Napa County families now have access to an additional 198 child care slots, resulting from the work of the organization Community Resources for Children (CRC), according to a press release. Specifically, CRC’s work through personalized case management, coaching and training. In the past 18 months, CRC has helped establish 21 new women-owned child care businesses, enabling 224 parents to enter or remain in the workforce. READ MORE
Community Resources for Children is thrilled to announce the addition of two new board members in July 2023.
Megan Zaccaria is a CPA with a diverse professional background in accounting, banking and the wine industry. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Accounting. Megan began her career with Grant Thornton, LLP providing tax services to various clients leading to her transition to the banking industry where she spent six years at Heritage Oaks Bank in SEC Reporting and Financial Analysis. In 2017, Megan and her family relocated to the Napa Valley where she joined Crimson Wine Group as their SEC Reporting Manager steering her to take on Controller roles at Fior di Sole and her current position as Controller of Sequoia Grove Winery and Vineyards. Her attention to detail, analytical skills and ability to navigate complex financial regulations has made her a crucial asset to financial teams. Megan enjoys living in Napa with her husband, Marc, and two children Jackson and Avery and admires the community of child care providers and supporters in the valley.
Gabriela “Gaby” Narvaez, born and raised in Napa, is an experienced childcare provider with a diverse professional background. She discovered her passion for caring for children through babysitting jobs and pursued a career in child development and nursing. Gaby dedicated ten years to ophthalmology before deciding to become a stay-at-home parent. During the COVID pandemic, she expanded her family to three children. Motivated by her love for children, Gaby embarked on the journey of opening her own childcare home, aiming to provide a nurturing and educational environment for all children. CRC has played a crucial role in supporting her through becoming a licensed childcare provider and with the resources since. Gaby recognizes the immense value of early childcare education and is passionate about providing a nurturing environment that promotes the growth and development of young children. With dedication, compassion, and a genuine commitment to children’s well-being, Gaby Narvaez creates a warm and loving space for their growth.
Read more about our board of directors.
A Community Education Campaign of the Napa County Child Abuse Prevention Council
Protection Factor: Nurturing and Attachment
Child care in Napa County requires the support of the entire community. Community Resources for Children (CRC) helps child care providers, caregivers, and parents give children the best possible start in life.
Luz is one of hundreds of caregivers that CRC supports. She cares for five children between the ages of 3 and 12. Some of the children she cares for are her own grandchildren and others are the children of her friends and neighbors. Luz loves taking care of children; However, this job can be isolating and stressful at times, and she often faces financial insecurity. Through her participation in our Parent and Caregiver Cafés, she has been able to meet and connect with other Spanish-speaking caregivers who share similar experiences. The Cafés have also allowed her to learn strategies on how to support children and manage difficult behaviors. She has learned to reflect on her own skills as a caregiver and now understands the vital connection between her well-being and how it supports her ability to care for children and provide them with a safe, loving and stable environment. She shared, “I learned the importance of modeling the behavior I want to see in them and using encouraging recognition to support children.”
Although all families are vulnerable due to the stress of parenting and having to care for their children, some families are more vulnerable than others. Financial instability and poverty can cause high levels of stress and trauma, which can interfere with the ability of parents and caregivers to form connected and secure bonds with children.
Why are security links important?
Strong connections and bonds with parents and caregivers are paramount to children’s overall development and well-being, as they are critical to children’s future relationships and success in life. Strong connections help develop emotional security, cognitive development, and social skills.
Security bonds are formed between a child and a caregiver when the caregiver consistently provides responsive care and comfort; she understands when a child is overwhelmed, speaks in a calm voice, helps regulate situations, and offers comfort when a child is wronged – all of these are ways a caregiver can build secure bonds with a child. That security bond is what gives a child a sense of security; the child knows who is there to provide support, warmth, and care as she grows and develops a sense of independence.
Fortunately, initiatives and programs such as early childhood education programs, parenting education, and support groups, as well as family resource centers, can help parents and caregivers of all socioeconomic groups establish secure bonds with their children. Here in Napa County, together with the other members of the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC), Community Resources for Children (CRC) empowers parents and caregivers who care for children. In addition to serving parents, CRC serves caregivers because they play such an important role in the lives of the children they care for. By providing responsive child care, emotional support, and practical assistance, caregivers can help increase positive child outcomes and decrease the child care burden on parents, thereby contributing to the overall well-being of families.
CRC’s Bilingual Café for Parents and Caregivers program was designed to support parents and caregivers in developing secure bonds with their children. The program consists of small groups of parents and caregivers who come together in a series of coordinated conversations in Spanish and English about various topics related to child care, such as building strong relationships with children, navigating difficult behaviors, and promoting healthy child development. Through these conversations, parents and caregivers can share their own experiences, learn from each other, and receive advice and support from the trainer organizers.
By creating safe spaces for parents and caregivers who share a common linguistic vocabulary and cultural background, Cafés help maintain strong emotional connections that can build resilience. Additionally, by strengthening the health and well-being of parents and caregivers, we ensure that the children in their care continue to flourish and grow successfully.
The Cafés also incorporate the Raising Safe Kids curriculum, developed by the American Psychological Association. The curriculum is designed to prevent violence in children’s lives through positive parenting skills and early interventions on topics such as supporting children in dealing with their emotions and limiting the influence of parental violence. In addition, through the Cafés, parents and caregivers receive educational materials, resources, and activities to help parents and caregivers strengthen their bonds with their children.
Programs like the Parent and Caregiver Cafés support all parents and caregivers, and together with the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Napa County (CAPC), try to inspire all local residents to build a resilient community that is safe and supportive of all children and families.
All families are vulnerable to the stress of parenting or caregiving at one time or another. CRC and CAPC are here to help.
Written by Eva Simonsson, Associate Director, Community Resources for Children
Una Campaña de Educación Comunitaria del Consejo de Prevención del Abuso Infantil del Condado de Napa
Factor de Protección: Cariño y Vínculos
El cuidado infantil en el condado de Napa requiere el apoyo de toda la comunidad. Community Resources for Children (CRC) les ayuda a los proveedores de cuidado infantil, a los cuidadores y a los padres de familia a brindarle a los niños el mejor comienzo posible en la vida.
Luz es una de los cientos de cuidadores que CRC apoya. Ella cuida a cinco niños entre las edades de 3 y 12 años. Algunos de los niños que ella cuida son sus propios nietos y otros son los hijos de sus amigos y vecinos. Luz ama cuidar a niños; sin embargo, esta labor puede ser aislante, en momentos también estresante, y ella a menudo enfrenta inseguridad financiera. Por medio de su participación en nuestros Cafés Para Padres y Cuidadores, ella ha podido conocer y conectarse con otros cuidadores de habla hispana que comparten experiencias similares. Los Cafés también le han permitido aprender estrategias en cómo apoyar a los niños y a manejar comportamientos difíciles. Ella ha aprendido a reflexionar acerca de sus propias destrezas como cuidadora y ahora comprende la conexión vital entre su bienestar y cómo éste apoya su habilidad para cuidar a los niños y a brindarles un ambiente seguro, lleno de cariño y estable. Ella compartió, “Aprendí la importancia de modelar el comportamiento que quiero ver en ellos y a usar reconocimientos alentadores para apoyar a los niños”.
Aunque todas las familias son vulnerables debido al estrés de ser padres y por tener que cuidar de sus hijos, algunas familias son más vulnerables que otras. La inestabilidad financiera y la pobreza pueden provocar altos niveles de estrés y trauma, lo cual puede interferir con la habilidad de los padres y cuidadores de formar vínculos de conexión y seguridad con los niños.
¿Por qué son importantes los vínculos de seguridad?
Las conexiones sólidas y los vínculos con los padres y los cuidadores son de suma importancia para el desarrollo general de los niños y su bienestar, ya que son fundamentales para las relaciones futuras de los niños y su éxito en la vida. Las conexiones sólidas ayudan al desarrollo de seguridad emocional, al desarrollo cognitivo, y a las destrezas sociales.
Los vínculos de seguridad se forman entre un niño y un cuidador cuando el cuidador provee consistentemente cuidado sensible y confort; entiende cuando un niño está agobiado, habla con voz tranquila, ayuda a regular situaciones y ofrece comodidad cuando un niño se encuentra agraviado – todas estas son maneras en las que el cuidador puede formar vínculos de seguridad con un niño. Ese vínculo de seguridad es lo que le da a un niño un sentido de seguridad; el niño sabe quién está ahí para proveer apoyo, calor, y cuidado mientras crece y desarrolla un sentido de independencia.
Afortunadamente, ciertas iniciativas y programas tales como programas educativos de edad temprana, educación para padres y grupos de apoyo, al igual que centros de recursos para la familia, pueden ayudarle a los padres y cuidadores de todos los grupos socioeconómicos a que establezcan vínculos de seguridad con sus niños. Aquí en el Condado de Napa, juntos con los otros miembros del Child Abuse Prevention Council (Concilio para la Prevención de Abuso Infantil – CAPC), Community Resources for Children (CRC), fortalece a los padres y a los cuidadores que cuidan a niños. Además de ofrecer servicios a los padres de familia, CRC presta servicios los cuidadores porque ellos desempeñan un papel muy importante en la vida de los niños que cuidan. Al brindar cuidado infantil sensible, apoyo emocional, y asistencia práctica, los cuidadores pueden ayudar a incrementar los resultados positivos en los niños y a disminuir la carga del cuidado infantil de los padres, así contribuyendo al bienestar general de las familias.
El programa Café Bilingüe para Padres y Cuidadores de CRC fue diseñado para apoyar a los padres de familia y cuidadores en cómo desarrollar vínculos de seguridad con sus niños. El programa consiste en grupos pequeños de padres de familia y cuidadores quienes se reúnen en una serie de conversaciones coordinadas en español e inglés acerca de varios temas relacionados con el cuidado infantil, tales como establecer relaciones sólidas con los niños, cómo navegar comportamientos difíciles, y fomentar un desarrollo infantil saludable. Por medio de estas conversaciones, los padres y los cuidadores pueden compartir sus propias experiencias, aprender el uno del otro, y recibir consejos y apoyo de los organizadores entrenadores.
Al crear espacios seguros para los padres y cuidadores quienes comparten un vocabulario lingüístico e historial cultural común, los Cafés ayudan a mantener conexiones emocionales sólidas que puedan construir resiliencia. Además, al fortalecer la salud y el bienestar de los padres y cuidadores, nos aseguramos de que los niños bajo su cuidado continúen floreciendo y creciendo exitosamente.
Los Cafés también incorporan el plan de estudios de Raising Safe Kids (Criando Niños Seguros), desarrollado por la Asociación Americana de Psicología. El plan de estudios está diseñado para prevenir violencia en la vida de los niños por medio de destrezas positivas de paternidad e intervenciones tempranas acerca de temas tales como brindar apoyo para los niños sobre cómo lidiar con sus emociones y cómo limitar la influencia de la violencia de las redes sociales. Además, por medio de los Cafés, los padres y los cuidadores reciben materiales educativos, recursos, y actividades para ayudar a los padres y cuidadores a fortalecer los vínculos con los niños.
Programas como los Cafés para Padres y Cuidadores apoyan a todos los padres y cuidadores, y junto al Child Abuse Prevention Council of Napa County (CAPC), intentan inspirar a todos los residentes locales para construir una comunidad resiliente que sea segura y en apoyo hacia todos los niños y las familias.
Todas las familias son vulnerables al estrés de la paternidad o el cuidado en algún momento u otro. CRC y el CAPC están aquí para ayudar.
Escrito por Eva Simonsson, Associate Director, Community Resources for Children
Thanks to the generous support of individual donors and local organizations. we raised more than $23,000 for early learning programs this giving season!!
Your donation supports our early learning and care programs including:
Toy Library and Early Learning Center
Active Minds
Caregiver Cafe
Professional Development & Training for child care providers
Child Care Business Start-up support
Academy for Child Care Educators
Click here to donate
Thank you!
What a fantastic and generous community we have here in Napa Valley! We are so thankful for the support at Bright Starts in the Valley, CRC’s reception fundraiser, last night. Catering by @La Saison, Napa Valley, beautiful venue and wine provided by Clos du Val Wine Co. , photography by @napa_roscoe and passionate speakers and donors who care so deeply about children and families in Napa County. Thank you all for your generosity! Big thank you to Claudette Shatto, our Master of Ceremonies extraordinaire.
Please join us to raise funds for Community Resources for Children’s school readiness programs that serve vulnerable children. Enjoy delicious farm-to-table appetizers catered by La Saison as you experience stories of hope and perseverance from local child care providers and families while enjoying beautiful vistas from the fabulous indoor/outdoor tasting room. Prepare to be pampered by the friendly hospitality team at Clos Du Val as they pour exclusive wines that are generously being donated to our guests by the winery.
**COVID message:
Please note that the health and safety of our community is of utmost importance to us; we encourage all attendees to be fully vaccinated, to stay home if not feeling well, and to wear a mask if desired. The event will be held in a large indoor/outdoor space with plenty of fresh air flow to the indoor areas.
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Our Toy Library and Early Learning Center is reopening! For COVID-19 health and safety reasons, we will be using a reservation-based system. Please register for one slot per person (all adults and children, including infants) on the day that you would like to visit. All visitors above the age of 2 will be required to wear a mask. For questions, please contact Stephany Reyes at (707) 346-6983 or sreyes@crcnapa.org. Happy Borrowing! ————-
¡Nuestra Biblioteca de Juguetes y Centro de Aprendizaje Temprano estará abierto nuevamente! Por razones de salud y seguridad relacionas al COVID-19, utilizaremos un sistema de registro para todoslos visitantes. Favor de registrarse para un espacio por familia(todos los adultos y niños, incluyendo los bebés),para el día que le gustaría visitar. Todos los visitantes mayores de 2 años deberán usar una mascarilla. Si tiene alguna pregunta, favor de comunicarse con Stephany Reyes al (707) 346-6983 o sreyes@crcnapa.org. ¡Que disfrute los juguetes que leprestemos! |
Community Resources for Children thanks Leslie Gevurtz for more than 7 years of board service. Her passion for improving the quality of life of CRC’s clients was evident in the fundraising events she helped plan, the many hours she volunteered on the Board and on various committees, and the financial contributions she made to CRC. Leslie contributed to CRC with her extensive experience in sales, paralegal services, real estate, restaurant ownership, and business promotions, but it was her passion for art that will leave a lasting impact on the organization; with her artistic talent and eye for design, Leslie was instrumental in organizing art projects for our Active Minds early learning program and helping us plan and set up beautiful and whimsical silent auction lots and presentations at our fundraising events.
As the owner/educator at Art Lab, Leslie provides art instruction to children, teens and adults. She was founding faculty and Art Specialist at Blue Oak School from 2002-2013 and has developed and implemented visual art curriculum at a multitude of Napa Valley schools, both public and private.
Thank you for your contributions to CRC and the families and children in our community, Leslie!
Dr. Sabina Correa
Board Chair, Community Resources for Children
