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Dear Sara,
We know August and September are a busy time at the start of the school year, so as we turn a corner into fall (or the real summer if you live in San Francisco) we’re catching you up on LOTS of useful information and resources that have been shared across the ECE community in the past couple months.
In this newsletter:
- Introducing the new Department of Early Childhood (DEC)
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NEW Early Childhood Community Oversight & Advisory Committee (EC COAC) - Position available!
- Important Financial Supports & Funding!
- Updates in ECE Policy
- Community Events & Resources
- Job Postings
Please make sure to click the links to find out more and/or read translated materials!
請確保單擊鏈接以了解更多信息和/或閱讀翻譯材料！
¡Asegúrese de hacer clic en el enlace para obtener más información y/o leer el material traducido!
In community,
Sara & Anna
info@ecesf.org
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Support our work to create a well-equipped and connected ECE workforce community by making a financial contribution. Your gift is fully tax-deductible. | |
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On behalf of everyone at ECESF, we would like to wish you a Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month! From September 15 – October 15, the U.S. government celebrates the countless contributions of more than 60 million Hispanic Americans and Latine identifying people to our culture and society.
On Monday, October 10th Californians will honor California indigenous peoples, most of whom came from Hispanic heritage, with Indigenous Peoples’ Day (formerly known as Columbus Day).
Here are some ways to honor The First Peoples of California:
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LGBTQ+ History Month begins October 1st! The month-long celebration honors members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming and queer communities. October was chosen to nationally commemorate LGBTQ+ history, political activism and contributions because several important dates fall within the month, including National Coming Out Day (October 11), Spirit Day acknowledging LGBTQ+ youth (October 20), Asexual Awareness Week (last week in October) and others.
Check out LGBTQ+ Family-Friendly Books (Pre K - 3rd Grade) with a free downloadable book list!
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Introducing the Department of Early Childhood! | |
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The Department of Early Childhood (DEC) is a merger between two city departments– First 5 San Francisco (First 5) and the Office of Early Care and Education (OECE).
“DEC is a City and County of San Francisco Department dedicated to our young children's safe and healthy development. As the City’s largest early childhood funder, DEC is committed to creating a system that ensures every child can thrive and learn. Now that First 5 San Francisco and OECE have come together, we will better coordinate, align and integrate the system of early childhood and support we have here in San Francisco. We will provide public investment, expertise, and leadership to put resources into the hands of those who care for our City’s youngest children. As a new, unified department, DEC is responsible for launching and leading San Francisco’s ambitious initiative to transform the public support of young children and those who care for them.
We still offer many of the same resources, but now that we are able to integrate all public early childhood services, we will have the expanded capacity to bring the parents, childcare providers, and partners in our community even more holistic support.
DEC will administer funds from Proposition C, a commercial rent tax, dedicated to children’s early care and education. The new funding promises to do even more for San Francisco’s children and families—and backs up that promise with dedicated resources for the long haul.”
Visit the new DEC website and find them on social media @sfdepartmentofearlychildhood!
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Early Childhood Community Oversight and Advisory Committee
(EC COAC) Position Open!
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As part of the new DEC merger process, the new Early Childhood Community Oversight and Advisory Committee (EC COAC), will replace the OECE CAC as a critical community oversight body for the Department of Early Childhood.
In collaboration with the First 5 Commission, the EC COAC will provide input and recommendations to the Department regarding overall strategies, policies, and procedures. They will also provide analysis, guide engagement processes, and make recommendations to the Department, the Mayor, and the Board of Supervisors regarding use of funds for the Early Care and Education for All Initiative.
They will soon be looking to fill a vacancy on the EC COAC for Seat 8 which “must be a family support provider, a provider or educator who works with children with special needs, a community member with expertise in early education, a member of the mental health community specializing in early care, a member of a philanthropic organization, which has an emphasis on early care and education issues.” Once appointed, the term for this seat is two years with a two consecutive term limit. More details regarding the EC COAC’s establishment, membership requirements, and duties can be found in the draft of the DEC enacting ordinance.
Due to timing constraints related to our DEC enacting ordinance and Strategic Plan approval requirements, they will have a very tight turnaround time between when they are able to post and accept applications for this vacancy and when the Rules Committee will make final appointments. If you are interested in applying, please email Maya Castleman at maya.castleman@sfgov.org ASAP.
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FEDERAL
Despite proposals for game-changing investments in child care in earlier versions of the budget reconciliation package, the Inflation Reduction Act passed this summer without including any funds for child care. While this was disappointing and frustrating, there is still historic momentum in Congress in support of child care investments.
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Thanks to Graham Dobson, Senior Policy Analyst, D.E.C., for the summary of the Governor's decisions. | |
ECE Funding & Financial Assistance | |
The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood will continue to waive family fees for the 2022-2023 fiscal year for ELS Voucher Families. What this means to you is that as a San Francisco resident family you will not be required to pay a family fee from July 2022 to June 2023. The SF Department of Early Childhood will cover the Family Fees as part of the payment to your child’s program. | |
舊金山幼兒教育部將繼續免除 ELS 代金券家庭 2022-2023 財年的家庭費用。這對您意味著，作為舊金山居民家庭，從 2022 年 7 月到 2023 年 6 月，您將無需支付家庭費用，舊金山幼兒教育部將支付家庭費用，作為向您孩子的計劃付款的一部分. | |
El Departamento de Primera Infancia de San Francisco seguirá eximiendo a las familias de ELS Voucher el pago de cuotas familiares para el año fiscal 2022-2023. Esto significa que usted, como familia residente en San Francisco, no tendrá obligación de pagar la cuota familiar desde julio de 2022 hasta junio de 2023. El Departamento de Primera Infancia de SF se hará cargo de las cuotas familiares, como parte del pago al programa de su hijo. | |
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The California Department of Social Services is waiving all family fees effective July 1, 2021, until June 30, 2023.This waiver applies to all state-subsidized early learning and care programs. Family fees will resume July 1, 2023.
Please contact Children's Council of SF if you need assistance.
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加州社會服務部(CDSS) 將豁免從 2021 年 7 月 1 日至 2023 年 6 月 30 日的家庭費用。此家庭費用豁免適用於所有州政府資助的早期教育計劃。家庭費用將於 2023 年 7 月 1 日恢復收取。
如您有任何疑問，三藩市兒童委員會隨時為您提供幫助。請致電或發送電子郵件給您的家庭服務專員，我們會盡快回覆您。
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El Departamento de Servicios Sociales de California no cobrará ninguna de las cuotas familiares entre el 1 de julio de 2021 y el 30 de junio de 2023. Esta exención es válida para todos los programas de aprendizaje y cuidado infantil subsidiados por el estado. Las cuotas familiares volverán a cobrarse a partir del 1 de julio de 2023.
Si tiene alguna duda, Children's Council of SF está aquí para ayudarle.
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Do you have Student Loans?
IMPORTANT: Major change to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program!
The California Department of Education (CDE) would like to share that the federal Department of Education announced a major change to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program for a limited time, as result of the COVID-19 national emergency.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in financial hardship for many, including members of the early care and education (ECE) workforce. If an early childhood educator works for a qualified employer, which includes government and nonprofit preschool programs, they may now be eligible for federal student loan forgiveness, even if they were not previously.
Please note that some borrowers may need to consolidate their federal loans and/or submit a PSLF form by October 31, 2022, to take advantage of this opportunity.
For more information and to apply, please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
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Upcoming Community Events | |
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CDSS Webinar: Eligibility and Certification of Families
Thursday, October 13 | 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m
Register here
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Child Care and Development Division (CCDD), will host this training webinar as part of its goal of working collaboratively with child care and development contractors to reinforce their understanding of contract requirements, ensure their proficiency in accessing current information about program requirements and staying informed, reduce errors in documenting and certifying families, and support continuous improvement and program integrity.
The training webinars are appropriate for new and veteran staff. The webinars will be free on Zoom and will be recorded and made available on the CDSS’ website.
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Kai Ming (multiple positions)
Home Visitor - Learn more/Apply
Lead Teacher - Learn more/Apply
Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center
Site Supervisor - Learn more/Apply
or email resumes to FOSFJOBS@gmail.com
FACESF
Teacher (All levels - Infant, Toddler, Preschool) - Learn more/Apply
or email resumes to Jobs@facessf.org
First 5 Alameda County
Director of Early Care and Education - Learn more/Apply
**The position closes on Monday, October 10, 2022**
This critical role leads the First 5’s Early Care and Education (ECE) programs, is a valued member of the Executive Leadership Team, and will develop systems to scale ECE programs to further the reach of First 5 programming. Please contact Nancy Hetrick at nhetrick@managementpartners.com or (408) 674-3369.
*We recognize there are many available ECE positions during any given month and we do our best to share the vacancies sent to us. Have an ECE job posting you would like included? Send a link (best), PDF, or word document to info@ecesf.org.
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Are you an Early Care Educator in San Francisco?
¿Es usted un educador de cuidado infantil en San Francisco?
您是舊金山的早期護理教育工作者嗎？
ECESF is a grassroots organization bringing San Francisco early care educators together across diverse ECE community and public sites. We are peers supporting each other, making sure we all know what's happening, and ensuring that new programs implemented to help us and the important work we do really do make a difference. If you are passionate about child care and education and know that a well-paid, stable workforce and great working conditions are essential to deliver great services, you won’t want to miss out on the discussions happening in our ECESF community including:
- Educator focus groups
- Core leadership meetings
- Teacher advocacy meetings
- Special events & community discussions
If you or an educator you know is ready to get involved, fill out our ECESF Interest Form below and we'll make sure you get connected!
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Follow us on social media! | |
ECESF receives funding from the Office of Early Care and Education to provide field building and peer supports to early care educators, as well as generous donations and in-kind contributions to build our advocacy and community work from individual early care educators, and allies, community organizations and agencies. Support our work. Donate! | | | | | |
