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Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Nearly three months after the COVID-19 crisis uprooted our daily lives, we are all still grappling with ongoing changes. Whether young, not-so-young, sheltered in place, or on the front lines as essential workers, like our early childhood educators and health providers, both the reality and uncertainty of the situation can be overwhelming, to say the least. We at Bright Beginnings want you to know that you are not alone in this, and it is ok to say things are not ok. Find resources from our April Newsletter, here.
This year, The Blue Dot Project's #MakingOverMotherhood campaign had over 33 million impressions on social media. That's an increase of 15 million from last year! Thank you to all of the brave participants who shared their stories, everyone who participated in daily activities, and to all of you who spread awareness around maternal mental health. To learn more about the Bright Beginnings Maternal Mental Health Taskforce, click here.
Are you an essential worker or do you know essential workers that need safe, quality child care? Read more here and help spread the word about the free and low-cost opportunities that are available.
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
#WalkTheBlueDot
May 30
Join The Blue Dot Project on Saturday, May 30th for #WalkTheBlueDot — a virtual culminating event wrapping up Maternal Mental Health Awareness month. Virtual means you choose your own course, what time you start, and whether you run or walk! Click here to learn more and register.
On June 4, join advocates for child care, food programs, safety net, and anti-poverty for an all-digital “Child Care and End Child Poverty CA Advocacy Day" from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Help raise a unified voice in support of California's kids and families by advocating for budget proposals that keep families fed, keep child care providers open, and commit to lifting families out of poverty.
Learn about the range of maternal mental health disorders, the prevalence, signs, and symptoms, as well as recommended treatment options, at Maternal Mental Health 101 — a complimentary webinar hosted by 2020 Mom and presented by Postpartum Support International. Join the live webinar on Thursday, June 4 from 10:30am - 12:00pm or watch at your convenience; a recording will be sent to all those who register.
On March 27, Bright Beginnings presented our 2018-2019 Annual Report to the Board of Supervisors as part of the Monterey County Children’s Council Annual Report to the community. We are thrilled to share the report with you now — highlighting all of Bright Beginnings' key achievements from July 2018 - June 2019. A special "thank you" goes to the many community partners that guide and do the work out in our communities!
Click here to view and download our full annual report.
Women's Policy Institute
2020 Cohort Announced
The 2020 Women’s Policy Institute (WPI) cohort is excited to announce that their project policy focus will remain in early childhood education in an effort to advance community health. Ultimately, their focus is on Preschool for All in Monterey County as a community health initiative, focusing on recruitment and utilization of the current publicly-funded preschool slots in the Alisal Union School District.
Meet the 2020 WPI Cohort:
Marie Alonzo, Master of Social Work candidate at CSUMB
Iris Gamez, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator at Bright Beginnings
Daisy Hernandez, Friends, Family and Neighbors (FFN) Educator for Community Action Partnerships of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO)
Marquise Davis, Learning and Development Manager at YWCA Monterey County
COVID-19 Response & Recovery Coalition
Weekly Digest
Since the early stages of the countywide COVID-19 precautions, a coalition of early childhood champions is working to provide coordinated support and solutions for emergency care, education, and wellbeing of young children. Each week, we are sharing how we are supporting essential workers — early childhood educators themselves and the other essential workers seeking child care — while keeping the safety and wellbeing of our young children and their families at the heart of our work.
Click here to view the most recent update and to learn all about the coalition, plan, and tools.
Monterey County Child Care Website
Looking for Licensed Child Care?
Don’t forget! The Monterey County Child Care website is the central point for up-to-date information for child care and education during the pandemic. Individuals can either call the Resource & Referral line (831) 757-0775 (available 24/7 in Spanish and English) or visit the Monterey County Child Care website: www.MontereyCountyChildCare.org
Access our Partner Toolkit to download and share the flyer, and use promotional materials on your website and social media channels.
We want to hear from you!
Do you have early childhood development resources or upcoming opportunities and community events that you'd like to share with us? Click here to let us know!
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