| From the Director's Desk Cris McCollum |
| Happy 28th Birthday, Del Norte Child Care Council |
| "As I write this fall Executive Director’s page, the DNCCC is celebrating the passing of the State Budget by the California State Senate. We were very concerned about our ability to pay our local child care providers beyond the month of August. A very special thank you to the providers who sent their concerns to our State Senator Sam Aanestad. While DNCCC often sends him letters and leaves messages with his staff, it is the constituents he really needs to hear from. Parents and providers need a state budget that is not interrupted by partisan politics – you all do the work that keeps our local economy running. Whether a working parent or a small, in-home business owner or an employee of a local non-profit – all of our livelihoods are at stake. (For the record, per the Sacramento Bee & the California Report, Senator Aanestad was one of the seven Republican Senators spotted in a Sacramento watering hole during the (failed) August 20th budget vote.) Meanwhile back in Del Norte County the days are beginning to take on the fall orangey glow, apples are ripening, corn is a new feature at the Farmer’s Market and another summer is coming to an end. Parents will be thinking about child care for the upcoming school year and I want to remind you all of the Centralized Eligibility List (CEL) that you can access remotely from your computers. The DNCCC website has a link to the CEL that is available for parents seeking child care and providers who are looking for potential clients. There is more information in the newsletter. Speaking of apples & corn – the Council also has a Food Subsidy program for child care providers and the reimbursement rates just went up! We also have nutritional information for parents who pack school lunches. We have a high incidence of childhood obesity in Del Norte and our staff is ready and willing to help you plan nutritious snack and meals for your children! Dust off your costumes, assemble your bones! The council will be having its annual fundraiser, Chills for Children, on Saturday October 27th. Our no-host, adults only evening is a fun community event with music, snacks and costume contests. We will be at the Cultural Center and want to thank our Community Sponsors in advance for their support. The funds support our child care centers and enhance our State funded programs for Del Norte’s children. We are looking forward to the opening of the new Family Resource Center! It is located in the old Pacific Market and the F5 Del Norte Commission in combination with the County of Del Norte is finishing up an extensive remodel with the services of a local contractor, Gavin Construction. The child development room is larger; there will be a demonstration kitchen and an enclosed infant toddler play area. The community will be invited to a Grand Open House when completed. The DNCCC’s Parent Education classes will be moved over to the new location as well as many of our activities. The access to a high concentration of families, proximity to schools, Boys & Girls Club and faith-based activity centers will only make the services more powerful. Congratulations to the Commission and its staff! I would also like to thank the Providers Association for the lovely appreciation ad in the newspaper. We agree – Sarah is awesome! More info on the Association inside.
Best Wishes for a wonderful school year,"
Cris McCollum |
| State Representatives for Del Norte County State Assemblymember Patty Berg E-mail – Assemblymember.Berg@assembly.ca.gov Capitol address – State Capitol, Room 2137, Sacramento, CA (916) 319-2001 (916) 319-2101 fax State Senator Sam Aanestad |
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