This year, 4Cs staff are working closely with community members to not just make sure that their child care needs are met while schools are transitioning to remote learning, but to help meet their most basic needs to survive during this time that is incredibly difficult for so many. Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we have distributed essential supplies to child care providers and families who have lost everything. Our outreach targeted community members who are at high risk or furthest from opportunity (you can read about our second round of deliveries to HPN families below as one example). Most recently, we used generous funds from Supervisor Valle's office to provide Basic Needs Boxes to community members. These boxes, full of laundry soap, dish soap, Kleenex, paper towels, disinfectant, spray bottles, masks cereal, diapers, and baby wipes were distributed to more than 90 families in our community. They also included children's books and information about the 2020 Census (see below for how you can still be sure you're counted). Every box provided a lifeline for families and showed our neighbors that we are in this together. We are looking forward to serving as many as we can in our communities as the pandemic continues (read more about how you can sign up for upcoming diaper distributions below). These distributions and deliveries, while welcomed with open arms, are addressing just the tip of the iceberg for so many in our community and we are humbled and grateful to provide what we can and look forward to serving even more families in the 4Cs community.

In addition to tangible needs, families and child care providers are reaching out for support and guidance surrounding child care. What child care sites are open? How do I get help paying for child care if I'm an essential worker? Can I have my child care payment covered if my child is learning remotely and in a child care setting? How do I obtain enough cleaning supplies and PPE to keep my staff and families safe? Why are ratio recommendations different depending on what department you ask? While our incredible Resource and Referral and Payment Assistance staff are always happy to help (call us at 510.582.2182), many questions surrounding child care during the shelter-in-place are being asked and addressed at the national, state, and county levels. Myself, as well as many on our management team, are on daily conference calls doing our best to plan, react, and respond as best we can to the constantly changing times, landscape, and directives.

As we approach this new, very different, school year together, know that 4Cs is doing all we can to advocate for you, keep you informed, and provide you with support so that you, your family, and our community members can thrive. Please join us in supporting our families in need by giving to 4Cs of Alameda County here, or reach out if you're in need - our staff is here to help.