For Directors 

Directors Alerts – EEC

• Kindergarten Transition Forms are up on the website! Please have teachers fill them out here.
• In light of recent changes to the statewide guidance, EEC is providing the following answers here to commonly asked questions regarding the April version of the Minimum Requirements and Playbook available here.
• The Baker-Polito Administration announced that the remaining COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted beginning May 29, and EEC retired the Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety. EEC continues to be committed to supporting programs through this transition. As previously referenced, EEC will be establishing revised guidance around regulations and monitoring throughout the month of June and will not begin on-site monitoring until July. During the month of June they will send weekly communications to update providers and provide answers to the on-going questions received through email.
  
• There will be a Conversation with the Commissioner on June 29th at 6PM.
  

For Directors, Providers, Home Visitors, Educators & Families

Health & Wellness

• Early Intervention Parenting Partnership, a program of Riverside Community Care: EIPP offers in-person and virtual home visiting and group support for pregnant and postpartum women until the baby turns one. EIPP employs a team approach and embodies strengths-based, trauma-sensitive, individualized, relationship-based support grounded in the family's culture, hopes and preferences. Dedicated team includes maternal child health nursing, mental health and community health professionals. Staff speak Spanish and Portuguese. Interpreters available for other languages. To make a referral or for more information, contact us by email or call Kathryn Killoran at 617.755.3071.
• Find It! Updating, Accounts, and Connecting: Find It Cambridge is a website that serves as a one-stop-shop to find activities, services, and resources in Cambridge. It’s also a free promotional opportunity and a great referral tool to share with families. Please update your program’s information on Find It. Andrew can be reached by email or 617.686.2998.
• The Home Visiting Guide is available here.
• 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 via email. 
  
• 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.
• 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

• Check your email for B3’s Online Training Resources for the Early Childhood Workforce List.
• Grant Opportunity! The Little Seeds Pollinator Pals Grant presented by Little Seeds and KidsGardening is designed to support youth garden programs interested in preserving and creating pollinator habitat to help rebuild declining pollinator populations. In 2021, eighteen programs will be awarded a check for $500 to support the development of new and expansion of existing pollinator gardens in communities across the United States. Click here to find out more! Applications are due on Friday, July 30, 2021 by 11:59PM PT.
  

For Families

Resources for Families

• Summer Park Playgroups begin the week of July 12th and run for 5 weeks. Playgroups are for Cambridge families with children 15 months-4 years old. Registration is required and registration starts Monday, June 14th! Please register for one location. To register, contact Kim Tran via email or call 617.349.6385.
• 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 at 617.349.6724 or via email or Peggy Beucler at 617.349.6849 or via email.
  
• 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 617.349.6385. 

• Check out the Cambridge Public Library website for fun spring events -- they are back open! 

• 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.)