For Directors 

Directors Alerts

• All Group Care Licensee Directors have been asked to fill out a survey that would help EEC better understand the field’s current landscape.
  More Info >>
• A second survey is for Educators to fill out: 
  English Version >>
  Spanish Version >> 
• Senator Warren, who has introduced at $50 B Early Childhood bailout plan, participated in a Strategies for All phone call. She is suggesting providers contact their representatives in the House to make this bill a priority among many other bills. More Info >>
• Program Administrators are invited to join MAAEYC’s Educators Talk every Monday at 5PM from now until June. More Info >> 
• Programs needing free legal advice should contact NBI Remote Legal Clinic. They provide MA child care providers a 45-minute remote consultation with a volunteer attorney.
  More Info >>
• B-3 Mentors, Bess Emanuel and Polly Smith, are facilitating Zoom Cambridge Directors Support Meetings every Friday at 2PM (open to all Cambridge directors). Check your email inbox every Friday morning for the Zoom link.

Funding

• New Small Business Relief Program being offered by City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) starting May 8. Qualifying businesses are eligible to receive grants of up to $10,000 to assist with rent, salaries, utilities, and cost of goods. More Info >>
• Additionally, CRA is creating a 0% interest $15,000 loan program for small businesses to be paid back over 5 years. More Info >>
• Banks are again accepting Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) applications. More Info >>
• Children’s Investment Fund is offering free PPP technical assistance. More Info >>
• For more economic recovery info for early childhood, check out EEC’s website. More Info >>
• The Small Business Administration is only processing EIDL applications that are already in the queue or are for agricultural businesses.

For Teachers

Curriculum Support & Professional Development

• Save the Date! B-3 Coaches will facilitate a 3-part Zoom Communities of Practice for any Cambridge educator interested in attending. This series, Back to the Future: Community, Connections, and Transitions, will focus on how to make returning to school positive for children and their families.
  Dates: May 20, June 3, and June 17
  Times: Infant Teachers (0-12 mo.) 9:30-11AM; Toddler Teachers (12-36 mon.) 12:30-2PM; Preschool Teachers (3-5 yrs.) 2:30-4:30PM
  Registration: Registration links will be on next week’s email.
• NAEYC recorded webinar, Families and Educators Supporting Learning at Home, offers educators strategies and tips on how to partner with families to foster children’s learning at home. More Info >>
• Two Fisher College courses (Child Growth and Development and Infant Toddler Curriculum) resume online week of May 12th for the 44 students who were previously attending classes. If you or your educators have questions, please contact Emily at [email protected].
• Educators are invited to participate in MAAEYC Educator Talks that take place every Tuesdays at 10AM from now until June. More Info >>

For Families

Activities for Families

• Somerville colleagues wrote a Story about Social Distancing that is available in several languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
• The Monterey Bay Aquarium live cams offer children a choice of 7 underwater scenes. Parents just need to ask their child which cam they would like to watch and then click “Watch the cam”. Asking a child what he or she observed afterwards helps children develop a key early science skill! More Info >>

Resources for Families

• PBS offers parents of toddlers ideas about what to say when their child asks, “Why are people wearing masks?” More Info >>
• Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund is still accepting applications from Cambridge residents. To apply for a grant, families should go to this website for directions and application. More Info >>
• The Early Years Project is offering their services directly to Cambridge/Somerville parents with children 5 years old and under and at no cost. If parents have concerns or questions about their child’s needs, development, emotions, or behavior, or are having difficulty managing the stress of being a parent during this demanding time, help is just an email or phone call away: email [email protected] or call 781.686.0435 to arrange a consultation.