Justine Can Do It, LLC

Apologies for current issues with my [email protected] email!
Working on a solution- in the meantime, use [email protected] instead.
Happy Quarterly Reporting, Smart Start friends!

I provide support to this wonderful, small Early Childhood non-profit in rural SC that's in need of a part-time Program Assistant:

Chesterfield County First Steps (chesterfieldfirststeps.org), a non-profit community based organization dedicated to improving school readiness, is seeking a Program Assistant for 20 hours/week. Working remotely is an option! Applications accepted until position is filled.
Apply online below or email a resume and cover letter to: [email protected]

https://forms.gle/dVGwabFnGvX1Vt8X8

Google Forms: Sign-in Access Google Forms with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).

Amazing they have evidence now!

A step in the right direction!
“Companies that receive the subsidies to build new plants will be able to use some of the government money to meet the new child care requirement. They could do that in a number of ways, in consultation with Commerce officials, who will set basic guidelines but not dictate how companies ensure workers have access to care they can afford.”

To Tap Federal Funds, Chip Makers Will Need to Provide Child Care The move seeks to help more women join the work force as industry leaders complain of labor shortages.

Want to be a part of a critical local non-profit? Check out these job openings! Including 2 part-time, family friendly options!

Are you a compassionate and skilled change-maker looking to make a difference? Compass Center is hiring! Check out the details here and share in your networks: bit.ly/CCEmploy. Some positions are full-time, others are part-time. All are located in Chapel Hill and are under the umbrella of supporting survivors of relationship violence using a racial equity and social justice approach. Read on and apply today if this sounds good to you!

Karen & the team at CCFS are great to work with!

Google Forms: Sign-in Access Google Forms with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).

For those who don’t bother filing taxes because they didn’t earn enough to owe, tax credits are still available!
Visit https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments

Stimulus checks: 10 million people are still eligible for payments — but have 1 month to claim them Some Americans, especially those who don't pay taxes, may still be due some pandemic money, a government report says.

PSA: “Remember, you should never have to pay any money, especially with gift cards -- and now bitcoin -- to help someone or get yourself out of trouble.”

3 people in Chapel Hill scammed out of more than $73,000 in a matter of days "These scammers are really good. That's why they keep doing these scams," Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue said.

“Meanwhile, thanks to Census Bureau data released Tuesday, we know that the share of children in poverty dropped nearly by half in 2021 – primarily because of a one-year enhancement of the Child Tax Credit that Democratic leadership in Congress fought to pass. Studies showed that the credit helped to significantly reduce hardship among families with kids, and at the same time the overall national budget deficit has been lowered, which is proof positive that policy change can significantly lift our economy and our families in helpful ways.”
MomsRising.org doing excellent advocacy!

Opinion: The harsh reality conservatives refuse to acknowledge | CNN The status quo is not okay. Our nation has unfinished business for women, for families, for our economy -- and the upcoming midterm elections are a key way to move that much-needed change forward, writes Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner.

Looking for PreK work in SC? Great new classroom opening here!
Chesterfield County First Steps Northeastern Technical College

Job Opportunities | NETC Careers If this is your first time applying for a state position, click "Apply" and set up your online profile. This information can be used to apply for other state career opportunities. For applicant technical support contact 855-524-5627.

Progress! Like 911, but for mental health!

Today is a historical day for su***de prevention and mental health in the U.S.! The National Su***de Prevention Lifeline, now known as the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline, can be more easily reached by calling or texting 988, or chatting on 988lifeline.org.

988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the U.S., you can easily access 24/7 emotional support. You do not have to be suicidal to reach out. Our trained crisis counselors can help you through whatever mental health challenges you are experiencing.

We're so grateful to SAMHSA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Communications Commission, and our other su***de prevention and mental health partners in the field for working together to get us here, and we look forward to growing and expanding our services and supports in the years to come.

Well said!

During , colors are a little brighter, smiles are a little wider, and our hearts are full of love and pride for the people in our neighborhood. May the celebration and kindness continue every month of the year. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💗🤍🤎🖤

Time to set up monthly donations, if you can & haven’t already: https://www.carolinaabortionfund.org/donate

Donate — Carolina Abortion Fund Want your donation to make the most impact? Consider signing up as a monthly sustainer!Sustainers commit to an automatic gift of $5 or more a month— it’s as easy as clicking the button from “one-time” to “monthly”. Monthly sustainers help us to know exactly how much funding we can count ...

Help create a new statewide infant and toddler child care program in North Carolina! Earn $200 by participating in 4 meetings where you share your insights and feedback

Duke’s Center for Child and Family Policy Hosts Statewide Advisory Panel is currently working to identify up to 45 child care providers and up to 45 parents to serve on a statewide advisory panel. The panel will explore the possibility of creating a large-scale, high-quality early learning program for children birth to three offered at low or no cost to parents. If you are interested in serving on this panel, please complete this survey.

Your input will help to make sure that any future programs meet the needs and expectations of parents and providers across the state. Your opinions and ideas will be critical at all stages of the process from the early development of ideas to final recommendations. Participants will meet virtually for 1 hour approximately 4x over the next year and will receive $50.00 for each meeting if selected. Please share the news with licensed centers, family child care providers, and families.

Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

The National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers' Open Letter to the Nation aims to educate the public and raise awareness about the urgent priorities that support the prenatal-to-three population. Progress made in these areas will yield meaningful dividends into the future for our economy, our communities, and our families.

Our Open Letter calls on bold leadership around the following priorities:
● Economic Security for All
● High-quality, Affordable Child Care
● Comprehensive Family Supports
● Maternal and Child Health
● Equitable Policy Implementation

Read the full letter and join me and nearly 1,500 organizations (and counting) in pledging to support this movement: https://bit.ly/3sfnvcB

www.thencit.org

Laughing can only help

A Boat Surrounded by Sharks Is a Childcare Option I Am Seriously Considering Hi, it’s me, the mom of an under-five-year-old overtired, under-stimulated, homeschooled, unvaccinated monster child currently using his stupid chu...

He’s right, again & again.

You might have heard the great news - the feds are trying to expand child care subsidy benefits to families making 250% or less of their state’s median income. The goal is to limit the cost of child care to no more than 7% (!) of a family’s income.
Check out the new child care cost calculator made possible by The Hunt Institute
(Eligibility for this expanded benefit will phase in over a period of four years, beginning with families making at or below 100% their state’s median income.)

Build Back Better Child Care Copayment Calculator · The Hunt Institute The Build Back Better Act could transform early childhood education by creating universal prekindergarten and expanding access to child care.

From a wonderful program in Charlotte I have the honor of working with, Charlotte Bilingual Preschool!

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! ¡Feliz mes de la herencia hispana! This is "Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! ¡Feliz mes de la herencia hispana!" by Charlotte Bilingual Prechool on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos…

Hey, NC Child Care Providers & those that support them! Grants Application Is Now Open! Below are FAQ just posted:

Q. Once I submit my online application, can I edit my information?
A: No. Please make certain that all information is 100% accurate before hitting “I accept”.

Take your time to ensure your application is complete.
You can start and stop your application at any time with information saved.
You have until October 31, 2021, 11:59pm to submit your application.
There is no benefit to you to submit this application fast. Funds will not be distributed based on date of submission.
Remember this application includes legally attesting that everything entered is correct to the best of your knowledge.

Q: How much money will my program get?
A: If approved, grant payments will be issued to each eligible child care program based on a formula that considers social vulnerability (defined by the CDC as the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health including natural or human-caused disasters, or disease outbreaks), child care subsidy density (defined as the proportion of subsidy-receiving children in a program), capacity, and infant and toddler enrollment density.

Q: I am receiving an error message saying “single sign on” when I attempt to log in to the portal. What does this mean?
A: This issue has been resolved. Anyone who could not log in previously should try again.

Q: *Was your program licensed (OR operating under a Notice of Compliance) by DCDEE on or before March 11, 2021?
A: If your program was licensed on or before March 11, 2021, you should respond “yes”. If your program is a GS 110-106 and operating under a notice of compliance on or before March 11, 2021, you should respond “yes”. You should only be responding “no” if you are a new facility that was licensed after March 11, 2021.

Q: I am receiving error message “invalid date” when adding my license date. What do I do?
A: Make sure you answered the 2nd question in this section of the application correctly. See previous Q&A above.

Q: Can change my direct deposit information?
A: Please contact FIS to ensure that your banking information is the same as what you have on your application. The contact information is www.fisglobal.com or (877) 776-3706.

Q: Can I make changes in the future to what I have opted into?
A: Programs are obligated to the compensation option they chose for the six month certification period. At the six month re-certification period, a facility can decide if they want to change their original compensation option.

Q: In Section 3, how do I calculate my facility’s maximum enrollment?
A: Maximum enrollment means the total number of children attending if the facility has full enrollment. For example: If a facility serves three shifts of 8 children in each shift, the maximum enrollment in that facility would be 24 children. If you serve children part-time, count shared slots as ‘one’ slot. For instance, if your enrollment is 4 full time and 4 part time, your enrollment is 6.

Q: Is this online application to continue receiving operational grants?
A: The operational grant program is ending as this new program begins. The final operational grant payment will occur in October. This online application for the stabilization grants can be found here https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Home/Stabilization-Grants.

Q: I had to leave the application. How do I get back to my application?
A: Log back into the provider portal.

Starting on the Welcome page, click your facility’s Account Name.
On the account summary, look under Benefit Programs and click Stabilization Grants.
Now you can work on your application again.

Q: I run a family child care home, and I am the only employee. I do not currently draw a salary. What do I enter in Section IV, Program Staff Information? What do I enter for my rate of pay?
A: Family child care homes must enter at least one employee. Start by adding yourself. For rate of pay, an estimation is fine. Think about what funds you regularly draw for yourself, or any funds you may take on average from your monthly income from your facility. If your salary is 0, consider getting the compensation funds to pay yourself and any subs.

RESOURCES

Click here to learn more and apply for North Carolina’s Child Care Stabilization Grants
FAQs
Step-by-step Application Instructions
PDF printable version of Application Questions Note: This PDF is only for reference, as application must be completed online.
Staff and Training Worksheet - PDF
Terms & Conditions


NEED HELP APPLYING?
Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 6:00 pm
Or join the audio conference only 1-415-655-0003
Event number (access code): 2421 505 4148 | Event password: TRAINING

Contact us: [email protected] or call 919-814-6300, choose option 3. Please provide the facility name and license number when emailing or leaving a voicemail. Due to the overwhelming response to the stabilization grants, DCDEE is currently experiencing a high call volume. Your message will be returned as quickly as possible. Please leave only one message until you receive a call back. Leaving more than one message delays the response time.

NC Child Care Stabilization Grants '); frameDoc.document.close(); setTimeout(function () { window.frames["frame1"].focus(); window.frames["frame1"].print(); document.body.removeChild(frame1); }, 500); return false; }

FYI new parents!

: Over 3 Million The Boppy Company Original Newborn Loungers, Boppy Preferred Newborn Loungers and Pottery Barn Kids Boppy Newborn Loungers After 8 Infant Deaths; Suffocation Risk. Get refund. Contact: 800-416-1355 or www.boppy.com. Full recall notice: https://bit.ly/3lVXlYf

It's time - get your vaccine now. Visit: myspot.nc.gov
And support masking for kids unable to be vaccinated by modeling it yourself.

Please do your part to protect North Carolina's youngest children from COVID-19. For information or to find a vaccination location, visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov.

How reassuring is this?! Yay for vaccinating pregnant women! (There’s also official recommendations out now, so moms to be should go for it!)

We have some exciting news to share:
This little guy’s momma was proactive and received the COVID vaccine when it became available to her. She received it early in her pregnancy during her 1st trimester. The vaccine does not cross the placenta, but as you can see here from his test the antibodies sure do!!! His momma shared her vaccine immunity with him. ❤️

They make it so easy to let our representatives know how we feel - click on the link and help get funding where we need it! Do it TODAY!
Smart Start Smart Start of Mecklenburg County Smart Start of New Hanover County Alexander County Partnership for Children Tyrrell-Washington Partnership For Children

North Carolina needs a strong early education package in the final budget – one that combines the best parts of both the House and Senate budgets and invests in young children and working families, the early childhood workforce, child care programs, and communities. Take action now to tell legislators to invest in child care! http://ow.ly/NdjB50FXNZY

NEW North Carolina Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Designation

The NC Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Public Health is recognizing child care programs that support breastfeeding families and employees through the North Carolina Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Designation. To become designated, child care programs must exhibit a culture of support for breastfeeding through the implementation of five standards:
1) written policy,
2) community connections,
3) professional development,
4) environment, and
5) curriculum. Child care programs receiving the NC Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Designation will receive a certificate, be recognized on the NC Division of Public Health website, and have the designation listed as a special feature in their Division of Child Development and Early Education facility profile. The designation is free and no site visits are required. The online application and resources for application assistance are available below:
https://www.nutritionnc.com/breastfeeding/bf-childcare.htm
NC Department of Health and Human Services Smart Start

N.C. DHHS: DPH: Nutrition Services Branch: North Carolina Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Designation Program North Carolina Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Designation Program

Starting on July 15th your family could be getting up to $300/month per child in the newly expanded . Join the Twitterstorm on July 15th at 1pmET to find out more!

ATTENTION PARENTS: payments start arriving on July 15, and we're celebrating!
These are monthly direct cash payments for each child under 18, and there are no restrictions on how you can use this support. No strings attached.

To learn more and make sure you're set up to receive this support, join us TOMORROW for a virtual rally: https://moms.ly/3AVaNlO

It’s safe and important to get the vaccine when pregnant!

Not enough pregnant people are vaccinated. Not even close.

The CDC published a study last week breaking down the numbers. Scientists used data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) database, which is basically a network of hospitals in 8 states (CA, OR, WA, CO, GA, MN, WI, and MA).

From December 14 to May 8, 135,968 pregnant people were seen at the VSD hospitals. Among these people, only 16.3% had received at least one dose of the vaccine; 11.1% were full vaccinated.

(Notice that the 8 states participating in VSD are also some of the highest vaccinated states overall. So, 16.3% is likely an overestimate of the “true” rate of vaccinated pregnant people in the United States. Which is, obviously, not good.)

***Who is the least likely to be vaccinated?***
-Pregnant people aged 18-24 years, as only 5.5% received a vaccine (compared to 16.2% among those aged 25-34 and 22.7% among those aged 35+)
-Non-Hispanic Black pregnant people (only 6% were vaccinated) and Hispanic pregnant people (only 11.9% were vaccinated; compared to 24.7% of Asians and 19.7% of Whites)

***Why do we care?***
Pregnant people (and unborn babies) are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease. By now this is well-established, as there have been 42+ studies on this topic thus far. Pregnant people with COVID-19 disease are…

…more likely to go to the ICU, need ventilation, and/or need oxygen compared to non-pregnant (here)

…more likely to have preeclampsia (here)

…more likely to die from COVID19 (here, here)

…more likely to have babies born preterm (here) or stillborn (here)

…more likely to have their babies admitted to the neonatal unit (here)

***And we know vaccines are safe during pregnancy.***
Pregnant people were deliberately excluded in the first round of COVID19 vaccine clinical trials. This is normal practice. However, as of June 14, 124,597 pregnant people had received the vaccine. The CDC is currently following 5,102 of them. (If you’re pregnant, vaccinated, and want to participate in the ongoing study go HERE). Last week, the New England Journal of Medicine published, for the first time, some results of this CDC cohort.

What did they find? No unexpected pregnancy or infant outcomes have been observed related to COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. Specifically, among the 3,958 participants, they found:
-28% received their vaccine in the 1st trimester, 42% in the 2nd, and 26% in the 3rd
-0.3% breakthrough infections occurred (or 12 people got COVID19 after being fully vaccinated; this is about the same rate as in the general population)
-827 completed pregnancy:
---712 (86.1%) resulted in a live birth
---115 (13.9%) resulted in a pregnancy loss
-Pregnancy loss, preterm birth, babies size, congenital problems, and death was not different among those with the vaccine compared to the background rate.

***Vaccines protect the babies (once they’re born) too!***
If a pregnant person gets vaccinated, there is mounting scientific evidence showing that babies get protection too. Both through antibodies crossing the placenta (here, here, here, here, here, here, here) and breastmilk (here, here, here).

I had a baby in October 2020 and am still very bummed I couldn’t get vaccinated while I was pregnant. If I did, she would have had some sort of protection right now (instead of having to wait until 2022 for the vaccine).

***And, yes, you still need the vaccine even if you’ve already recovered from COVID-19 (before or during pregnancy).***
There are four main reasons, which you can read more about here. The same reasons apply for pregnant people.

***Bottom Line:***
1. If you’re pregnant, get the vaccine. It’s good for you. And, if that’s not a good enough reason, it’s good for the baby.
2. We (as clinicians and public health officials and journalists and family members and neighbors) need to improve outreach and engagement with pregnant people. We need to get this vaccine rate up fast! And we all have a role to play.

Here is a 1-pager I threw together that can help guide you through the tough conversations. As always, if you’re a paying subscriber, reply to this email and I can send you a PDF.

Love, YLE

For all the embedded links (i.e. data sources) and more graphs, go to my newsletter here: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/not-enough-pregnant-people-are-vaccinated

Perfect part time job for a parent at Smart Start of Mecklenburg County!

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County - Partner Impact Coordinator - Charlotte, NC Organization Overview Smart Start of Mecklenburg County (Smart Start or SSMC) is a Charlotte-based non-profit that funds local programs for children ages birth to five and their families. The organization is a catalyst for improving the lives of the 85,000+ young children in our community, with a fo...

Hey, Alexander folks, last chance!

Can you spare a few moments to take my survey? Please take the survey titled "2021 Alexander County Partnership for Children Community Needs Assessment". Your feedback is important!

We need to all keep doing this:

Avoid the 3️⃣ Cs.
There are certain places where COVID-19 spreads more easily:
1️⃣ Crowded places
2️⃣ Close-contact settings
3️⃣ Confined and enclosed spaces