State Budget Crisis – Make Your Voice Heard

VOICES
For
Children
THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF
THE COMMUNITY CHILD CARE COUNCIL OF SONOMA COUNTY
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Acknowledgement and Sonoma County’s Week of the Young Child
D
uring the Week
of the Young
Child this past
April the Sonoma
County Early Care
Community was publicly acknowledged.
The value of this recognition for a field
that is often undervalued and underpaid
should not go unnoticed. Throughout
the week of April 20 – 26th, there were
proclamations by city councils, child care
tours with elected officials, and on Friday night, the Fourth Annual Evening of
Honor was held.
By Melanie Dodson, 4Cs Executive Director
Over 200 individuals attended the
2009 Evening of Honor. The event was
sponsored by the Sonoma County As-
over 230 child development centers, 450
licensed family child care providers and
staff from local child care agencies serv-
Research continues to demonstrate that early childhood is the most
critical development period in a child’s life, and that 90% of a
child’s brain develops from birth to age five.
sociation of the Education of Young
Children, Santa Rosa Jr. College Child
Development Department, Community
Action Partnership – Head Start, the
Sonoma County Child Care Planning
Council, River to Coast Children’s Services and 4Cs. Attendees represented
ing families and children birth to age 12.
The work of these programs is about both
education and positive relationships that
support a child’s sense of self, sense of
belonging and their overall growth, development and love of learning.
Continued page 2
State Budget Crisis – Make Your Voice Heard
Communicate to legislators
as to how the proposed
cuts will directly affect
your family.
(Find contact
information
on page 3.)
A s this volume of VOICES goes to print
the budget conversation in California is
getting more serious by the day and our
public investments in child care and our
children’s health, education and well-being are in great jeopardy. We do not know
how California state funded child care
programs, Community Care Licensing,
Healthy Families, CalWORKS or many
other state funded programs will fare
in the budget process. These programs
support hard working Sonoma County
Continued page 3
In This Issue
Human Race: A Great Success!.............2
Legislators Contact Information....3
Quatro Pasos A Success...............4
Enroll Early at SRJC..............................7
Also inside
— 4Cs Calendar —
Volume 22 Number 3
Summer 2009
4CS News
Acknowledgement and Sonoma County’s Week of the Young Child Continued from page 1
Child care, preschool and child
development programs make a
difference for families and
children of all ages.
The evening started with wine and
delicious appetizers provided by KR Catering. Attendees received home made
cookies from Glen & Franny Minnervini-Zick, chocolate provided by Guittard
and of course long stem roses. The short
program included emotional and heartfelt “Hug Awards” recognizing child care
providers for their successes and perseverance over the past year. The evening
rounded out with words from Dr. Carl
Wong, Superintendent of Sonoma County Office of Education and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey. Both speakers
addressed the attendees, acknowledging
the dedication and important work of
child care providers and the Early Care
and Education profession.
The work of the early care and
education work force supports the
community of working parents,
fuels our local economy and is a
large piece of the puzzle to support
our children in having success in
elementary school and in life.
workforce makes to the quality of life
for children and families too frequently
goes unnoticed. I want to take the opportunity to thank each of you for your
hard work, your professionalism, your
commitment and for setting the foundation for our children’s lifelong success.
You CAN and you DO make a difference everyday!
It is important that we take moments out of our busy schedules
and lives to acknowledge friends,
family, children, and all the people
who make a difference in our lives.
Missy Danneberg, Dr. Carl Wong and
Melanie Dadson at Evening of Honor Event.
Human Race: A Great Success!
Thank you to everyone who helped course the larger community! To
4Cs participation in the Human
Race be such a great success! In
the spirit of the Human Race, 4Cs
had great community support in
this year’s race. Support came
from 4Cs Board Members, staff,
enrolled parents, providers and of
date, we have raised $18,800!
COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS
Rose Sponsors:
• The HR Matrix &
• Summit State Bank
The Evening of Honor was a memorable evening for 4Cs staff as well. The staff
of the 4Cs Petaluma Child Development
center was honored with a “Hug Award”
in recognition of their 40 years of providing a high quality, full day preschool program at McDowell Elementary school.
Everyone wants to be treated with
respect, to be valued and accepted,
loved, and cherished, and made to
feel they are making important
contributions to society.
The contribution the early childhood
Children visiting the 4Cs booth at the Human Race.
Community Child Care Council
Continued page 5
4CS News
State Budget Crisis – Make Your Voice Heard Continued from page 1
families and protect the welfare of our
children. These are truly unprecedented
times. Our legislature faces a projected
state wide budget deficit of over $23
Billion and every program, service and
state job are on the table for possible
cuts or elimination.
Contact your local legislators and inform them how the proposed cuts to critical
programs will affect the children and families in our community. These programs
support the overall health of our community and the impact of their loss will be felt
by all of us. Included below is the contact
information of our local representatives:
GOVERNOR
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 445-4633
Website: gov.ca.gov/interact
Sonoma County Parents march at Stand for Children Day at the State Capitol.
UNITED STATES SENATE
STATE SENATE
Senator Barbara Boxer
State Senator Mark Leno
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 403-0100
Fax: (415) 956-6701
Email: [email protected]
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 14800
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 557-1300
Fax: (415) 557-1252
Emial:[email protected]
Senator Diane Feinstein
State Senator Patricia Wiggins
One Post Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 393-0707
Email: [email protected]
50 D Street, Suite 120 A
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: (707) 576-2771
Fax: (707) 576-2773
Email: [email protected]
CONGRESSIONAL
REPRESENTATIVES
Representative Mike Thompson
STATE ASSEMBLY
Assemblyman Wes Chesbro
240 Main Street, Suite 101
Napa, CA 94959
Phone: (707)226-9898
Fax: (707)251-9800
Email: [email protected]
50 D Street, Suite 450
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: (707) 576-2526
Fax: (707) 576-2297
Email: [email protected]
Representative Lynn Woolsey
Assemblywoman Noreen Evans
1101 College Avenue, Suite 400
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: (707) 542-7182
Fax: (707) 542-2745
Email: www.house.gov/woolsey
50 D Street, Suite 301
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Phone: (707) 546-4500
Fax: (707) 546-9031
Email: [email protected]
Assemblyman Jared Huffman
3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 412
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: (707)938-8157
Fax: (415)479-2123
Email: [email protected]
The decisions being made by the Legislature and the Governor will decide the
fate of many families and programs that
support our community’s child care businesses and the hardworking families that
receive child care subsidies. The entirety
of proposed cuts unfairly target low income families that are working towards
self sufficiency.
Proposed cuts include the elimination
of the CalWORKS program, drastic reductions to Community Care Licensing,
Healthy Families and many more. In addition, it is proposed that families receiving child care subsidies pay family fees
up to 50% more of what they currently
pay, and providers will continue to be
paid less than market value for caring for
children paid by those subsidies.
Voices For Children 3
4CS News
Second year of Cuatro Pasos a Success!
Cuatro
Pasos is a practical training
course for advanced Spanish Speaking
Family Child Care Providers that has
been offered in many counties throughout California.
The goals of the training are:
• To offer experienced family child care providers the opportunity to attain new concepts and skills that help them build their business and self esteem.
• To offer providers a new language,
validation and recognition that they deserve for contributing their knowledge on a daily basis.
• To offer practical strategies that
focus on promoting the wellbeing and professionalism of providers and to improve the quality of family child care.
• To encourage providers to continue their education and to understand the value of higher education.
• To motivate providers to value their work, promote their business
and adapt strategies to their re-
spective lifestyle and needs.
• To help providers realize the importance of their work and
positive contribution in the lives
of children and society.
4Cs has now offered the Cuatro Pasos
(Spanish for “Four Steps”) Training for
two years in a row. This year, the training was held in March at the Sonoma
Valley Inn in Sonoma. The training consists of an in-depth, 3-day training on
the four steps: You, Our Children, Our
Family, and Our Business. The providers go through a variety of activities and
challenges that they can later implement
Luz Zavala with Cuatro Pasos participants.
4 Community Child Care Council
in their home and business.
The nature of the training is such that
the providers bond very deeply during
the 3 days. At the providers’ requests,
we facilitated a Cuatro Pasos reunion in
April where 16 out of 19 providers (from
both years) attended. The providers
agreed to meet monthly and to support
each other as providers and now friends.
They expressed their gratitude for having
had the opportunity to participate in the
training and agreed to help get donations
to facilitate other Latino Child Care Providers having the same opportunity.
We were honored and humbled to have
the chance to work with these providers.
Article by: Cuatro Pasos Organizers:
Conny Vergara, Martha Gomez, Luz
Zavala and Susy Marrón.
4CS News
Human Race: A Great
Success Continued from page 2
Tulip Sponsors:
Dry Creek Rancheria &
Able Roofing Co.
Daisy Sponsors: Morgan Stanley &
Curry Landscaping Inc.
Poppy Sponsors: Petaluma Auto
Caption here
Parts, Spragia Family Vineyards, Codding Enterprise, Extended Child Care,
Electrical Equipment Co. in Petaluma
Businesses that adopted 4Cs:
WestAmerica Bank & Hidden Valley
Community Preschool
Individuals Who Collected
Pledges on behalf of 4Cs:
Luz Zavala, Nayeli Gonzalez-Calles,
Dora Tejeda, Allison Goodwin, Chelsea Bailiff, Carly Busse, Susan Adams,
Cheryle Calles, Sally Frey, Jose Enciso,
Claudia Guzman, Sheila Whipple, Lara
Magnusdottir, Lorie Siebler, Angelica
Valencia, Sue Katz, Maya Labourdette,
Melanie Dodson, Tina Paige, Mira Wonderwheel, Kim Keller, Tom Schwedhelm,
Jo McCormick, Bob Sayers, Tracy Johnson, Katie Pierce, Gary Hochman, Rene
Casilli, David Wattell, Christina Curry,
Kay Cameron, Natalie Craighead, Linda
Dusek, Maria Soledad Burton, Judy
Berry, Ida Garretson, Lorraine Barlow,
Dana Dunne
Individual Donors:
Doris Marin, Renee Noriega, Ana Santos,
Angelina Corona, Carol and Doug Clark,
Sharron Caesare, Alma Leon, Mariana
Jimenez, Estela Pulino, Maria Elena
Vidrio, Rob Monson, Deanna McKenzie, Sue Davy, Carol Oppenheimer,
Patty Bordogs, Jonathan Graves, Ann
Isaacs, Jonathan Graves, Michael Busse,
Donna DeRosa, Manlynn Holland, Lisa
Dehmer, Nicki Teldeschi, Kathy Dellagantina, Lesa Midhatch, Ana Calles, Lory
Younger, Griffith Ray, Wes Farmilce, Kiwanis Club, Lori Guerini, Cheryle Calles,
4Cs staff and supporters at the Human Race Booth.
Linda Hagle, Judy Crellin, Mike Busse,
Leo Conner, Al Sawyer, Magie Caffery,
Bill Franze, Taram Appelbaum, Peter
Schiller, Roger Vincent, John Klein, Tod
Remmerer, Allan Hardman, Maribel
Hernandez, Cristina Lugo, Teresa Lopez,
Carolina Ramirez, Naya Lupez, Raquel
Gomez, Solorro Gomez, Olivia Franco,
Margarita Ortega, Barbara Vaughn,
Barbie Matthiesen, Carol Tolen, Diane
Frey, Karen Beatty, Kathy Harrison, Rachel Kidd, Susan Meere, William Houston, Elizabeth Messick, Cynthia Podesta,
Emily Musgrave, Heather Young, Kathleen Roberts, Kendra McKenna, Shauna
Harrison, Andrew Miner, Joshua Ross,
Pam Davis, Adam Shelton, Archana
Mishra, Bill Backus, David Curry, Eric
Holmberg, Gerald Richard, Ines Enciso,
Jose Enciso, Kevin Pope, Magnus Asbo,
Manikandan Karur, Mark Abrams,
Marlene Rattenne, Mike Haslach, Mike
Munroe, Nirav Modi, Ramone Hecker,
Randy Beck, Richard Tiu, Ranald Evanjs, Tim Chappell, Tom Duly, Vishal Sharma, Anne Varco, Arlene Gardaya, Bernie Sayers, Bob Sayers, Carol DeFour,
Carole Rehbock, Ellen Bonning, Gail
Ginder, Hal Forman, Joanna Martinelli,
Kathryn de Brauwere, Lucy Groetsch,
Magie Caffery, Mary Ann Granieri, Melissa Phillippe, Monnet Zubieta, Nancy
Noble, Peter Stickney, Ray Anderson,
Rosalie Bulach, Roy Massen, Susan Davis, Teresa Welborn, Victoria Fullerton,
Alice Gunn, Anne Hochman, Anthony
Kortens, Douglas Legg, Ellen Lewis,
Gary Hochman, Geoff Ramsey, Heather
Young, Jill Sanford, Liz Cornish, Lucy
Hochman, Mara Hochman, Margie Vondrak, Maria Pappas, Michael Freeman,
Norton and Marilyn Armour, Richard
Addison, Saul Eisen, Serene Cooper,
Shelly Anderson, Susan Adams, Susan
Gorin, Tom Karsten, Bonnie Hockman,
Julie Eichenberger, Pamela Wiley, Susan
Katz, Marinell Eva, Judy Edmonds, Rita
Sever, Virginia Greenwald, Linda Rosen,
Stephan Nielson, Katie Greaves and Matt
Mensch, Penelope, Al Labourdette, Amy
and Anthony Martin, Barbara Fromm,
Chris Fritzsche, David Hanes, Don and
Mary Dodson, Gary and Geri Bolin,
Healther Young, Jayne DeLawter, Jean
Clifford, Karin Hughes, Laura Sawyer,
Pat and Dan Solter, Renee Whitlock,
Richard Beebe, Robert Worth, Sarah
Dodson, Scott and Melanie Bolin, Steve
Osborn and Tom Ludovise
Voices For Children 5
4CS News
The children are watching, where are you leading?
A ll adults who care for children have an
important role in promoting their nutritional health. Being a good role model is
the best teacher because children learn
from us as we talk and eat together. The
child’s early years are an opportunity to
develop healthy habits for a lifetime.
Action steps parents/adults
can take:
1. Keep a variety of ready-to-eat fruits
and vegetables available. For example:
• Keep fresh fruit in a bowl on the counter. Choose items that are easy to grab and eat such as apples, pears, plums, and grapes.
• Keep easy-to-eat vegetables in the refrigerator to grab as snacks such as cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, baby carrots and multi colored bell pepper strips.
• Serve a fruit or vegetable with every meal and snack.
• Bring home a new fruit or vegeta-
ble every once in a while. Learn how to prepare it and encourage your children to try it. Have your children ever seen papaya, kiwi, baby bok choy, butternut squash or
broccolini?
2. Sit down for a meal with your children at least once a day.
• Research has shown that when children eat on their own, they are less likely to eat healthy food, including fruits and vegetables.
3. Understand the health benefits of
fruits and vegetables and be a role mode.
• If you eat fruits and vegetables, your children are much more likely to. Help your children understand why it’s so important to eat a
variety of fruits and vegetables.
Los Niños están mirando; Hacia donde los está guiando?
Todo aquél que se preocupe por los niños,
tiene un papel importante en la promoción de su salud nutricional. La mejor
manera de enseñar, es siendo Buenos
modelos, porque los niños aprenden
de nosotros cuando hablamos y
comemos juntos. Estos primeros
años son una oportunidad para
desarrollar hábitos de saludables
para toda la vida.
Padres, Están Ustedes Señalando el
Camino? Pasos
de acción que los
Padres/Adultos
pueden tomar:
1. Siempre tenga una
variedad de frutas y
vegetales listos para ser
consumidos. Por ejemplo:
• Mantenga la fruta fresca en un platón hondo al alcance de la mano.
Escoja produc
tos que sean fáciles de agarrar y comer,
como manzanas, peras, ciruelas y uvas.
6 Community Child Care Council
• Tenga los vegetales fáciles decomer en un compartimiento del refrig
erador para que los pueda
tomar fácilmente como antojos.
Pueden ser cerezas, tomates, judías o habichuelas verdes, zanahorias en trocitos y tiras de chiles/pimien
tos de múltiples colores.
• Sirva una fruta o vegetal con cada comida o antojo.
• Traiga a su casa una fruta o
vegetal diferente de vez en cuando. Aprenda como prepararla y motive a sus niños a que la coman. Haga
que sus niños vean la papaya, el kiwi, hojas pequeñas con sabores, calabaza de bellota, calabaza o brócoli.
2. Sentarse para comer junto con sus
hijos al menos una vez al DIA.
• La investigación ha mostrado que
cuando los niños comen solos, casi nunca comen alimentos nutri-
tivos incluyendo frutas y vegetales.
3. Entienda los beneficios de salud de
las frutas y vegetales así usted estará
capacitado para ayudar a sus niños a
que entiendan por qué es tan importante
comerlos.
t
4CS News
Enroll Early
For SRJC Classes
This
Fall the SRJC Child Development Department will be offering a
wide variety of classes to help you meet
your professional goals and increase
your skills as a teacher. Additionally
there will be many classes available for
those needing to fulfill their general
education requirements for movement
upwards on the Child Development
Permit Matrix. However, please be
aware that due to budget cuts it’s likely
that there will be fewer classes (and
ultimately less seats) available. To ensure that you get the courses you want
be sure to register early. Priority registration begins on June 29 for returning
students and open registration begins
on July 20. You can enroll online at
www.santarosa.edu or get information
about Child Development classes by
calling the department office at (707)
527-4315.
Parents!
Request your list of licensed
child care providers by phone
and online!
4Cs by Phone: 707-544-3077
8:30 am-5 pm, Monday - Friday
4Cs Online: www.sonoma4cs.org
select from menu: “Find Child Care”
Online Hours: 24-hours a day
To: Parents in 4Cs Subsidized
Child Care Programs
Report changes in your family situation that may affect your child
care services. Report the following
to your 4Cs case manager within 5
days:
• Income
• Family size
• Employment • Residence
• Child care provider
Contact your case manager at (707)
544-3077, Mon.-Fri., 8:30am-5pm.
Licensed Providers:
Save, Save, Save—
Money, Time, and
Resources!
Give Yourself a Rai$e!
Sign up for 4Cs food program, and
you can be reimbursed $50 per week
(on average) for serving nutritious
food to children in your care.
4Cs newsletter is now
To sign up for this and other 4Cs
nutrition programs:
• Call the Child Health and
Nutrition Program:
707-544-3077 or 1-800-977-5437
• Email: [email protected]
• Visit the 4Cs website:
www.sonoma4cs.org,
choose Programs and Services
available via e-mail!
If you would like to
receive 4Cs newsletter
electronically, please
send your email to:
[email protected]
Proveedores con Licencia:
Dése usted mismo a un aumento!
Support 4Cs:
Usted puede recibir un reembolso de
$50 promedio a la semana, por servir
comida nutritiva a los niños bajo su
cuidado.
Donate, Volunteer!
Regístrese hoy en 4Cs! Para detalles
sobre éste y otros servicios de Nutrición en 4Cs:
• Llame al Programa de Salud y Nutrición del Niño:
707-544-3077 o al 1-800-977-5437
• Dirección electrónica:
[email protected]
• Visite la página de 4Cs en la red: www.sonoma4cs.org,
para escoger Programas y
Servicios
Padres!
Pidan una lista de proveedores de cuidado de niños
con licencia, por teléfono o
por internet!
Al teléfono de 4Cs: 707-544-3077
8:30am-5pm, lunes a viernes
En la red de 4Cs:
www.sonoma4cs.org
Seleccione en el menú:
“Find Child Care”
Online Horas: 24-horas del día
Your tax-deductible donation to
4Cs makes you a 4Cs member. Return the donation envelope inside
this newsletter. 4Cs is also eligible
for your United Way donations.
Membership benefits:
•
•
•
Voices For Children, 4Cs
quarterly newsletter
Use of the 4Cs Toy and
Resource Lending Library
Invitations to our workshops
and seminars
Donate a Service or Product
•
•
•
Discounts on printing,
graphic design, etc.
Toys, books and educational
resource materials
Child-sized furniture, outdoor play houses or equipment, shelving, art supplies and books
Volunteer in 4Cs Child Development
Centers or Office
•
•
•
On board committees, doing
fundraising, event planning, etc.
For office work, marketing, etc.
To work with children, Reading with Kids program, etc.
Contact 707-544-3077, or
[email protected].
Voices For Children 7
NON-PROFIT ORG.
US POST PAID
SANTA ROSA
CA 95402
PERMIT NO. 308
396 Tesconi court
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
RETURN SERVICE requested
Since 1972 ~ A Generation of Care ... One Child at a Time
4Cs Services and Information
Informacíon y Servicios de 4Cs
The Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4Cs) is
a non-profit organization, funded through the California State Department of Education, foundation grants and private contributions.
Funding terms and conditions for all 4Cs programs are available
for review by the public at the 4Cs office.
El Concilio de Cuidado de Niños de la Comunidad del Condado
de Sonoma (4Cs) es una organización sin fines de lucro, con fondos
a través del Departamento de Educación del Estado de California,
becas y contribuciones privadas. Las condiciones y términos de los
fondos para todos los programas de 4Cs, están disponibles para
revisión pública, en la oficina de 4Cs.
4Cs Mission:
To inspire our community to support the well-being of every child,
and to improve the quality and availability of child care in Sonoma County.
4Cs Services (Available in English and Spanish)
For Parents
Phone and online referral to licensed family child care homes,
child care centers and other children’s services; resource and technical assistance; fee-based and subsidized child care for incomeeligible families; parent advocacy group; Toy and Resource Lending Library.
For Child Care Providers
Educational workshops on business, child development, health,
nutrition and safety; food cost reimbursement program for licensed
providers; technical assistance; Toy and Resource Lending Library;
TrustLine Registry of license exempt providers.
La Misión de 4Cs:
Es animar a la comunidad a apoyar el bienestar de cada niño,
además de mejorar la calidad y accesibilidad del cuidado de niños
en el Condado de Sonoma.
Servicios de 4Cs (Disponibles en inglés y español)
Para los Padres
Referencias por teléfono y en la red de internet, para casas de
familia de cuidado de niños, centros de cuidado de niños y otros
servicios para los niños; recursos y ayuda técnica; cuidado de
niños subvencionado y pago para familias elegibles por sus ingresos; Grupo de Padres Defensores; Biblioteca de Préstamo de
Libros y Juguetes.
Para los Proveedores de Cuidado de Niños
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm
Talleres educativos sobre negocios, desarrollo del niño, salud,
nutrición y seguridad; reembolso de costos de comida para los
proveedores con licencia; ayuda técnica; Biblioteca de Préstamo
de Libros y Juguetes; “Trustline Registry” (huellas digitales) para
proveedores en el hogar.
Phone: 707/544-3077; Fax: 707/544-2625
Cómo Localizarnos
Address: 396 Tesconi Court, Santa Rosa, CA 95401-4653
Horario: Lunes-Viernes, 8:30am-5pm
Child Care Referrals Online: www.sonoma4cs.org,
then choose “Find Child Care” in the menu on left
Teléfono: 707/544-3077; Fax: 707/544-2625
How To Reach 4Cs
Email: [email protected]
Dirección: 396 Tesconi Court, Santa Rosa, CA 95401-4653
Web site: www.sonoma4cs.org
Referencias de Cuidado de Niños en la Red de
Internet: www.sonoma4cs.org, y oprima “Find
Child Care” en el menú de la izquierda
Board of Directors / Junta Directiva
Dirección Electrónica: [email protected]
Renee Whitlock-Hemsouvanh, President
Página en la Red: www.sonoma4cs.org
Bob Sayers, Vice President
Rene Casilli
Leslie Cotchett
Katie Pierce, Treasurer
Christina Curry
Tracy Johnson
David Wattell, Secretary
Jo McCormick
Tom Schwedhelm
Gary Hochman, Past President