From 4Cs
January 2021
A Note From Our Executive Director
Dear friend of 4Cs,

These first two weeks of the new year have presented events and news that have incited emotions in me from anger and frustration to relief and hope. Just days after unfathomable riots at our country's Capitol dimmed the hope of our nation, Governor Newsom presented his proposed California budget closer to home that renewed my faith in our future. The budget reaffirmed that our young children remain at the top of our state's priority list especially in the midst of a pandemic. While the injection of $55 million from the state and $1 billion from the federal government to support child care programs and families suffering do to the pandemic is reassuring, we must invest more - and more strategically - to support families with children while our economy stabilizes over the next year. 4Cs of Alameda County continues to be a leader in advocacy efforts at the local and state levels. As I mentioned in a recent article by our partners at EdSource, "We’re trying to find ways to build a system around insufficient funds. We need to build the funds around what the system needs.” Know that 4Cs of Alameda County is doing all we can to fight for equitable access to affordable, quality child care for all.

Be well,

Renee S. Herzfeld
Executive Director
Resources and News
4Cs Toy Giveaway Brings Joy to Local Families
Things were even merrier than usual around the 4Cs office December 17-18 as we held our annual Toy Giveaway, providing 133 families with gifts for their children. While many organizations opted to give gift cards or forgo their holiday events altogether in this year of COVID, our team dug deep to make our giveaway work.

We received tremendous support through donations from local area Starbucks stores, Park Day School, Marine Toys for Tots of Alameda County, and many 4Cs staff and friends who took advantage of our Amazon Wishlist to shop online. In all, we provided two toys each to approximately 325 children. We also provided diapers, wipes, and formula to those families with infants and toddlers.

Some parents secreted the gifts away in their car trunks, keeping the surprises for another day. Others handed the packages straight to their children, who peeked through the colored plastic of the gift bags to see what was inside.

One particular mother expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the 4Cs staff. “We’ve had COVID in our house and are finally over it. If it weren’t for these gifts, I wouldn’t have anything under the tree for my kids this year.”

You can see photos from this year's event here. Interested in supporting the 2021 Toy Giveaway? Contact Jeanette at jeanettec@4c-alameda.org.
Free Virtual Tax Preparation Services for 4Cs Community Members
STAY SAFE AND ACCESS FREE TAX PREPERATION FROM HOME beginning February 12, 2021.

4Cs of Alameda County is providing secure, limited contact drop-off or 100% online services with an experienced tax preparer for any community member who made less than $66,000 in 2020.

Visit getyourrefund.org/uwba to get more information.

Please check here for the latest information and details as they become available for VITA at 4Cs of Alameda County.

We’ll make sure you maximize your refund! You may qualify to receive tax credits like the California and Federal Earned Income Tax Credits and the California Young Child Tax Credit which can add over $6,000 to your overall refund.

To access GetYourRefund.org you will need:
• Access to a smart phone or computer
• ID documents and tax forms for everyone on the tax return
• Savings and checking account and routing numbers for direct deposit

Please contact Alicia Broussard at 510 690-2141 or vita@4c-alameda.org with questions.
Register Now for Virtual Playgroup for Little Ones and Their Caregivers
4Cs will be starting our 3rd virtual playgroup on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. Join us for a morning of fun, activity, story time, and movement for children ages 3-5 years old and their caregivers; grandparents, aunts, uncles, other family members & Friends. Incentives and activity materials will be provided. Caregivers might be eligible to receive a stipend, call us for more information. Register today and join us for one or all of the sessions in this 4-week series on Wednesday & Friday mornings from 11:00-11:30am. Contact Mary Beltran at playgroup@4c-alameda.org or (510) 736-2747 to register. 
Parents THRIVE During COVID-19 with 4Cs Virtual Workshops
On Tuesday evenings for the past few months, 4Cs of Alameda County has hosted THRIVE: Parenting During COVID-19, a free, virtual parent engagement and empowerment series open to all families. Lead by facilitator and Life Coach Diedre Goree from If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes Life Coaching and translated into Spanish, this virtual, supportive series was an overwhelming success.

Following Part One of the THRIVE series that was held in Spring, 2020, Part Two took place in November and December, 2020, and January, 2021, and was comprised of six sessions focused on topics such as balancing work and distance learning, raising a teenager, co-parenting, discipline, and budgeting during the midst of a pandemic. As the final session focused on raising an anti-racist child this evening approaches (there is still time to register here), we wanted to thank Coach Diedre, the guest speakers, translators, and the participants for making this second THRIVE series during the pandemic a success. Throughout the courses, more than 50 parents each evening shared their experiences, successes, and questions with the group, making the virtual group a welcome, inclusive, and safe place for participants. 4Cs of Alameda County hopes to continue our THRIVE series - virtually and in-person - as we are able, please continue reading our newsletter and visiting our Facebook Page for future THRIVE offerings.
HPN Play & Learn Enrolling Now
Happy New Year from the HPN department at 4Cs in Hayward! As we transition into the new year, the HPN team is getting ready to start their HPN Virtual Toddler Play and Learn (P&L).
P&L is a FREE bilingual (English-Spanish) playgroup program for parents and their children 18 months to 4 years old who live in Hayward Promise Neighborhoods. Play and Learn promotes school readiness, early literacy, and early childhood development.
The winter session begins on February 2, 2021 – February 26, 2021, from 11:00 am – 11:30 am via Zoom. For more eligibility information or questions, please contact Cynthia Padilla Munoz at cynthiap@4c-alameda.org or 510-584-3122.
How to Reach Us
4Cs of Alameda County's offices are currently physically closed but agency services are being offered virtually until Alameda County lifts the shelter-in-place restrictions due to COVID-19. As always, you can find out more information about 4Cs on our website, Facebook Page, and via Twitter. 4Cs Staff Directory can be found here. You can also contact 4Cs of Alameda County at (510) 582-2182 and via email at info@4c-alameda.org.
Upcoming Virtual Training for Providers
1/23/2021, 9am-noon
Presentadora: Silvia Bonilla

2/3/21, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Presenter: Tom Copeland
with Spanish and Chinese interpretation

2/3/21, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Presentador: Tom Copeland
con interpretación en español y chino

2/3/21, 7:00pm-9:00pm
主講者: Tom Copeland
此網絡研討會將使用西班牙語和中文口譯。

Parte 1: 2/13/21, 9:00am-11:00am
Parte 2: 2/13/21, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Parte 3: 2/20/21, 9:00am-11:00am
Presentadora: Silvia Y. Bonilla

Parte 1: 2/20/21, 9:00am-12:00pm
Parte 2: 2/22/21, 6:00pm-8:30pm
Parte 3: 2/23/21, 6:00pm-8:30pm
Presentadora: Gabriela Meneses

1部分: 2/27/2021, 10:00am-12:00pm
2部分: 2/27/2021, 1:00pm-3:00pm
主講者: Lei Ding
Career Opportunities at 4Cs
On-Call Maintenance Technician
On-Call
Oakland & Hayward Offices