For Directors 

Directors Alerts – EEC

• The Playbook is scheduled to be re-released in early December. Updates include a new section with information for Family Child Care Systems; a new section summarizing changes to licensing policy during COVID-19; an updated Scenario Planning section; and a new Additional Information section organized by issue area.
• A recording of the Board of Early Education and Care meeting on November 10th can be found here. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, December 9, 2020 and can be streamed here.
• The Cambridge Directors Support Zoom meeting, led by B3 mentors, takes place every other week. Days and times will alternate between Tuesday and Wednesday for these meetings going forward. You can access the schedule for October through May here.
  

For Directors, Providers, Home Visitors, Educators & Families

Health & Wellness

• Communities of Practice have begun for Home Visitors! In order to accommodate more participants, there will be 2 offerings: the first Monday of each month from 1-2:30PM, and the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 9:30-11AM. Watch for registration in your email.
• Dominique Jean, a school nurse, will answer your urgent COVID-19 symptom questions (Is this dry cough from COVID-19 or due to allergies?). She can be reached at: 781.803.0766. 
• For non-urgent COVID-19 related calls, please call 617.665.3648. One of two nurses will reply to all hotline phone calls and emails after they have checked the phone line or email account.
  
• For more complex medically related questions, Directors should contact MA Dept. of Public Health’s epidemiologist Dr. Katherine Hsu at 617.983.6948 or [email protected]. 
  
• EEC’s Reopening Plan requires programs to provide contact information for their local Board of Health.
  • This information should now be:
    Address: 119 Windsor St., Cambridge, MA 02139
    Phone: 617.665.3648
    Email: [email protected] 
    

Managing Stress and Anxiety

• The resources provided by The Massachusetts Association for Infant Mental Health continue to be a good place to start for your own mental health and for the mental health of those you are taking care of.
• EEC and the Pyramid Model Consortium are offering a series of ePyramid online trainings focused on strategies to support educator’s own social and emotional wellness as well as the children and families they serve.
• The Federation for Children with Special Needs has created Mindful Mondays, a weekly opportunity for educators to practice self-care through mindfulness. Come join other educators from across the state for yoga, meditation, journaling, and sharing of challenges and successes. No previous experience is necessary.

For Teachers

Curriculum Support & Professional Development

• Click here to see B3’s Online Training Resources for the Early Childhood Workforce dated November 24, 2020.
• Coming soon: Watch for a range of additional Communities of Practice (CoPs) run by B3 Coaches!
  
  

For Families

Resources for Families

• It’s almost time for the Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten Lottery for the Cambridge Public Schools! The Lottery runs from January 4th through January 29th for the 2021-2022 school year. The lottery is for children born between September 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017. You can find more information here.
• Now enrolling: Riverside Early Head Start is a home-based early childhood program that provides comprehensive parenting and family support to low-income pregnant women and families with children zero to three years of age. They work with families residing in Cambridge, Medford and Somerville. They are currently providing virtual home visits using different platforms such as Phone, Zoom and WhatsApp. Learn more here. Apply here.
• Cambridge Public Schools Home Based Early Childhood Program is recruiting families! Children must be between the ages of 18 months and 3.5 years old. Home visits can occur on a porch, in a yard, at a park, or virtually. Each visit includes free books and materials, as well as fun and engaging activities. Contact Joy Harper 617.349.6724 [email protected] or Peggy Beucler 617.349.6849 [email protected].
  
• The Center for Families offers free programming and supports for all families living in Cambridge with children birth-8 years old. Center staff are available to support families in connecting with community resources, provide one-on-one support, and provide access to the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, which helps parents understand more about their child's development. You can find information on current programs in their monthly newsletter here. Want to learn more about the Center for Families and connect? You can also reach them via email or call at 617.349.6385.
• Parents and caregivers who are experiencing any kinds of problems related to their children can call the Parental Stress Line for support: 1.800.623.8188. The Parental Stress Line is staffed by volunteer counselors who are sympathetic and nonjudgmental and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

• Click here for WGBH’s Family Fun at Home that has activities for children ages 3 to 5. 
  
• Find It Cambridge is regularly updating its Virtual Activities at Home category with online and at-home activities for all ages of children and adults to enjoy. 
• Check out the Cambridge Public Library website for fun virtual events. 
• Center for Families always has activities for families!
• For families, see also the activities under Managing Stress and Anxiety above!

• Postpartum Support International (PSI)
• MCPAP for Moms
  
• JF & CS Postpartum Depression Support Group: “This Isn’t What I Expected”, Tuesdays, 1-2:30PM. For more information, please contact Debbie Whitehill via email or 781.647.JFCS (5327) x1925. Register for the video support group. (New participants should register at least 24 hours in advance.)