We wish You a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!
Community Action Supports Early Care and Education
The Community Action Agency once again co-sponsored a symposium hosted by Montgomery Moving Forward (MMF) with a call to support Early Care and Education. November's virtual ECE symposium theme was Early Care and Education in the time of COVID-19: What investment is necessary to support the workforce of today and develop the workforce of tomorrow? The three-part symposium featured Harvard University scholar, Dr. Ron Ferguson, founder of the Boston BASICS project and other national and local ECE expertise panelists. It was announced at the symposium that $100,000 of Head Start CARES funding will support the BASICS implementation in Montgomery County.
During the symposium, MMF developed a video calling for support of local Early Care and Education initiatives. The MMF video features two Community Action Board (CAB) members, who are also Head Start parents, and Head Start Policy Council parents and their children. Tiffany Jones, CAB Chair, and CAB member Zelda Wafer-Alonge spoke of the importance of supporting quality child care and parent education programs, such as in-home child care providers and Head Start.
Ms. Wafer-Alonge states, "As a single parent and business owner, one of the problems I faced when my daughter was born was finding quality and affordable child care. I didn't just want a babysitter. I wanted a quality child care program that would help my daughter thrive." Through Head Start, Ms. Wafer-Alonge has found her passion for Early Care and Education.
"The Early Childcare and Education community has for many years operated on razor-thin profit margins," CAB Chair Tiffany Jones adds. "With the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating this issue, many providers are struggling to stay in business. It is clear that there is a disproportionate impact on women of color, family child care providers, and providers who are parents themselves having to weigh re-opening versus the health and safety of their families while virtually schooling their children. We need to value child care providers as the backbone of our children's future and realize that this issue impacts the economic future of our county."
Ms. Jones concludes with a call to support public awareness of these issues and strategic financing to support the ECE workforce and infrastructure. To view the video, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyr79jZy1-c&feature=emb_logo.
For more information on the symposium: https://www.nonprofitmoco.org/mmf-2020-community-symposium/
See Community Resources for links to child care assistance for families and child care providers.
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Since November 2018, the Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center has partnered with the Standby Guardianship Project to offer free assistance to parents who want to create legal protection for their children. The Standby Guardianship Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3), has expanded the use of standby guardianships for parents who could become suddenly ill, such as from COVID-19; mentally incapacitated; or in danger of being detained or deported and thus unable to care for their children.
In Maryland, a parent can sign a “Parental Designation and Consent to Beginning of Standby Guardianship” form, available for download in fifteen languages from either the Maryland Courts webpage or www.standbyguardian.org. This form allows the parent to legally appoint someone in whom the parent trusts to care for minor children and make health care, education and other decisions necessary for the well-being of the children. The parents keep all of their rights and can revoke the guardianship at any time.
Standby guardianship does not go into operation unless and until the necessitating event occurs, such as a sudden illness or an adverse immigration action such as detention or deportation. Standby guardianship is then effective for six months, without any court filing. If standby guardianship is needed past six months, the standby guardian needs to file in court to be formally appointed as the child's standby guardian.
There is no cost in filling out the standby guardianship form or for family safety planning forms, such as detailed and up-to-date information about the children's health care needs and service providers. Parents interested in assistance with creating a standby guardianship can contact Cam Crockett at the Standby Guardianship Project, Inc. (240-535-5966) or the TESS Community Action Center (240-773-8254). Meetings with parents during COVID-19 are online or via conference call. The Standby Guardianship Project website, www.standbyguardian.org , is available in English and Spanish. All forms can be downloaded from the webpage. Please visit the site for more information.
 The Community Action Board has been actively engaged in its advocacy work this month. On November 12, Board Chair Tiffany Jones testified at the annual Montgomery County Joint Delegation Hearing regarding the Board's statewide priorities for the 2021 legislative session. On November 18, Ms. Jones testified at the County Council HHS Committee meeting for Boards, Committees, and Commissions about the Board's priorities for low-income community members. This year's priorities focus on the pandemic and its significant impact on housing, child care, employment, and service delivery. The Board also highlighted the digital divide and racial equity as two critical underlying issues affecting all priority areas.
 The first workshop of the 2020 - 2021 Community Advocacy Institute (CAI), held on November 7, provided an excellent introduction to the advocacy process for this year’s participants. State Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, County Councilmember Will Jawando, Gaithersburg City Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, and Mike Subin, representing the County Executive’s Office, all participated in a panel discussion about best practices for working with elected officials. Linda McMillan, County Council Senior Legislative Aide, presented at the workshop for the fifth straight year, sharing a step-by-step guide to the County’s legislative and budget processes. Participants will build on this information throughout the program, leading to the completion of an advocacy project that entails testifying before the County Council or submitting a letter.
On November 12, CAI graduates were joined by current participants for an alumni workshop on renters’ rights and eviction prevention. Matt Losak from the Renters Alliance and Ilana Branda from DHHS Services to End and Prevent Homelessness shared critical information for renters during the COVID-19 emergency, including how to apply to the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program.
MCPS Head Start/Pre-K continues to register children for the 2020 - 2021 school year. The registration process is online and no in-person contact is required. To register for MCPS Head Start/PreK, please click HERE or call 240-740-4530 for information. Those who do not have access to a computer or the internet may call 240-740-5999. Informational videos to help parents navigate the registration process remotely are available in English, Spanish, and Amharic.
For Head Start Students
MCPS Pre-K/Head Start is accepting donations of new coats for low income students. Hats, gloves, and scarves are also needed. Coats for boys and girls in sizes 5, 6, 6x and 7 can be ordered online and delivered directly by mail/UPS to: Head Start, Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Room 141, Rockville, MD 20852.
CSBG Scam Alert
Community Action Agencies across the U.S. are recipients of Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Community Services, in the Administration for Children & Families. Be aware of potentially fraudulent activity by individuals claiming to represent the CSBG. Individuals unrelated to CSBG are contacting people via telephone, email, social media, and text message offering CSBG funding or services in exchange for a fee.
Neither the federal Office of Community Services, nor the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development provides direct CSBG grants to individuals. Additionally, these agencies do not initiate contact with individuals by phone, email, text messages, or social media channels to request personal or financial information.
If you are made aware of or receive any communication offering a CSBG grant or requesting a fee in exchange for additional funding, please report it to the US Health and Human Services (HHS) Fraud Hotline at 1-800-447-8477 and to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General at 410-528-8662.
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