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Saturday, June 10, 2006
Early Learning Alliance Luncheon
12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Shadelands Art Center Auditorium
111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek
The Contra Costa Early Learning Alliance invites all members to a special recognition luncheon celebrating their efforts to advance in the early childhood education field. Ronald Mah, M.A. is the keynote speaker. Contact Kelly for more information (925) 676-5442 ext. 3110.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Program and Evaluation Committee
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
1340 Arnold Dr., Suite 125, Conference Room, Martinez
Friday, June 16, 2006
Crafts for Dads
6:00 p.m.
Delta First 5 Center
760 First Street, Brentwood
Celebrate Father’s Day at the Delta First 5 Center. Children will make arts and crafts for dad, followed by a barbeque. Contact (925) 516-3880 for more information.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Executive Committee
9:00 a.m.
1340 Arnold Dr., Suite 125, Conference Room, Martinez
Monday, July 10, 2006
Commission Meeting
6:00 p.m.
50 Douglas Drive, Second Floor Conference Room
Martinez
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Children’s Art and Literacy Festival
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Contra Costa Child Care Council
1035 Detroit Avenue, Concord
The Child Care Council is celebrating its 30th birthday with a free festival for families. Enjoy activities for all ages including a puppet show, storytelling, face painting, book making, and hands-on art activities.
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.
6/4/06:
Parenting from the Inside Out
6/11/06:
From Summer Colds to Pool Safety
6/18/06:
The Joys of Being a Father
6/25/06:
How Different are Boys and Girls?
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.
6/4/06:
Everybody Reading: Literacy Matters for the Future of Nuestros Niños
6/11/06:
Questions from Parents to a Pediatrician: The Doctor Responds to Calls about Nuestros Niños
6/18/06:
Nuestros Niños Grow Healthier and Happier with Involved Fathers
6/25/06:
Each Family is a World: Respecting and Appreciating that Nuestros Niños Grow in Diverse Types of Families
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I am pleased to be taking over as the new executive director of First 5 Contra Costa. It’s an exciting time to take over the reins here. We’re working hard to strengthen our funded programs as we continue to improve the lives of our county’s young children, particularly our most vulnerable families.
Research tells us that the majority of brain development occurs during the early years, and the support and attention children receive at this critical time has a lasting impact on who they become. Quite simply, children thrive when their needs are met and they have healthy relationships with adults who love and care for them. These initial attachments help develop self-esteem and can serve as the basis of a child’s future relationships.
First 5 truly is an unprecedented opportunity to help make these years the best they can be. I am excited to lead the First 5 Contra Costa team as we move forward to ensure our youngest children have the tools they need to succeed in school and in life.
- Sean Casey, Acting Executive Director
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On May 22, 2006, the First 5 Contra Costa Children and Families Commission unanimously voted to extend an offer to Sean Casey, Acting Executive Director, to become executive director of our Commission, which is charged with allocating approximately $8.4 million in tobacco taxes annually to fund local children's programs.
“Sean has maintained an active role in improving the lives of children throughout his career,” said Joe Valentine, Chair, First 5 Contra Costa. “With more than 20 years of experience in public health and an impressive background in social work, First 5 Contra Costa is fortunate to have such a highly-qualified person as our new executive director.”
Casey has served since 2000 as deputy director of the Commission, providing leadership in developing the Commission's evaluation practices and many of its key funded programs including in-home education and support for at-risk families, programs that identify and treat children with emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems, and programs designed to improve the quality of child care in the county.
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After holding a public hearing at our June 5, 2006 Commission meeting, First 5 Contra Costa Commissioners adopted our 2006 Strategic Plan.
The Plan outlines our Commission’s funding priorities and objectives for improving the lives of children age five and younger in Contra Costa County over the next several years as well as how we will continue to support and strengthen our funded programs.
The Plan will soon be available on www.firstfivecc.org |
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| First 5 Contra Costa recently awarded $104,000 in grants for local community improvement and literacy projects that benefit young children and families residing in Contra Costa County. Two types of grants were funded: Family-Friendly Community Grants and Ready, Set, Read Grants.
15 Family-Friendly Community Grants up to $10,000 were awarded to community groups and nonprofit organizations to conduct playground improvement projects, festivals, health and safety activities, and projects that improve the environment. First 5 awarded a total of $74,990 for these grants.
The MOMs Club of Brentwood received a $10,000 grant to purchase a shade structure to cover playground equipment at Orchard Park. Washington Elementary School PTA, located in Richmond, will use its $5,000 grant to build a hands-on community garden for preschool children. The Martinez Opera received a $5,000 grant to conduct a free concert for young children in honor of Mozart’s 250th birthday.
First 5 also awarded nine Ready, Set, Read Grants up to $3,000 to nonprofit organizations, public libraries, and adult school programs to purchase books and conduct family literacy projects.
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| A new ad promoting Contra Costa’s Professional Development Program (PDP) recently debuted in the Contra Costa Times, with another running later this month.
The first ad promotes the various incentives and supports now available to help early childhood educators increase their education and professional development, including scholarships, academic advising, and free community college classes and tutoring.
The second ad recognizes early childhood educators who have completed training and education requirements to advance on the Child Development Permit, a credential for early childhood educators. The ad touts these educators as “more qualified and better prepared to help children learn.”
Visit www.firstfivecc.org to learn more about Contra Costa’s Professional Development Program. |
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| First 5 California’s new and improved Kit for New Parents is set to debut this fall. The new Kit, which is smaller than the original, continues to provide a wealth of information on health, nutrition, quality child care, literacy, and child development to help parents care for their newborns. The new Kit contains DVDs instead of videos and the book What To Do When Your Child Gets Sick. The Kit will also soon be available in Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese).
The Contra Costa Child Abuse Prevention Council has distributed more than 30,000 Kits since 2001 through hospitals, health clinics, WIC nutrition programs, home visiting programs, and child care sites.
Contact Susie Dove to distribute this valuable free resource: (925) 755-4200. |
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Skin cancer is an epidemic in California and across the entire nation. Skin cancer is by far the most common cancer in the state and one of five Californians can expect to eventually get this disease.
To support integration of sun-protection measures within child care sites, the Skin Cancer Prevention Program (SCPP), a unit within the California Department of Health Services, offers a no cost skin cancer prevention education module to child care and preschool sites. The package includes an activity curriculum, video, poster, and a policy template for teaching sun-protection behaviors to children, ages three to five.
The module order form is here.
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| More than 70 policy makers, service providers, funders, law enforcement, and community members came together in April for a planning summit to share their perspectives and help set the direction for a coordinated system of care for children exposed to domestic violence. Participants created a vision of the future and potential strategies to implement in Contra Costa County. Emerging strategies include increased training and education, raising awareness of the impact of domestic violence on children, and efforts to integrate services and systems more effectively.
Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence (an initiative of the Board of Supervisors) was awarded a two-year $150,000 federal planning grant to reduce the damaging effects of domestic violence on children and adolescents. A planning team, which includes First 5 Contra Costa, has been meeting for the past eighteen months to shape the planning process, complete a community assessment, convene an education summit, and conduct focus groups.
For more information, contact Devorah Levine, Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative dlevi@cao.cccounty.us. |
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Xochitl Moreno’s son Pablo is going to kindergarten next year. Because of their participation in West Contra Costa’s School Readiness program, she knows that he’ll be ready.
“I think I would be really worried about Pablo going to kindergarten if we hadn’t participated in the programs of First 5, such as the Tigo kit,” said Marino. “These programs have taught my son to be more independent and more confident.”
Offering stimulating preschool, parent education, and outreach programs in 18 communities with low-performing elementary schools, West Contra Costa’s school readiness program helps West County’s most vulnerable children enter kindergarten better prepared.
These programs, implemented by the Contra Costa Community Services Department and the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD), have reached more than 500 children and their families since 2004.
Principals of the eligible schools recently developed strategic plans outlining how they will reach out to families early and promote a successful transition into kindergarten through activities, including:
- Developing a welcome video: featuring a tour of the school and kindergarten classrooms with footage of kindergarteners sharing their thoughts about being in kindergarten.
- Hosting an orientation: for parents and children outlining kindergarten expectations, introducing children to their teachers and providing onsite tours of the classrooms.
- Backpack Giveaways: filled with school readiness materials such as pencils, crayons, alphabet cards and other activities for parents to use with their children over the summer.
“Children who are not familiar with a school setting or routines have greater challenges trying to make friends and concentrate on their learning,” said WCCUSD principal Greg Santiago. “With the help of First 5, we have become better equipped to start our students on the road of education, prepared and ready to succeed.”
For more information contact Ron Pipa (510) 374-7468. |
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