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Just as Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream, we with the Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Development Initiative also have a dream: All children — regardless of origin, documentation, orientation, or family income — have what they need to succeed in life and in school. There are so many ways for us to rise up, learn, and engage to support early childhood development in our community.
Congratulations to our newly certified Family Friendly Employers and Child Welcoming Businesses! Thank you for surrounding our families with support, both behind the scenes with strong family policies, and forward-facing by making your place of business engaging for young children.
Last month, the federal budget bill funding a Maternal Mental Health interagency Task Force was signed. Bright Beginnings' would like to thank Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) for signing on to the "Dear Colleague Letter" requesting budget appropriations for a Maternal Mental Health interagency Task Force and Report. The Task Force will detail the roles each organization can take to address maternal mental health in a report issued to Congress in June 2020.
Don't miss the Adelante Con Orgullo Mujer Inmigrante (ACOMi) 2020 Conference on January 25 from 9:00am - 3:00pm at Vista Verde Middle School in Greenfield. This conference focuses on educating immigrant women about health and overall well-being. Attend health and education-related workshops, listen to speakers, and learn about nutrition, educational success, maternal health, pesticide safety, and much more!
Save the date! The Monterey County Maternal Mental Health Task Force invites you to participate in the 2020 Mom Annual Forum via webcast on February 12-13. This year’s forum theme is "We CAN do More" in celebration of reaching the year 2020. This year’s program will focus on the work that is yet to be done to ensure women and families receive the maternity care and mental health care they deserve.
Mark your calendars for the 5th Annual TK & Kinder Resource Festival on Wednesday, February 19 from 2:30 - 6:00pm at Greenfield Memorial Hall. There will be prizes, activities for kids, and resources for ALL ages. Gain access to early learning opportunities so that your children are better prepared for kindergarten. Click here to view the flyer in English and Spanish and stay tuned for more information.
WPI Local Policy Fellowship
February 19
Interested in learning how to better influence policy to support early learning? Join a local team of self-identified women for a year-long fellowship with the Women’s Foundation of California. For more information, click here. Also, current fellow and Bright Beginnings' Lead Sonja Koehler is happy to share her experiences! Click here to contact Sonja. Applications are due February 19.
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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