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As we begin a brand New Year it's a great time to reflect on the previous year's accomplishments, learning moments, and triumphs.
Child Care Links had a busy, yet successful
2017 with notable impacts
,
including
over
500
Parents and Child Care Providers
attending
34
Professional Development trainings
. Child Care Links officially launched the Diaper Pantry in January, allowing us to serve
1,136
children
with
156,644
FREE
diapers, and
1,294
age-appropriate books and literacy materials.
Through generous funding from the Cities of Pleasanton and Dublin, Child Care Links provided 32 FREE car seats to families
with
expired, damaged, or ill-fitting car seats.
Child Care Links values the important role that Child Care Providers play in the lives of young children, and we are delighted to have paid over
$15M
to Child Care Providers providing child care to our most vulnerable families. The agency knows that working parents worry about the health and wellbeing of their children while they are at work and we are proud to have provided 1,862 families with safe, reliable, and affordable child care
. As a result
2,684
children are now building
a
foundation
that will enable them
to reach their full potential for success
.
These accomplishments are a direct result of having a dedicated, caring, and committed staff who understand the importance of providing crucial resources to vulnerable children and their families.
There is always something great going on at Child Care Links and this month we are offering two ASQ trainings, Taxes and Recordkeeping, and Creating a Policy Handbook. The Child Care Links Diaper Pantry is opene Tuesdays and Thursdays during regular business hours.
Cheers!
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Child Care Links announces new CEO!
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Child Care Links is very excited to introduce
Kelly O'Lague Dulka as the agency's ne w Chief Executive Officer. Kelly brings over 30 years of nonprofit experience, most recently having served as the Vice President and Regional Executive Director for YMCA of the East Bay. In her time at the YMCA, Kelly provided oversight to 30 licensed child care sites and served as a partner with Child Care Links in providing affordable child care, Child Care Provider education, and community services to families throughout Alameda County. A licensed clinical social worker, Kelly has been a tireless advocate for children and their families throughout her career. She has served on numerous local, state and national boards, and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Pleasanton Community Character Collaborative. Kelly brings with her a strong passion and commitment to the mission of Child Care Links to provide resources that strengthen and support children and their families. Kelly is very excited to join the Child Care Links team.
Kelly can be reached at
[email protected]
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Child Care Links is
CLOSED
on
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, 15 January
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Directors of the Valley (DOV) Meeting
Tuesday, 16 January
1
:00pm - 2:30pm
Contact Laura Reno at [email protected] for location and more information about becoming a member of the DOV group.
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Saturday, 20 January
9:00am - 1:00pm
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Valley Family Child Care Association (VFCCA) Meeting
Tuesday, 23 January
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Child Care Links Conference Room
Contact Deborah Barker at [email protected] to learn more about becoming a member of the VFCCA.
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Saturday, 27 January
9:00am - 12:30pm
Child Care Links Conference Room
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Taxes & Recordkeeping
Satur
day, 24 February
8:30am - 10:30pm
Call to register, 925.417.8733
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Creating a Policy Handbook
Saturday, 24 February
10:45am - 12:45pm
Call to register, 925.417.8733
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TrustLine - An Invaluable Resource for Parents
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Elizabeth Phillips, at just 6 months old, was the inspiration for creating TrustLine. Her story began when she was violently shaken by a nanny and permanently blinded. Read more about TrustLine and Elizabeth Phillips here.
TrustLine is a database of nannies and baby-sitters that have cleared criminal background checks in California. It is the only authorized screening program of in-home caregivers by state law to use three databases that the general public, including private investigators and private background check companies, cannot access. TrustLine access to fingerprint records at the California Department of Justice and the FBI. Last October TrustLine turned 30 and has denied 18% of applicants with convictions such as murder, manslaughter, willful child cruelty, kidnapping and child abuse.
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Children, families and early educators in Alameda County are facing a CRISIS. Limited access to quality, affordable child care and early education is taking its toll on families, educators and communities across our county.
Signs of the Crisis:
- Affordable child care is out of reach
- Children in homeless families cannot get access
- Early educators are in poverty
- Access to childcare is limited
- Thousands of children do NOT arrive ready for kindergarten
A Promising Solution
A coalition of leaders is now working with the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on a promising solution: preparing for a June 2018 local child care and early education ballot measure.
The proposed measure will seek authorization to:
- Provide wrap-around supports for homeless families.
- Create scholarships for low-income families who qualify for a subsidy but have yet to receive one.
- Offer higher wages and professional development to child care staff and providers.
- Increase quality for child care and early education throughout the county.
Pending Alameda County Board of Supervisors action in February 2018 to place the proposed measure on the June 2018 ballot, as well as voter approval of the measure, up to $140 million could be generated annually to:
- Provide child care and early education options for homeless families and children, and those who need it most.
- Thousands of children on waiting lists throughout the County to increase access to affordable, quality child care and early education to
- Raise early educator pay to $15 per hour for participating Child Care Providers.
- Attract and retain quality child care and early education providers.
- Increase programs that support Child Care Providers and increase the quality of child care and early education.
Stay Tuned
Additional opportunities to provide input on the proposed ballot measure - including a County Board of Supervisors public hearing on January 17, 2018 - will be announced in January. Your input is welcomed and needed - please weigh in.
Learn More
You can download a copy of the Child Care and Early Education Crisis Fact Sheet in English or Spanish.
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Effective 1 April, 2018,
families participating in a welfare-to-work plan (CalWORKs) will become eligible to receive $30 per month to assist with diaper costs for each child who is under 36 months of age.This subsidy will help cover a portion of the average cost of diapers for families, which is $80 - $120 a month.
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Directors of the Valley (DOV)
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Directors of the Valley (DOV) is an ECE Leadership Support Group for Child Development Program Directors and colleagues in the Tri-Valley area. It also serves as a Director Seminar for the California Early Childhood Mentor Program.
Contact Laura Reno at [email protected] for location, and more information about becoming a member of the DOV group.
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Valley Family Child Care Association (VFCCA)
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Valley Family Child Care Association (VFCCA) provides educational opportunities, support, networking and fellowship opportunities for fellow Licensed Family Child Care Providers.
Contact
Deborah Barker at
[email protected] to learn more about becoming a member of the VFCCA.
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Offering Free Waste Assessments, Rocky Recycling Raccoon Curriculum, and Green Business Consultation.
Contact:
Camyle Allen
Green Child Care Coordinator
Alameda County Early Care and Education Program
1401 Lakeside Drive, Floor 10
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 208-9653
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