How You Can Help

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.

Please donate, to make a difference in the lives of children who need quality child care.  Solano Family and Children’s Services supports families by making child care more accessible for children living in Solano County.  You can change the lives of children in need too this holiday season by choosing SFCS as your non-profit organization of choice.  

Ways you can support us:

We welcome direct donations:

Please send checks to SFCS, 421 Executive Court North, Fairfield, CA 94534. We will send you a receipt for tax purposes. Please indicate that you are making a donation in your check memo field.

You can make an online donation:

Click on the button below and use your credit card to make donations.

Sign up for escrip:

List us as the organization you would like to support. Register your Debit/Credit/Store cards, and when used at participating stores/restaurants a percentage of your purchase will be donated to us – at no cost to you! Visit eScript family of merchants . Don’t be discouraged by the limited number of participating stores/restaurants listed; the list keeps growing and once you sign up you will receive e-mails from time to time, telling you of new stores/restaurants in your area that are now participating. There are also hundreds of online participating stores.

 

Shop at Lucky’s or Food Maxx:

Call us at (707) 863-3950 or e-mail us through our online contact form and we will send you a Lucky’s/Food Maxx card. Anytime you shop for groceries, have the cashier swipe your card, and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to us – at no cost to you!

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.

Subsidized Child Care For Essential Workers

On April 4, 2020, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order, that was intended to make child care subsidies available for Essential Workers in California, during the COVID-19 crisis.  Unfortunately, this executive order did not come with additional child care funding.  In Solano County, Child Care Subsidies are provided in the form of Child Development Centers, located and managed by such entities as school districts and Solano Community College.

The other form of subsidy is in the form of a voucher program, which is administered by Solano Family & Children’s Services (SFCS).  The voucher system provides the parent greater flexibility in choosing different types of child care providers (center-based care, family child care homes, and license-exempt providers), as well as flexibility in the hours of care needed (including evenings & weekends).  Many of the Solano County Subsidized Child Development Centers have been closed due to school district campus closures.  Voucher funding provided to SFCS from the State Department of Education, that would otherwise be available to serve essential workers during the COVID-19 crisis, is not available as our California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP) is fully enrolled, and has a waiting list.

Solano County is provided a specific amount of child care subsidies for both the Child Development Center Contracts and Voucher Contracts.  The amount of funding we receive is never enough to fully meet the needs of all eligible families.  We are hopeful that the California Department of Education will work with the Administration to release more funds in order to serve our present families on the program, and the additional essential workers who qualify for this temporary assistance.

In the meantime, there are licensed family child care homes and centers that are still open and making spaces available to essential workers who can afford to pay for their child care.  Families in need of child care providers can contact Solano Family & Children’s Services at 707-863-3950 Ext. 709 or by going to www.solanofamily.org and filling out the Child Care Referral form for a list of licensed child care providers.

Child Care Needs Met By Solano Children & Family Services

So much has changed for all of us these last few weeks.  Many essential workers have found themselves without child care due to school and child care closures.  Solano Family & Children’s Services has a list of available child care in Solano County.  We also have some funding to help pay for child care costs for children of essential workers, for a limited time.  If you are in need of a child care provider or help to pay for child care, contact Solano Family & Children’s Services at www.solanofamily.org. 

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Extended To May 31st

See more about this announcement at

https://www.solanofamily.org/latest-news/cacfp-waiver-and-notifications-2020/

Needing Child Care Due To COVID-19?

So much has changed for all of us these last few weeks.  Many essential workers have found themselves without child care due to school and child care closures.  Solano Family & Children’s Services has a list of available child care in Solano County.  We also have some funding to help pay for child care costs for children of essential workers, for a limited time.  If you are in need of a child care provider or help paying for child care, contact Solano Family & Children’s Services at www.solanofamily.org. 

Solano Family & Children's Services - A Bit of History

In late 1978, the Solano County Licensed Day Care Association worked to organize family daycare providers in the county. The CA legislature passed AB 3059, which funded local non-profit organizations to assist families with their child care search. Solano County received $21,575 in funding for Resource & Referral (R&R) services. There were no Child Care Food Program (CCFP) or Subsidized Child Care Programs. As the participation by licensed providers diminished (few members, little income from fees, and poor attendance of meetings), Solano Family and Children’s Council (as it was known then) went independent in April 1979 by applying for IRS 501 c(3) recognition. With a staff of four part-time employees and R&R funding, SFCC leased a one-room office in downtown Fairfield. The California Secretary of State and the IRS both granted SFCC its tax-exempt status. We could now apply for funding and new programs. Writing grants became an important duty of the Director and staff.

See more here.

Every kid needs a champion | Rita Pierson

Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids." Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don't like.'" A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.

How To Use Your Smart Phone As A Scanner

Parents and providers who wish to send paperwork to us by email may want to scan the document rather than take a picture. The following links are useful in helping you learn to do that:

Android phones:
https://support.google.com/drive/answer/3145835?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&hl=en&oco=0

iPhones:
https://mashable.com/article/apple-iphone-scanner-notes-app/

Local and Regional Food Assistance Programs

Food Assistance Programs

Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano distributes food directly to low-income people. Learn about direct programs, member agencies, and other resources for people who need food assistance.

Online information is available at www.foodbankccs.org 

Solano County Food Bank2339 Courage Drive, Suite F
Fairfield CA 94533
707-421-9777

Cal Fresh Program (Formerly the Food Stamp Program)

Federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. You apply for benefits by completing a State application form. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used as an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores.

Online information is available at www.calfresh.ca.gov/ 

Fairfield/SuisunEmployment and Eligibility Services
275 Beck Avenue
Fairfield CA 94533
707-784-8050

VacavilleEmployment and Eligibility Services
1119 E. Monte Vista Ave.
Vacaville CA  95688
707-469-4500

VallejoEmployment and Eligibility Services
365 Tuolumne Street
Vallejo CA  94590
707-553-5000

WIC – The federal Women, Infants and Children program (WIC)

Provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

Online information is available at www.fns.usda.gov/wic/ 

Dixon WIC Clinic
155 N. 2nd Street
Dixon CA 95620
707-678-0717

Fairfield/Travis AFB/Rio Vista WIC Clinic2101 Courage Drive
Fairfield CA 94533
707-784-2200

Vacaville WIC Clinic
1119 E. Monte Vista Ave.
Vacaville CA 95688
707-469-4555

Vallejo WIC Clinic
365 Tuolumne Street
Vallejo CA 94590
707-553-5381

See more at SolanoFamily.org