August 30, 2024

Family Resources Newsletter – September 2024

Dear CDA Families,

As we welcome September and step into the routine of the new school year, let’s take a moment to prioritize a vital aspect of our lives: self-care. Maintaining a balance between work, school, and personal activities can be challenging, but dedicating time for self-care is essential for our overall health and well-being.

In our busy lives, taking time for ourselves often slips to the bottom of our to-do list. Engaging in self-care not only helps us recharge but also sets a strong example for our children, demonstrating the importance of health and well-being in daily life.

Simple Steps Toward Better Self-Care:

  1. Create a Self-Care Routine: Try incorporating little acts of self-care into your routine. Maybe it’s enjoying a quiet cup of coffee in the morning before the day starts or a quick walk after dinner. What small win can you add to your day?
  2. Family Time is Self-Care Time: Establish a routine that includes activities your family enjoys. Weekend hikes, bedtime stories, or crafting sessions can all be part of this.
  3. Stay Connected: Keeping in touch with friends and family is crucial for mental health. Encourage open communication and regular social interactions for all family members.
  4. Prioritize Healthy Habits: A balanced diet, adequate sleep, and regular exercise are foundational to good health. Organize a nutritious weekly meal plan and adhere to a consistent sleep schedule.
  5. Mindfulness and Reflection: Introduce simple mindfulness exercises that your children can practice at any time. Sharing daily gratitude can help everyone focus on positive aspects of their day.
  6. Creative Expression: Encourage your family to engage in creative activities like painting, writing, or playing music. This is a powerful way to relieve stress and can also be a fun way to spend quality time.
  7. Outdoor Adventures: Make time to be outdoors. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a day at the beach, or a weekend hike, spending time in nature can boost mood, increase physical activity, and provide a peaceful break from the busyness of everyday life.
  8. Digital Detox: Set aside specific times during the day or week when all family members disconnect from electronic devices. This can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and encourage more meaningful interactions with loved ones.

What self-care routines work well for you or your family? One of my favorite ways to practice self-care is by dedicating “Me Time” each morning. I follow the Miracle Morning routine, which is structured around the SAVERS acronym: Silence (Prayer/Meditation), Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing (Journaling). This early morning routine sets me up for a productive and positive day.

Let’s make self-care a priority! By taking care of ourselves, we are better equipped to care for those we love.

Online Resources:

BrightLife Kids (a CalHOPE program by Brighline): 

A free, expert-driven program that provides families with children ages 0–12 access to digital resources, live video coaching, a chat feature, and help with additional resources. Parents and caregivers can register directly — no referrals or insurance are required.

Parent Toolkit:

A comprehensive free resource that provides advice on supporting children’s academic, physical, and social emotional development.

Insight Timer: 

A free app that offers a large library of guided meditations and talks from mindfulness experts around the world.

MyFitnessPal: 

A platform for tracking diet and exercise, helping users maintain or achieve their health goals with a free basic version.

Yoga With Adriene: 

Offers free yoga videos on YouTube, catering to all levels and a wide variety of styles and durations.

Action for Happiness: 

Provides free tools and resources to increase personal happiness through actionable steps, including downloadable calendars and toolkits.

Simple and Healthy Recipe – Banana & Spinach Smoothie

Good nutrition is key to self-care. To help you stay energized, try this simple Banana & Spinach Smoothie. It’s quick to make and packed with nutrients, perfect for a healthy start to your day or a refreshing snack.

Ingredients:
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 cup fresh spinach leaves
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any other milk of your choice)
  • 1 tablespoon of honey (optional)
  • A handful of ice cubes
Instructions:
  1. Place all ingredients in a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth.
  3. Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately for a refreshing and energizing treat!

Upcoming Workshops

We have FREE workshops all year round. Click the button below for more information and register today:

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We’re Here to Help

For individualized assistance with resources or referrals, please contact our Family Resources Team via the contact form on our workshops page:

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CDA Reimbursement Schedule
Family is authorized with a variable schedule

Variable schedules are reimbursed for the actual care hours provided that are within the hours authorized. The reimbursement will not exceed the amount billed by the provider or the full-time (FT) or part-time (PT) RMRC listed on the certificate for child care services. CDA will not reimburse for child absences, provider holiday or closure days on a variable schedule. If the full billed/invoiced amount is not paid, the parent is responsible for the difference directly to the provider.

Reimbursement of provider non-operation days/holidays

The number of reimbursable provider holidays and/or non-operation days is limited to a maximum of 10 days per fiscal year. Once these allowable limits are exceeded, reimbursement will be prorated for future closure days.

Reimbursement of registration fees, material fees, insurance fees

Fees for registration, material and/or insurance may be reimbursed if the current reimbursement amount does not exceed the Regional Market Rate Ceiling (RMRC). Reimbursement of these fees is limited to one (1) per child, per fiscal year and will be made in a single payment when requested on the child’s attendance record.

Note: For providers with programs that have multiple fees in one year or where it has been determined that the reimbursement amount exceeds the RMRC, the excess fees will be the responsibility of the parent.

License-Exempt Providers

When child care is authorized for a total of 25 or more hours per week the Full Time Weekly RMRC will be used. When child care is authorized for a total of less than 25 hours per week the Part Time RMRC will be used.

View the State’s RMRC by County See the full Program Guidelines

Congratulations! You may be eligible for CDA’s program.

Let’s get started:

We’re sorry, you may not be eligible for CDA’s program.

If you would like to receive a personal eligibility screening, please complete the form below:

We’re sorry, it appears you may have different need for child care services than those listed.

To receive a personal eligibility screening, please call us at: (619) 427-4411 ext. 1400