TO:  Campus Community

FR:  Shira Minerd, Work-Life Resource Coordinator, Human Resources

RE: Child care programs are available for essential workers! 

As we all know, these days are challenging and quickly changing, especially for those with children at home. Now that May is here, you may be looking for additional resources, and I want to take a moment to share with you some new and continuing resources that are available in our community. 

On April 30, Governor Newsom announced a new portal to help essential workers find safe, reliable and accessible child care options. 

This new portal is a COVID-19 joint collaboration between California Department of Social Services, California Department of Education, and California Child Care Resource and Referral Network. The portal is available in English and Spanish, and enables parents to enter their location and the type of care they need, instantly receiving a list of local center-based and family child care programs. 

To determine if you qualify as an essential worker for childcare purposes, please refer to California’s April 28th statement on Essential Workforce.  

Some highlights of the portal include:

  • http://MyChildCare.ca.gov for a list of child care providers near you.
  • If you are an Essential Worker, needing emergency child care support, please call a Referral Specialist from Children’s Resource and Referral of Santa Barbara County today at (805) 925-7071.
  • A new YMCA day program for elementary school age children of essential workers in Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Ventura and Camarillo.
  • Financial assistance may be available through the Children’s Resource and Referral of Santa Barbara County.

Please visit the Work-Life Resource Webpage for other Work-Life and wellness resources. Myfamily.ucsb.edu also provides a centralized location for families to find information on child, youth, older adult, and family services, broken down by academic, staff, and student type. If you need assistance navigating any of these resources, please reach out to me.

Wishing everyone health and wellness,