Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Cooking With Kids
 
11:30 a.m.
Bay Point First 5 Center
1985 Willow Pass Road
Bay Point
Get your child involved in cooking. The Bay Point First 5 Center is offering a class to help parents introduce a variety of new, healthy meals to prepare with their child. Parents will also learn how to turn cooking into a learning experience for their child. Another class is offered on April 19th. Contact (925) 709-2023 for more information.

Saturday, April 8, 2006
Early Learning Happens Everywhere Conference
 
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill
The Contra Costa Child Care Council’s annual Early Care and Education Conference for early care providers with information on child health and nutrition, the importance of physical activity, professional development support and licensing updates. Event fee is $35 before April 6, $45 at the door. For more information, visit www.cocokids.org.

Saturday, April 8, 2006
Healthy Kids Tobacco Free Fair
 
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Oakley YMCA
1250 O’Hara Avenue, Oakley
The Delta First 5 Center and Delta Family YMCA are sponsoring the Healthy Kids Tobacco Free Fair to promote smoke-free homes and healthy families. The first 100 children will receive a free t-shirt. Activities include arts and crafts, exercise classes for children, and information about child health and nutrition. Call (925) 516-3880 for more information.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Program and Evaluation Committee
 
1:30 p.m.
1340 Arnold Dr., Suite 125, Conference Room, Martinez.

Saturday, April 15, 2006
Multicultural Family Fair
 
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Ellis Lake Park
Between Clayton and Ellis, Concord
First 5’s Central County Regional Group is hosting their third annual Multicultural Family Fair. Carnival games, arts and crafts, parent information booths, and children’s entertainment will be offered. Click here for more information.

Monday, April 17, 2006
Executive Committee
 
9:00 a.m.
1340 Arnold Dr., Suite 125, Conference Room, Martinez

Saturday, April 22, 2006
Get Ready for Summer Carnival
 
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Martinez Shoreline Park
Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla is sponsoring a carnival for children that will include health screenings, safety information, and information on local summer activities and recreational programs. Contact Assemblyman Canciamilla’s district office for more information (925) 372-7990.

Monday, May 1, 2006
Commission Meeting
 
6:00 p.m.
50 Douglas Drive, Second Floor Conference Room
Martinez

Saturday, May 20, 2006
Family Community Fair
 
Noon to 4:00 p.m.
2191 Kirker Pass Road
Concord
We Care Services for Children will introduce its new Autism Family Support Project at a free fair. Child safety information, games, face painting, and health screenings will be featured. Call (925) 671-0777 for more information.

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.

4/2/06:
Child Sexual Abuse: Prevention, Resources and Treatment

4/9/06:
Children with Tics and Tourette Syndrome

4/16/06:
Connecting with Children

4/23/06:
The Diversity of Family Structures

4/30/06:
A Discussion of Universal Preschool

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.

4/2/06:
Nuestros Niños Honors and Appreciates Child Care Professionals

4/9/06:
Immunizations and Medications to Keep Nuestros Niños Healthy

4/16/06:
Disturbances in Children's Physical and Mental Development: Signs of Special Needs in Nuestros Niños

4/23/06:
Learn about Proposition 82: Universal Pre-School to be informed and vote on behalf of Nuestros Niños

4/23/06:
Let's Celebrate All Nuestros Niños on el Día del Niño!

	East County families enjoy the Week of the Young Child Fair.

First 5 Contra Costa joins hundreds of organizations throughout the country this week to celebrate the “Week of the Young Child”. Positive, healthy experiences during the first five years – when a child’s brain develop most dramatically – help young children to get the best possible start. Parents, teachers, caregivers, and other adults play important roles in the lives of young children, and Week of the Young Child celebrates their efforts.

The week is also a time to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment- at home, at child care, at school, and in the community--that will promote their early learning and healthy development.

I want to salute our parent volunteers in the East County Regional Group who held their fifth annual Week of the Young Child Fair last weekend at Small World Park in Pittsburg. The rain cleared just in time for the 1,000 families attending to enjoy free activities together, including 35 different parent information booths. Congratulations on a very successful event!

- Sean Casey, Acting Executive Director

• The April program calendars for the Bay Point, Concord, and Delta First 5 Centers are available online.
  
  
• First 5 Contra Costa’s search for a new Executive Director is well underway. First 5’s Search Committee, made up of Commission members, is conducting the first round of interviews this month. Community representatives (as well as First 5 staff) will have the opportunity to meet the finalists and provide their feedback to the Search Committee in mid-April. First 5 Contra Costa expects to have the new Director in place in June. Contact Shawn Garcia if you have any questions: sgarcia@firstfivecc.org.
  
  
• The following observances focused on children and families occur this month:
  
  
  • National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month
    In honor of Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month, the Child Abuse Prevention Council is hosting its first annual Kid’s Fest with carnival games, painting, and parent information booths on Saturday, April 29th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will take place at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg. Contact (925) 798-0546 for more information.
    
    
  • Autism Awareness Month
    Sponsored by the Autism Society of America, Autism Awareness Month provides an opportunity for families, friends, and local communities to raise public awareness about autism. For more information about local activities and support for children with autism, contact the CARE Parent Network (800) 281-3023 or the Autism Family Support Project at We Care Services for Children (925) 671-0777 ext. 53.
    
    
  • National TV Turnoff Week
    April 24th – April 30th is National TV-Turnoff Week. Young children are spending more time than ever before in front of the television. Excessive TV viewing has been linked to all kinds of negative outcomes for children, such as obesity and its related illnesses, less family time, and poor reading skills and attention spans. You can find low and no cost early learning activities on our Web site that encourage you to cook, dance, play, read, and create with your children.

	Governor Schwarzenegger names Hector Ramirez as Chair of the California Children and Families First Commission.

First 5 California announced last week that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Hector Ramirez as Chair of the First 5 California Commission. Ramirez replaces previous Chair Rob Reiner on the seven member commission. Reiner stepped down after serving as Chair of the commission since its formation in 1999.

“Mr. Ramirez comes to us with an impressive background and dedication to children’s issues,” said Kris Perry, Executive Director of First 5 California. “He has been a pioneer for early childhood development, education and healthcare. The Commission and the children of California will benefit from such an experienced and highly-qualified individual.”

Ramirez currently serves as the co-interim, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Para Los Niños, a nationally accredited community-based agency serving more than 2,500 children a day and 4,000 families a year in the Los Angeles area. Over the past eight years, Ramirez has brought administrative and fiscal oversight to the agency’s child development, family resource and mental health programs. He previously worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA).

In an effort to ensure high quality child care, First 5 Contra Costa is awarding academic scholarships to child care providers taking courses in liberal arts or Early Childhood Education (ECE) that will lead to a degree in ECE or a related field. Scholarships are only for providers taking courses at Diablo Valley, Los Medanos, or Contra Costa Community Colleges and may be used for books, tuition, parking, and educational materials. Providers must currently care for children from birth to age five at least 15 hours each week in order to apply.

Scholarship applications are due May 19, 2006. Providers should contact a community college advisor to apply or for more information:

Contra Costa College:
Ray Landry (510) 235-7800 ext. 4471

Diablo Valley College:
Sue Handy (925) 685-1230 ext. 2162

Los Medanos College:
Melissa Jackson (925) 439-2181 ext. 3183

Nearly 175 Contra Costa children will have an easier time starting kindergarten this fall thanks to their participation in summer pre-kindergarten programs held at 11 elementary school sites throughout the county. These free summer programs, made possible by First 5 Contra Costa in partnership with local schools and community organizations, provide 4- and 5-year olds with classroom experiences to help prepare them for kindergarten.

Programs range from four-to-six weeks and are available to children who have never attended preschool and live in communities with low-performing elementary schools in Antioch, Pittsburg, Concord, Richmond, and San Pablo.

The programs provide children with an opportunity to meet their future teachers and take tours to familiarize themselves with the campus, which will help ease their transition into kindergarten. Time in the classroom will be spent on developmentally appropriate preschool and kindergarten activities such as lining up, taking turns, singing, and storytime to provide children with the language development, pre-literacy, group participation, and social interaction skills needed in kindergarten.

For more information about a pre-kindergarten program, contact:

Antioch: (925) 516-3880
Bay Point/Concord: (925) 685-7340 ext. 2776
Pittsburg: (925) 473-4370
Richmond/San Pablo: (510) 234-3807

Childhood obesity is at an all-time high. The number of children who are overweight has tripled in the past 25 years, raising their risk for many health problems. Type 2 diabetes, once a disease only seen in adults, is now found in children as young as age 4.

The earlier parents and caregivers take action to help children have a healthy weight, the better. Good nutrition and physical activity early means a healthier and happier child now and in the years to come.

Click here for tips and information in English and Spanish to help young children have a healthy weight.

	Deer Valley High Key Club members Elise Carroll and Sarah Starks

First 5 Contra Costa has awarded hundreds of small community grants over the last four years to community groups, nonprofits, and child care providers, but only one has gone to a community group made up of high school students.

Deer Valley High School’s Key Club, a service club connected to Kiwanis chapters, received a $5,000 Family-Friendly Community Grant to implement a safety fair for parents with young children. The fair was held two weeks ago, with approximately 400 East County residents attending.

“It took us about a year to plan the fair,” said Elise Carroll, Key Club treasurer and a senior at Deer Valley High. “If we didn’t have school or homework, I think we could have planned it in a couple of months. We had to make our phone calls during lunch to reach people during the work day.”

At the fair, children and parents participated in children’s fingerprinting, CPR demonstrations, car seat checks and opportunities to meet emergency professionals who brought police vehicles and motorcycles, a fire truck and an ambulance. There were also drawings for car seats.

“Putting on this fair was a great service to the community,” said Carroll. “But I think the best thing for me was the skills I gained from planning it.”

Joe Valentine, the Director of the Contra Costa County Community Services Department, is the new Chair of First 5 Contra Costa. He has worked in social welfare and human services for more than 25 years and relocated to Contra Costa County in August 2005 from Washington, where he served as the Deputy Director for the Seattle Human Services Department.

What was your favorite book as a child?
I liked reading mythology, science, and biographies – I read a lot!

What fictional character do you most relate to? Why?
Hari Seldon – the central character in Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation Trilogy”. Hari Seldon embodied Isaac Asimov’s sweeping vision of the world as a place where science and intellect are balanced with spirituality and intuition. His long-range vision also contained the profound hope that we’ll make it and survive as a species.

What food did you refuse to eat when you were a child?
Lima Beans – they made me gag!

Which living person do you most admire?
Ghandi – he changed an entire country through the power of his vision.

What is the trait you most admire in others?
Integrity.

What would make Contra Costa a better place for kids?
A seamless system of supports for young families: income support, housing, health care, child care, after-school activities, etc.

What is your motto?
Life is a gift – we need to cherish every moment of it and use it to its fullest.

West County children ages 3 to 5 are benefiting from free visual arts, dance and music classes offered by the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts and the Richmond Art Center and funded by a $40,000 grant from First 5 Contra Costa.

“Arts programs are considered a luxury for most families due to extra costs, but they provide a real benefit in the healthy development of young children,” said Rebecca Hawley, program associate for the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts.

Classes are for children not enrolled in licensed child care programs or preschool. During the classes, children receive two hours of arts instruction while their parents participate in school readiness workshops led by First 5’s West County School Readiness program.

“These classes have given my son a chance to socialize with other kids, cooperate, listen to the teacher, and express opinions,” said Xochiquetzal Morero of San Pablo. “My son is so proud to show me what he creates. He smiles and says, ‘I did it!’ Now I know he’ll be much better prepared for kindergarten next year.”

Three six-week sessions are provided each year, reaching approximately 90 families. A new session will start April 21, 2006 and run for six consecutive Fridays. Classes will take place at the San Pablo Library, located at 2300 El Portal Dr. Suite D from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Parents can sign-up now by calling (510) 620-6776.