrators and providers.
Over the next week, they are hosting two webinars to provide funding updates to educators. During the webinar, OECE/F5 will give an overview of compensation policy in SF and collect initial compensation priority input from educators. Please share the meeting information below with ECE teachers and encourage them to register for one session in the language of their choice (English, Chinese, or Spanish) on March 31 6:30-7:30pm and April 5 6:00-7:00pm.
Spanish Sessions:
March 31, 6:30-7:30PM
April 5, 6:00-7:00PM
Chinese Sessions:
March 31, 6:30-7:30PM
April 5, 6:00-7:00PM
English Sessions:
March 31, 6:30-7:30PM
April 5, 6:00-7:00PM
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Early Educator Survey (Open through April 8th, 2021) |
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This survey is a collaboration between the San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education (OECE) and the members of the Childcare Planning and Advisory Council (CPAC) Workforce Committee. As San Francisco moves forward with developing funding strategies and policy for early education, they are seeking out the voices of our valued early educators. Please fill out the survey in English, Chinese, or Spanish.
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Need help getting a COVID-19 vaccine appointment?
Thanks to your advocacy and our DPH, Children’s Council, Wu Yee R&R, FCCA of SF, EdVance, OECE and First 5 SF Partners there is an easier way to get your vaccine code! Please sign up using the Google forms below (English, Spanish, and Chinese):
The link for licensed FCC and Center-based staff is: Here
The link for Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) and Nannies is: Here
COVID-19 Vaccine Codes are available in San Francisco for Child Care to make appointments at Moscone Center South Vax Hub. Currently supplies are being used for people who need the 2nd vaccine, so appointments are a little difficult. If you or staff still need to make their appointments please contact: denise.corvino@sfgov.org OR jennifer.martinez@first5sf.org with the following:
Subject Line for Email: SF ECE Vaccine Code Request
Please include the following:
Your Name
Address of business or where care is provided (including zip code)
# of codes needed
List of people who will receive codes
Phone contact
Instructions will be sent along with the code(s). Please note that everyone in your child care organization is eligible, including teachers doing virtual, including teachers who have not come back to work yet, including janitors and admin staff.
Other city partners who have codes for ECE include: Children’s Council of San Francisco, Wu Yee Children’s Services, the Human Services Agency, EdVance, and the San Francisco Child Care Association.
CDSS: COVID-19 Vaccines for the Child Care Sector
Updated Child Care Information regarding COVID-19 will be posted on the Child Care Licensing Program homepage. You can also read CDSS frequently asked questions (FAQs) here:
How to talk about vaccines with friends and family
Tips from Katie Dellamaria, SF DPH: Here
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San Francisco moved to Orange Tier |
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Summary of Major Changes with SF’s 3/23 move to orange tier:
- Travel advisory and recommendations for quarantine after travel updated. • Limits on cohort size have been removed.
- Staff may work with more than one cohort.
- Children may participate in up to 2 extracurricular cohorts in addition to childcare.
- Children who play an indoor moderate- or high-contact sports outside of childcare can only participate in that extracurricular activity.
- Children should remain at least 3 feet apart when participating in independent activities.
- Sports, singing, and related activities
- Outdoor field trips are allowed as long as shared vehicles and public transportation are not used. Childcare may not go to public playgrounds when the playground is open to the public.
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New SFDPH Child Care Guidelines as of 3/23/21:
These guidelines are subject to change as new knowledge emerges about COVID-19 and as local community transmission changes.
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Pandemic Impact: Women, Race, & Ethnicity |
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California Budget & Policy Center: Child Care, Women, and Recovery.
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ECE Policy Resources & Articles |
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How Will the American Rescue Plan Strengthen the Prenatal-to-3 System of Care?
CFRP's Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center developed a new summary of the 2021 Act’s Benefits for Infants and Toddlers, an easy-to-read digest of the many provisions related to policies and strategies that have implications for the prenatal-to-3 period. Watch the webinar recording.
The Early Childhood Workforce Index provides a state-by-state look at policies and conditions affecting the early care and education workforce. This biennial report has tracked state progress since 2016 including an interactive U.S. map and detailed tables on wages, state workforce policies, and initiatives. The recording and slides are available here.
EdSource Article: What the federal stimulus bill means to California's child care sector
Quote: “The funds for child care in this relief bill are a huge step forward. Child care providers were struggling financially before the pandemic and the situation has only gotten worse. More public funding for early care and education is essential, but how you spend it matters,” said Caitlin McLean, a senior research specialist at the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley. “We need to stop treating early care and education as just a private service and expecting parents to foot the bill.” Read the full article here.
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Child Trends: New issue brief series on Black families and children!
This issue brief series identifies key information and opportunities for consideration by policymakers, researchers, practitioners, philanthropists, and others interested in supporting the progress of Black families and children—and, by extension, the country as a whole. The series examines the role of structural racism in various U.S. systems, considering the historical and contextual factors that facilitate or impede access to these systems for Black families. The issue briefs also provide recommendations for developing, implementing, and sustaining effective policies, research, and programming that address structural racism to better support the stability and prosperity of Black families and children.
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The first brief presents data on the family structure, employment status, and geographic location of Black families with young children in the United States. They also explore contextual factors, such as structural barriers or inequities that have shaped the experiences of these families over time. Family, Economic, and Geographic Characteristics of Black Families with Children:
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In the second brief, they shed light on the role of federal policies in creating, maintaining, and addressing these structural inequities, with a specific focus on access to early care and education for Black families. Federal Policies Can Address the Impact of Structural Racism on Black Families’ Access to Early Care and Education:
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The third brief uses national, state, and local data to examine housing access and other available supports for Black families, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Racism and Discrimination Contribute to Housing Instability for Black Families During the Pandemic:
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Early Education Economic Recovery Program Grants & Loans
The City & County of San Francisco is working to minimize the impacts of the COVID Pandemic on our ECE programs and preserve family access to quality care and education through the Early Education Economic Recovery Program grants and loans. More details on eligibility and how to apply are on the OECE information page.
Programs currently receiving OECE ELS/PFA should have received an email with a Docu-sign form. Didn’t receive one? Contact Children’s Council’s help desk: 415-343-4669 or support@childrenscouncil.org.
Non-ELS programs fill out an interest form included on the OECE website information page in English , Español , and 中文.
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PPP loans for are now extended until May 31
President Biden on Tuesday signed an extension for the popular Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was created last year to help small businesses weather the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The deadline to apply for a PPP loan has been extended from March 31 to May 31, and the law extends authorization of loans to June 30 to give the Small Business Administration additional time to process applications. See article here.
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CPAC is San Francisco’s state mandated local planning council. CPAC general membership meetings and committees are open to the public and provide important updates from CPAC’s committees, public agencies, key stakeholders and the ECE community. Details and ZOOM access for CPAC meetings are on the ECESF Event Calendar, and included in links below.
Representatives of ECESF bring ECE educators and program operators issues and priorities to CPAC as CPAC members, chair of the Workforce Committee and Adhoc on Black Children, active Policy and Legislation Committee members, and as part of the Executive Committee.
Can’t make daytime meetings? Want a place to talk among other educators working at San Francisco ECE sites to better understand the policies discussed at CPAC—and add your voice? Let us know your interests—and we’ll plug you in!
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CPAC Policy & Leg Committee/SF ECE Advocacy Coalition Policy Meetings
CPAC Policy & Legislative Committee is coordinating meetings with the SF ECE Advocacy Coalition to allow for quick response to policy needs and greater participation. Meetings will be held two times a month. April meetings will be held on April 7, 2021, 9:30-11:30 am, the 1st Wednesday, and April 21, 4-5 pm, the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
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CPAC General Meeting
The next CPAC General meeting is scheduled for April 14, 2021, 9:30-11:15 am, the 2nd Wednesday of every month. At the April 14th meeting there will be a reopening and vaccination update, and CPAC will discuss planning work regarding racial equity.
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CPAC Workforce Committee Meeting
The next CPAC Workforce meeting is scheduled for April 20, 2021, 2-3:30 pm, the 3rd Tuesday of each month. The Workforce Committee collects input and reviews information on workforce needs, the impact of current policy and program, and the need for additional supports or changes that will enhance services and workforce wellbeing.
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Conferences, Symposiums, and Forums |
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Tipping Point: Building Impact Through Equity by Supporting Leaders of Color:
An information-sharing opportunity to hear directly from Tipping Point staff about our commitment to racial equity through our funding priorities and grantmaking approach.
Wednesday, April 14, 1:00 - 2:00pm
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2021 Annual CAAEYC Conference and Expo!
April 23-25, Virtual and On-Demand
See more information here.
Attendee Registration
We have simplified the registration fee schedule. Whether or not you plan to attend one day, two days or all three days, you pay a flat rate. Members receive the best rate – not a member, join and save $80!
Member Rates and Deadlines
Regular: $389 – March 8 through Conference
*Non-members – add $150 to each of the values. Join at $69 and save $80.
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T.E.A.C.H. 2021 National Prof Dev Virtual Symposium, April 27-29
The theme of this year’s T.E.A.C.H. symposium is Supporting the Essential Early Childhood Workforce Behind the Workforce. As we move forward with hope that the pandemic will be behind us sometime this year, we must work tirelessly to ensure that our diverse and invaluable yet underfunded workforce continues to be recognized as essential and that investments to equitably and fully fund high quality early childhood education programs, including workforce compensation, are a priority. The registration fee for the Virtual Symposium is $95 and the last day to register is April 9th! Click here for the workshop descriptions and registration form.
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Greenlining’s Annual Economic Summit, Momentum: A virtual Summit on Racial Equity
May 5-6, 9am -2 pm
A unique gathering where innovation, art and activism align. This year, we’re upgrading to a two-day virtual event experience. registration and more information here.
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Join the NAEYC learning community on June 9-10 for the Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) symposium. This virtual event will be an opportunity for anyone involved with early education to explore the rationale and consequences to their work from the recent revisions to the DAP Position Statement and the upcoming 4th edition of Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs.
Flash sale ends April 11! Early Bird sale (April 12–May 6) and Regular sale (May 7 - June 9). Prices vary by NAEYC membership level.
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ECESF receives funding from the Office of Early Care and Education to provide field building and peer supports to early care educators, as well as generous donations and in-kind contributions to build our advocacy and community work from individual early care educators, and allies, community organizations and agencies. Support our work. Donate! |
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