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August is National Breastfeeding Month. We would like to share that The North Carolina Division of Public Health’s Nutrition Services Branch has announced that the North Carolina Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Designation (NC BFCCD) is now available and accepting applications.

• • Applicants can apply online by clicking here.
  • Also, see the article in the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ newsletter announcing the opening of the revised NC BFCCD application by clicking here.

Our Summer 2021 newsletter (Volumen 6, Número 1: Los días de sol son días de diversión) is now available in Spanish. Please help us share it with Spanish speaking early educators.

It is officially summer! We are excited to share that our Summer 2021 newsletter is now available. This issue of our newsletter includes reminders, resources, and activity ideas related to staying safe and having fun this summer.  We encourage you to read and share the newsletter with others. Let’s stay safe and have fun together.

We are exceptionally honored to announce that April 18-24, 2021 is being recognized as Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) Week. The Proclamation for Child Care Health Consultant Week signed by Governor Roy Cooper will be read on the House floor today at 1 pm. You can access the livestream through this link.

Our Spring 2021 newsletter (Volumen 5, Número 4: La cuarta regla: Bienestar) is now available in Spanish. Please share it with Spanish speaking early educators.

 

Our Spring 2021 newsletter is now available. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we as a state and nation have focused on the 3 Ws (Wear, Wait, Wash). Please continue. It saves lives. Now we want to encourage early educators to take some time to focus on “The Fourth W – Wellness”. This issue of our newsletter is full of reminders and resources related to wellness. It too is essential.  We invite you to read and share the newsletter.

 

 

NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has a new “Essential Workers – You Have A Spot, Take Your Shot”  video available in English and English with Spanish Closed Captioning. You are encouraged to take a moment to watch and hear these essential workers, including an early educator, share their heart and their why for getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

 

North Carolina will begin Group 3 vaccinations beginning today (2/24/21). Child care providers and Pre-K – 12 schools are included in Group 3. COVID-19 vaccine supplies are limited, and Group 3 is a large population. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is working with its partners to support child care providers in accessing vaccines. Child care providers may visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website for more information.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) has now reported the first identification of the COVID-19 variant B.1.351 in the state of North Carolina. For important information on the B.1.351 variant, the COVID-19 vaccine,  and additional state recommendations to improve mask wearing based on guidance from the CDC, visit the NC DHHS website.

 

 

 

NC will move to Group 3 Frontline Essential Workers in the vaccine plan on February 24. Because supply is still very limited and the population of frontline essential workers is so large, this will begin with anyone working in child care or in PreK –12 schools starting on February 24.

Do you need to know if you are eligible? Find more information on the chart in the DEEPER DIVE: Group 3 – Frontline Essential Workers (School and Childcare), available in English and Spanish on the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website.