News, Notes, and Announcements from 4Cs of Alameda County, May 2026

News, Notes, and Announcements from 4Cs

May 2026

4Cs Named a 2026 Best Nonprofit to Work For

4Cs of Alameda County is honored to be named one of The NonProfit Times' 2026 Best Nonprofits to Work For. This national recognition validates our dedication to a workplace culture where staff feel supported, valued, and deeply connected to our mission.

This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based directly on team feedback, highlighting our intentional efforts to create an environment where employees feel seen, inspired, and empowered to do their best work.

We are proud of this recognition, but even more proud of the exceptional people who make 4Cs a special place to work!

A Note From Our Chief Executive Officer

Dear 4Cs Community,

This May, our work sits squarely at the intersection of state budget decisions and local democracy. As Governor Newsom’s May Revision for the 2026–27 state budget is released, we are reminded that every line item has a direct impact on the children, families, and child care providers who make our communities possible.

What the May Revision Means for Child Care

Early indications from the May Revision show a mixed picture for early learning and care. The proposal continues some key investments in subsidized child care and preschool, including commitments to cost-of-living adjustments starting in 2026 and preserving certain early care initiatives, but it also includes continued suspensions of cost-of-living increases for 2026–27 and targeted reductions in child care programs tied to federal and other revenue declines.

For child care providers, this means ongoing pressure to meet rising costs: wages, rent, food, and supplies, while reimbursement rates and program funding do not always keep pace. For families, especially those relying on vouchers and contracted slots, state-level budget trade-offs can translate into longer waitlists, fewer available slots, and difficult choices about work, housing, and basic needs.

At 4Cs of Alameda County, we will continue to advocate with our partners to protect and strengthen child care funding, support fair and sustainable reimbursement rates, and ensure that budget decisions reflect the realities of the providers and families we serve every day.

Why Your Voice Matters in the 2026 Primary

Policy is not only made in Sacramento; it is also shaped at the ballot box. On June 2, 2026, Alameda County voters will participate in California’s statewide Direct Primary Election, where every registered voter in the county will receive a vote-by-mail ballot and have the opportunity to weigh in on key elected offices and local measures.

This primary will help determine leaders who make critical decisions about child care funding, early education, housing, and family support issues that touch every 4Cs family and provider. Our community’s experiences: a family child care home on tight margins, navigating the subsidy system, and stretching every paycheck to cover rent and groceries must be part of the story that decision-makers hear. Voting is one powerful way to make sure that happens.

Here are some steps you can take right now:

Watch for your vote-by-mail ballot, which began arriving in early May, and make a plan for how and when you will return it.
Talk with your friends, families, and colleagues about why child care, early learning, and family economic stability should be top priorities for our elected leaders.

Centering Children and Families

In a challenging fiscal environment, it can be easy to focus only on numbers. But behind every budget proposal and every ballot measure is a child who deserves a stable, nurturing environment; a family working hard to make ends meet; and a provider who shows up every day to care, teach, and build the foundation for our region’s future.

Thank you for all the ways you continue to support children and families in Alameda County. Through your care, your advocacy, and your participation in our democracy. Together, we can help shape a budget and a ballot that honor the essential role of early care and education in our community.

With gratitude,

Takija T. Gardner

Chief Executive Officer

Community Spotlight

Children's Fair Sponsors

Thank you to our generous Children’s Fair sponsors for making our annual event a success!

Presenting Sponsors

Champion Sponsors

Learn and Play Montessori School

Woodroe Woods School

Luci Fogg

Anonymous

Hero Sponsors

BANANAS, Inc.

Beauty Makes Cents

Donors

Adarly Melgar

Zoila Liriano

News

Thank You for Joining Our 2026 Children's Fair

What an amazing day it was for our Children's Fair last Saturday, May 16th, with our wonderful community – including funders, board members, community leaders, providers, families and friends!

1,200 adults and children were in attendance
26 community partners shared their resources
800 free meals and 800 snack packs were handed out by the Eat. Learn. Play. Bus in partnership with Community Kitchens
1,600 children's books were distributed by the Eat. Learn. Play. Bus and Oakland Literacy Coalition
5,204 pounds of produce were distributed by 4Cs Staff courtesy of the Alameda County Community Food Bank
500 teddy bears and stuffed animals were provided critical health care services by doctors and nurses at Kaiser Permanente’s Teddy Bear Clinic
60 Volunteers and 80 event staff made the day a memorable one!

See all the amazing photos on our Facebook page. Thank you for joining us at our 2026 Annual Free Children’s Fair! We hope to see you next year!

4Cs Community Engagement Survey

Encuesta sobre la colaboración comunitaria de 4Cs

4Cs社區參與問卷調查

4Cs of Alameda County is developing its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan with support from RSS Consulting. This short survey will help ensure the plan reflects the real experiences, needs, and priorities of families, child care providers, and community partners.

The survey takes approximately 2 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. Survey Closes May 22, 2026.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY.

4Cs del Condado de Alameda está creando su Plan Estratégico para 2026–2030 con el apoyo de RSS Consulting. Esta breve encuesta ayudará a asegurar que el plan refleje las experiencias, necesidades y prioridades reales de las familias, proveedores de cuidado infantil y socios comunitarios.

Completar la encuesta toma aproximadamente 2 minutos y es completamente anónima. La encuesta se cierra el 22 de mayo de 2026.

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA COMPLETAR LA ENCUESTA.

阿拉米達縣4Cs正在RSS Consulting的支持下制定2026–2030年策略規劃。這份簡短的問卷將幫助確保規劃能夠真實反映家庭、兒童照護服務提供者和社區合作夥伴的經驗、需求和優先事項。

填寫問卷大約需要2分鐘，且完全匿名。問卷截止日期：2026年5月22日。

點擊此處填寫問卷。

We Surpassed our Goal for Week of the Young Child!

Thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised $10,379 during Week of the Young Child! These funds go directly toward 4Cs' essential programs that help children, families, and child care providers in Alameda County succeed. The early years of a child’s life are more important than ever, and your generosity ensures they have the support they need to flourish.

We look forward to next year’s celebration!

Successful 2025 Tax Season by VITA

We are proud to announce that our incredible VITA team and volunteers completed 366 tax returns, helping put $784,838 in federal and state refunds back into our clients’ pockets. Not only did we meet our goals, but we surpassed last year’s total thanks to the dedication, hard work, and care of our team. We are honored to serve our community and look forward to another successful tax season!

Donate Gently-Used Clothes & Shoes to 4Cs

Generous donations from friends of 4Cs make it possible to provide free clothing and shoes to families who visit our RISE Family Resource Centers in Hayward and Oakland. Our children’s racks are a little bare, so we’d love your contributions!

At this time, we are happy to accept the following gently-used donations:

• Clothing for babies, toddlers, and children, sizes 3 months through 18 youth

• Shoes for toddlers and children, approx. sizes 8 toddler through 5 youth

At this time, we are not accepting the following used items:

• Adult clothing and shoes

• Socks, underclothing, bibs, or diaper/wipe cloths

• Car seats or booster seats

• Breastfeeding equipment or storage items

• Toys, dolls, or stuffies

• Household items such as sheets, towels, blankets, bottles, decorations, electronics, etc.

Please make sure your donated items are clean with no stains, rips, or holes. Think items you'd be happy to see a friend wear!

To make a donation, please email rise@4c-alameda.org to arrange a drop-off appointment.

Resources

Place your name on the 4Cs of Alameda County’s Online Child Care Payment Assistance Eligibility List

Do you need assistance — or know someone who needs assistance — paying for child care? 4Cs invites families living in Oakland, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Hayward, Castro Valley, Newark, Union City, or Fremont to add their names to our child care payment assistance Eligibility List. By joining the Eligibility List, families may be contacted in the future when enrollment opportunities become available.

You may qualify for assistance if you meet any of the following criteria:

Have low to moderate income or are currently receiving cash aid or have received cash aid in the past 24 months
AND need child care in order to work, seek employment or housing, experience homelessness, participate in job training, are incapacitated, or are involved with CPS/At-Risk

Parents or guardians can visit 4calameda.org/parents-families/child-care-payment-assistance to get more information and submit their information for future opportunities. Joining the Eligibility List is not a guarantee of enrollment. Families may be contacted when funding becomes available.

CalKIDS College Savings Accounts for CalWORKs and CalFresh Families

Did you know your child may already have a college savings account? As of April 2026, CalKIDS has opened free college savings accounts for children in CalWORKs and CalFresh families — and more than 60% of California public school students have accounts worth at least $500.

Claiming your child's account is free and easy. Visit calkids.org to find out if your family is eligible and get started today.

Golden Bear Pass for CalWORKs Recipients

If you receive CalWORKs, you may be eligible for the Golden Bear Pass — a free day-use parking pass that gives you access to more than 200 California State Parks. Whether you're looking to enjoy a day outdoors with your family, explore local nature, or simply take a break, this pass opens the door to parks across the state at no cost.

To learn more and apply, visit https://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30960.

Featured Event & Training

Transitions in Motion:

Building Positive Connections During Transitions

*Training for Child Care Providers

Thursday, May 28 | 6pm-7:30pm | Virtual

In the world of early childhood education, the time between activities is just as critical as the activities themselves. Transitions represent significant cognitive shifts for young children, often serving as the primary source of classroom friction. This workshop helps educators rethink “downtime” as valuable learning time. Participants will explore how transitions affect the developing brain, particularly self‑regulation, and learn simple, effective strategies for creating a calm, predictable classroom environment.

Click here to register online. Registration will close on Monday, May 25th.