Thursday, June 25, 2020

Our Mission Is Simple



Our Mission

Solano Family & Children’s Services promotes and advocates for the well-being of children, their families, and child care providers by offering access to a variety of child care resources.

Friday, June 19, 2020

Serving Solano County since 1978!



Solano Family & Children’s Services (SFCS) is a private, non-profit Child Care Resource & Referral Agency. Since 1978, we have provided services and support to parents, child care providers, and community members in Solano County.

Last year SFCS helped over 1800 families select the quality child care placements that best suit their individual needs. In addition, the Subsidized Child Care Program served over 2000 families covering child care costs for approximately 3400 children. The Child Care Food Program also served over 2300 children per month.

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

New App Available with Resources for Parents



The Early Learning Lab just released Stay Play Grow, available at https://earlylearninglab.org/stay-play-grow/#partners, a free app designed to support parents and caregivers during the coronavirus outbreak and beyond. The app is a one-stop source of quality, trusted resources curated to help families with children 0-5 make the most of their time together.

The app offers resources in English and Spanish (under Recursos en EspaƱol) on children’s learning and development, including simple activities to help children learn through play at home; self-care strategies; how to get help meeting basic needs including food, shelter, diapers, and more; and health & safety resources, including how to talk to children about the ongoing health pandemic and racial inequality crisis.

Thursday, June 11, 2020

COVID 19 Updated Guidance for Child Care – June 2020



As stay-at-home orders are lifted for multiple industries to promote California’s economic recovery, the need for child care and other supports for working families will increase.

Every child care program must have a plan in place to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of children, providers, and families. As programs begin to reopen and other programs transition from emergency child care for essential workers to enhanced regular operations, all providers must apply new and updated policies and requirements and must update their emergency preparedness plan.

Click the link below for guidance in operating your child care business during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Early in Life & the Importance of Early Childhood Education | Steve Zwolak


Stephen Zwolak is the founder and CEO of LUME Institute and Executive Director of University City Children’s Center (UCCC), LUME’s lab school. Zwolak has more than 45 years of experience working in the field of early childhood. He is recognized for leading the conversation on the impact and future of early childhood education in St. Louis and beyond. His years as a classroom teacher and a leader in various educational arenas drove him to develop the LUME Approach, for which there is growing evidence of closing the racial and socioeconomic achievement gap. The LUME Approach brings together theoretical, observational, and neuroscientific research that affirms that the emotional development of children is critical to academic success and lifelong positive outcomes.

As a young teacher, Zwolak studied at the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute, an educational center for which he now periodically serves as an instructor for others in child- and family-serving professions. In 2015, he received the American Psychoanalytic Association Educational Achievement Award.

Today, Zwolak is recognized for his visionary thinking and entrepreneurial ability to create, enhance and expand programs and develop infrastructure. He develops curricula which include understanding the importance of children’s sexual development and addressing angry love with ruthless compassion in the classroom and home. As a speaker and educator known for his warm demeanor, Zwolak skillfully challenges and motivates teachers to develop reflective practices in their daily relationships with children and families and to be prepared to administer therapeutic triage using a multi-disciplinary approach. Stephen Zwolak is the founder and CEO of LUME Institute and Executive Director of University City Children’s Center (UCCC), LUME’s lab school. Zwolak has more than 45 years of experience working in the field of early childhood. He is recognized for leading the conversation on the impact and future of early childhood education in St. Louis and beyond. His years as a classroom teacher and a leader in various educational arenas drove him to develop the LUME Approach, for which there is growing evidence of closing the racial and socioeconomic achievement gap. The LUME Approach brings together theoretical, observational, and neuroscientific research that affirms that the emotional development of children is critical to academic success and lifelong positive outcomes.

As a young teacher, Zwolak studied at the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute, an educational center for which he now periodically serves as an instructor for others in child- and family-serving professions. In 2015, he received the American Psychoanalytic Association Educational Achievement Award.

Today, Zwolak is recognized for his visionary thinking and entrepreneurial ability to create, enhance and expand programs and develop infrastructure. He develops curricula which include understanding the importance of children’s sexual development and addressing angry love with ruthless compassion in the classroom and home. As a speaker and educator known for his warm demeanor, Zwolak skillfully challenges and motivates teachers to develop reflective practices in their daily relationships with children and families and to be prepared to administer therapeutic triage using a multi-disciplinary approach.

Monday, June 1, 2020

Cleaning Supplies For Child-Care Providers


The Governor and Legislature have authorized funding to providers for cleaning supplies, gloves, masks, and other personal supplies necessary to protect against and reduce the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. Funds may also be used for labor costs associated with additional time for cleaning services.

Our Resource and Referral (R&R) program will allocate the funds to open or soon-to-be-open providers operating childcare or early learning and care (ELC) programs for children of essential workers, at-risk populations, and children with disabilities or special health care needs where the child’s individualized education plan (IEP) or individualized family service plan (IFSP) includes ELC services.

The CSCP funds must be used to ensure healthy and safe childcare and ELC settings for children. 

More information here.