Dont' Miss the Child Care Fair in April
Parents and their families are invited to the City of Sunnyvale Child Care Fair scheduled for April 13 and April 20. Licensed Child Care Centers and Licensed Family Child Care Providers will showcase their program information to families seeking child care in Sunnyvale. Meet child care staff and pick up brochures, tuition information, summer information, ask questions and more!
Families seeking information on Child Care Centers can attend on Saturday, April 13, 2013
Families seeking information on Home-Based/Family Child Care Providers can attend on Saturday, April 20, 2013
See you there!
Download Child Care Fair Flyer (Revised 4/2013)
Child Care and Parent Resources in Sunnyvale
The City’s Youth, Family and Child Care Resources Office provides an information packet for parents and parents-to-be. The parent information packet contains information about:
Licensed Family Child Care Providers and Centers in Sunnyvale
Parent Education Workshops
Immunization Requirements
Child Health and Safety Brochures
Low Cost Child Care Information
Interview Tool sheet to Assist You in Your Child Care Search
Information packets can be requested via email or by calling our new phone number at (408) 730-7800. The City does not recommend specific child care programs.
Parent Education Workshops
Our goal is to provide parents and caregivers with tools and tips to address common parenting challenges and improve the quality of care provided to children. We strive to offer workshops on a diverse range of topics.
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Workshop
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Date(s)
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Time
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Location
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Registration
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English Conversation Skills Class
(Class for Adults only)
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Tuesdays
Cost: Free
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7 – 9 p.m.
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Columbia Middle School Library, 739 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale
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(408) 676-7323
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English Conversation Class will be held March 26-May 21; Enrollment for new students is March 12 only.
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Positive Family Communication: Making parent meetings, gatherings, conferences & newsletters joyful
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Wed, 5/22
Cost: Free |
6:45 – 8:45 p.m.
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Sunnyvale Community Center, Ballroom
550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale
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(408) 730-7800
Email
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Opening Doors
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Tues & Thurs
Cost: Free |
9:30 – 11 a.m.
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Fairwood Family Resource Center, 1110 Fairwood Ave., Rm P1, Sunnyvale
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(408) 271-5600
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WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS
English Conversation Skills Class
Join our free English language class. Vision Literacy offers this English Conversation Skills Class to help you practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing in small groups with trained instructors. All levels are welcome. Click here for Flyer.
Positive Family Communication: Making parent meetings, gatherings, conferences & newsletters joyful
Facilitator, Bonnie Hasson, is a preschool owner and trainer for providers. From home visits to parent conferences, posters to parties...we will cover a wide variety of different communication tools. Learn techniques for building a positive and trusting relationship with the caregivers/parents of the children in your program.
Opening Doors
This parent workshop will develop parents' knowledge of their rights and responsibilities in relation to their child's education, prepare parents to advocate on behalf of their child, and connect parents to resources. View Opening Doors flyer
Parent Workshops from Community Partners
First 5 Learning Together Initiative (LTI) and Family Resource Centers
Success in school begins at birth. The Learning Together Initiative can help!
The Learning Together Initiative (LTI), funded by First 5 Santa Clara County, provides a range of free programs and services designed to support your child's and family's learning and health. LTI Community Workers are available to assist families in Sunnyvale with children ages 0-5 in accessing:
- Application Assistance for Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and Healthy Kids for children
- Kindergarten Readiness Learning Activities
- Family Resource Center Programs
- Food, Employment and Housing Services
- Child Art Enrichment Activities
- Opportunities for Community Leadership and Service
- Parent & Child Workshops: Science Program Jan-Feb 2013 & Healthy Cooking Class February 2013
For Sunnyvale families living in ZIP codes 94085 and 94089 contact:
Elizabeth Alvarez, Community Worker
Fairwood Family Resource Center, Building 203
1110 Fairwood Avenue, Sunnyvale (in Fairwood Elementary School)
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
(408) 684-4725
SJB Northwood Family Resource Center (open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
2760 E. Trimble Road, San Jose
(408) 923-1944 or e-mail ealvarez@sjbcdc.org
For Sunnyvale families living in ZIP codes 94087 and 94086 contact:
Julia Zhu, Community Worker
Caring Hearts Family Resource Center (Open Thursdays and Fridays 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
645 W. Fremont Ave., Sunnyvale
(650) 688-3035 or e-mail jzhu.first5@gmail.com
Transitional Kindergarten
What is Transitional Kindergarten?
A new law was recently passed in California that changed the age when children can begin kindergarten. Under this new law, by 2014 children must turn five years old on or before September 1 to enroll in kindergarten. The new requirement will be phased in over the next three years, beginning in 2012.
Kindergarten Entry-Age in California for the school year:
2011-12: December 2
2012-13: November 1
2013-14: October 1
2014-15: September 1
Select the school district that your child will be attending for more information:
Sunnyvale School District
Cupertino School District
Santa Clara School District
State Preschools in Sunnyvale
Did you know that Sunnyvale has two state-sponsored preschool programs operated by the Sunnyvale School District? They are:
Columbia State Preschool
739 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale
Bishop State Preschool
250 N. Sunnyvale Avenue, Sunnyvale
These state preschools are part-day comprehensive developmental programs for three to five year old children from low-income families. The programs emphasize parent education and encourage parent involvement. In addition to basic preschool education activities, other components include health, nutrition, social services and staff development. For information about State Preschool Programs located in Sunnyvale, contact Noemi Herrera at (408) 522-8213.
Other Preschools in Sunnyvale
(not state-funded)
The Sunnyvale Department of Community Services, Recreation Division is excited to be offering the new
Super Safari Preschool. This play-based program is designed to provide children their first experience in a structured environment. The goal is to encourage your child’s imagination and creativity through a play-based learning environment. Limited spaces are available, please call (408) 730-7350 to enroll.
Click
here for Super Safari Preschool Parent Information Nights 2013-2014 (PDF).
Do you want to know about other Sunnyvale preschools? The Youth and Family Resources Division can provide you with a detailed listing of 40 Sunnyvale Preschools. Call (408) 730-7800 or you may request the list via
email.
Schools in Sunnyvale
Did you know that Sunnyvale is served by four school districts? The school district that serves your family depends on your home address.
Sunnyvale School District at 819 W. Iowa Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086. (408) 522-8200.
Cupertino School District at 10301 Vista Drive, Cupertino, CA 95014. (408) 252-3000
Santa Clara Unified School District at 1889 Lawerence Road, Santa Clara, CA 95051. (408) 423-2000
Fremont Union High School District at 589 W. Fremont Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086. (408) 522-2280
If your child will need immunizations to start school and you are uninsured, contact MayView Clinic at (408) 746-0455 or your school nurse.
For low-cost dental check-ups for children, contact the Children's Dental Center at (408) 701-5882. Insured and non-insured children welcome.
Sunnyvale Camps, Classes and Afterschool Programs
Columbia Neighborhood Center
785 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale
(408) 730-7800
Offers youth drop-in programs year-round, karate classes and summer recreational camps and sports camps.Also, offering free yoga classes for adults and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
Bilingual Story Time &Songs
offered by the Sunnyvale Public Library
at the Columbia Middle School Library, 739 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale
Every Thursday from 4 - 5 p.m.
A librarian from the Sunnyvale Library reads bilingual English and Spanish books and invites children to sing songs. Children who participate will be able to borrow books to take home. Bilingual Story Time also brings special events for children such as Day of the Book, Day of the Child in the Spring. Parents and their children of all ages are welcome!
City of Sunnyvale, Community Services Division
Sunnyvale Community Center
550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale
(408) 730-7350
Offers recreational classes for children and adults, school-year afterschool programs throughout Sunnyvale, summer camps and much more.
Northwest YMCA
20803 Alves Drive, Cupertino
(408) 257-7160
Offering summer camps, classes for adults and children in Sunnyvale and Cupertino.
Children's Affordable Health Insurance Enrollment Assistance
Parents may get assistance with children's health insurance enrollment for insurance programs such as Medi-Cal. Families must meet income guidelines to qualify. To apply, call or visit these locations:
Columbia Neighborhood Center at 785 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale
Joaquina Flores, Health Trust Community Worker
Tuesdays 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Fridays 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
To make an appointment, call (408) 679-2402 or email joaquinaf@healthtrust.org
Santa Clara County's Fair Oaks Clinic in Sunnyvale
Telephone: (408) 792-5200
Santa Clara Health Plan Call Center
Telephone: 1 (877) 688-7234. The call center is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday
Free Child Car Seat Safety Inspections
The Department of Public Safety in Sunnyvale can inspect your car seat or show you how to install it properly. Appointments are available on Wednesday afternoons from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Call (408) 730-7179 to schedule an appointment.
Safe Kids Santa Clara Co./San Mateo Co. led by Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford can also help! Safe Kids is a nationwide network of organizations working to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability for children ages 1 to 14. Find safety recall lists, car seat check events and child safety laws and regulations. Contact Benjamin Arias barias@lpch.org, 725 Welch Road, P160, Palo Alto, (650) 736-2981.
Local Playgroups & Family Event Calendars
Meet Up Groups
Find a playdate for your child in Sunnyvale, and connect with other parents for advice, or meet with other expecting parents in the Sunnyvale or local areas.
Las Madres Neighborhood Playgroup is a nonprofit public benefit corporation. Las Madres provides a network of neighborhood playgroups for children born in the same year. Through Las Madres playgroups members find friendship, support and helpful information as well as an opportunity for their children to make friends their own age. Call (408) 265-4056 or (877) LAS-MADRES for more information.
MOMS Club of Sunnyvale
This local non-profit organization will provide friendship, support and community members and their families. A fun way to meet other moms who share similar experiences as you. Whether you stay at home full time, work outside the home part-time, or have a home-based business; if you are with your children during the day we have lots of activities for you and your child.
If you know of Sunnyvale or Bay Area playgroup, let us know!
Call (408) 730-7800.
On-Line Family Event Calendars
Chatterblock
Red Tricycle
Bay Area Kid Fun
City of Sunnyvale Community Events Calendar
Child Care Payment Assistance for Low Income Families
There are two subsidized child care assistance programs, funded by the State of California, which may be available to families who meet the eligibility and income guidelines.
- Alternative Payment Programs (AP) – Available to families who have received cash aid within the past 24 months. AP reimburses the child care provider directly on behalf of the parents.
- Centralized Eligibility List (CEL) - The CEL is a list of income-eligible families that need help paying for child care or part-day preschool. Applicants benefit by receiving free or low cost child care when a participating child development program (CEL Partner) selects them for an opening in their child care or preschool program.
In Santa Clara County, the following agencies can be contacted regarding AP and CEL:
- AP ONLY - Professional Association for Childhood Education Alternative Payment Program (PACE APP), (408) 278-1214, 1671 The Alameda, Ste. 301, San Jose 95126
- AP ONLY - Choices for Children, (408) 297-3295, 111 N. Market St., Ste. 500, San Jose 95113
- CEL - Community Child Care Council (4Cs), (408) 487-0747, 2515 N. First St., San Jose 95131. Additional information about CEL can be found at: www.santaclaracountycel.org
Sunnyvale Community Resource Guide 2012-2013
The 2012-2013 City of Sunnyvale Community Resource Guide is now available. This convenient guide provides valuable information regarding local services, resources and agencies such as child care, food and housing, counseling and health care available to the community. The "pocket guide" folds into a 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 size that can easily be put into your purse, pocket or glove compartment so you have all the resources available at your fingertips! They are available in English and Spanish.
To view it now, click English Pocket Guide or Spanish Pocket Guide.
To request a copy for your home or business, call:
Columbia Neighborhood Center - Youth & Family Resources
(408) 730-7800
Office Hours: M - F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
785 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Other Helpful Links for Parents
4C's - Community Child Care Council of Santa Clara County
Sunnyvale Public Library Children's Programs
First 5 offers a free kit for new parents. To order your free parent kit, call (800) KIDS-025.
The National Center for Fathering
Grands Place (Grandparents)
YWCA of Silicon Valley