Saturday, April 2, 2005
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Week of the Young Child Fair
 
Buchanan Park
4150 Harbor Street
(at Buchanan Road)
Pittsburg
Sponsored by the East County Regional Group
More Info

Monday, April 4, 2005
6:00 p.m.
Commission Meeting
 
Location tbd. Visit us for an agenda and the latest on meeting location.

Thursday, April 14, 2005
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Concord
Exploring Family Violence Through a Multicultural Lens
 
A conference of the Greater Bay Area Child Abuse Prevention Council Coalition.
Dr. Terry Tafoya, a clinical psychologist and traditional Native American storyteller, will examine how cultural factors influence family health. The registration fee is $40. Contact Amanda Cross to register: (707) 284-9524.

Thursday, April 14, 2005
5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“Building Tomorrow, Today” Early Learners Fair
 
Kennedy High School, 4300 Cutting Blvd, Richmond
The School Readiness program in West Contra Costa is sponsoring a special fair for parents with children two to five years old. Activities include art, music, storytelling, information on school readiness skills, and more. Contact: (510) 234-3807 or (925) 335-9991 x 34 for more information.

Saturday, April 16, 2005
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Week of the Young Child Fair
 
Laurel Ball Field Park
On Laurel Road Between Rose and O’Hara, Oakley
Sponsored by the East County Regional Group.
More Info

Friday, April 22, 2005
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Shore Acres School Readiness Fair
 
351 Marina Way, Bay Point
Parents with children five and younger are invited to attend Shore Acres’ School Readiness Fair. Activities include games, an obstacle course, giveaways, storytelling, health information, and more. Contact Gina Covello for more information: 925-682-8000 ext. 7410.

Saturday, April 23, 2005
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Week of the Young Child Fair
 
Church of Christ
1020 East Tregallas Road
Antioch
Sponsored by the East County Regional Group
More Info

Childhood Matters schedule
 
Tune in to Childhood Matters Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM
for parenting information and advice. Visit
www.childhoodmatters.org
to learn more and listen to past shows.

3/20/05:
Children with Special Needs At Home & School

3/27/05:
Making Ends Meet in the Bay Area

4/03/05:
School and The Social World of Pre-Teens

4/10/05:
What Does The Growing Child Need?

4/17/05:
Preschool and Children with Special Needs

Nuestros Niños Topics
 
Childhood Matters’ Spanish-language counterpart, Nuestros Niños, airs every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. on KLOK Cumbia 1170 AM and KBBF, La Nuestra 89.1 FM.

3/20/05:
Tantrums and Disobedience: Disciplining Nuestros Niños

3/27/05:
Understanding and Communicating with Babies

4/03/05:
Ages 9 to 13: The School and the Streets

4/10/05:
How to Choose the Best Child Care for Nuestros Niños

Tomorrow is National Preschool Teachers Appreciation Day. The timing couldn’t be better, since today we’re hosting a forum on universal preschool. The forum is the first step in a process to develop a plan to implement universal preschool in Contra Costa once state funding becomes available. We’re expecting 400 participants, from school superintendents to family child care providers. Early childhood educators play a vital and important role in our children’s lives. Be sure to tell your child’s preschool teacher that tomorrow!

-- Brenda Blasingame, Executive Director

• Our 2004 annual Report to the Community is now available.
• Have you been on the Network of Care for Kids Web site lately? If not, follow this link to find all kinds of parenting information, local programs, and pending legislation that affects young children and families—all in one place!
• There’s still time to apply for a Family-Friendly Community Grant! Click here for more information.
• Kindergarten registration is taking place throughout the county right now. If you have a child entering kindergarten in the fall, contact your local district to find out about enrollment.

Providers from 220 different licensed child care programs went shopping on First 5 Contra Costa’s dime at the second Annual Ready, Set, Read Child Care Literacy Fair held last week. Providers spent approximately $100,000 in “First 5 bucks” to purchase high quality children’s books and developmentally appropriate toys from a range of vendors. Most providers received up to $500 for their purchases.

Before the shopping spree, providers attended one of five 90-minute workshops on topics such as building language through literacy and games, developing literacy in infants and toddlers, and engaging children with special needs in early literacy. Participants were selected using a lottery system.

With its $15,000 Parent Education Grant, Through the Looking Glass (TLG) has created a new support group for parents with disabilities and has provided home visiting services for some parents.

One mother assisted by TLG is a single mother of newborn twins. She has a brain tumor that causes memory loss, poor balance and headaches. It is not known if the tumor can be surgically removed. An Occupational Therapist has been working with her to provide training in baby care techniques tailored to her disability, such as learning to lower the babies onto the floor without standing and losing balance. The Therapist has also offered to adapt a twin stroller to carry car seats (as well as the children) so that she can use Para-transit to go to doctor’s appointments.

Please contact Donna White at (510) 848-1112 ext.152 for more information about the program. Information about TLG is also available at www.lookingglass.org.