The Commission will not hold an August meeting

August Date TBD
Program and Evaluation Committee
 
Check back here for more information.
1:30 p.m.
1340 Arnold Dr., Suite 125, Conference Room, Martinez

Monday, August 21, 2006
Executive Committee
 
9:00 a.m.
1340 Arnold Dr., Suite 125, Conference Room, Martinez

Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Community Health Resource Fair
 
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Laurel Ballfields Park, Oakley
Click here for more information.

Monday, September 11, 2006
Commission Meeting
 
6:00 p.m.
50 Douglas Drive, Second Floor Conference Room
Martinez

Monday, September 25, 2006
Commission Retreat
 
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Embassy Suites Hotel
1345 Treat Blvd., Walnut Creek
Parking will be validated

Saturday, October 14, 2006
Super Saturday Family Fest
 
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Richmond Civic Center
2600 Barrett Avenue
First 5 Contra Costa’s West County Regional Group is hosting its fifth annual Super Saturday,
a free fun-filled event that offers valuable information for parents on health and safety, parenting, finding child care, nutrition and more. Free children’s activities include arts and crafts, a petting zoo, prizes, children’s entertainment, face painting, a jumpee structure, carnival games, and storytelling.

Monday, November 6, 2006
Fourth Annual Volunteer & Grantee Celebration
 
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Pleasant Hill Community Center
Save the Date!

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.

8/6/06:
Understanding Your Child’s Behavior (Guest Host: Mike Riera)

8/13/06:
Breastfeeding Your Baby

8/20/06:
Getting Ready for School: How to Advocate for Your Child’s Special Needs

8/27/06:
Is My Child Developing Normally? (rebroadcast)

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.

8/6/06:
Breastfeeding: When Nuestros Niños Drink Mother's Milk the Whole Family Benefits

8/13/06:
How to Keep Nuestros Niños Safe at Home and Out of Home (prerecorded show)

8/20/06:
Teen Dating Violence: Serious Dangers and Damages to Nuestros Niños and Youth

8/27/06:
Nuestros Niños' Parents Can Achieve Health Reforms in Schools and Neighborhoods

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. First 5 Contra Costa encourages all parents to keep their children immunized and take advantage of local resources so that all children receive the shots necessary to stay healthy. Immunizations teach a child’s immune system how to recognize and fight off different diseases. To ensure maximum benefits from baby shots, First 5 Contra Costa offers parents the “5 R’s”:

• Remind! Remind yourself and other parents to start immunizing their child at two months. An early start can help prevent unnecessary diseases later.
  
  
• Review! Review your child’s immunization history to be sure your child receives her shots on time, every time. Because immunization schedules can periodically change, check with your doctor to be sure yours is accurate.
  
  
• Record! Keep a record of when your child receives shots every time you visit your doctor or clinic.
  
  
• Request! Be proactive in your child’s health by asking the doctor when your child’s next shots are due.
  
  
• Read! Read the information you receive about the shots carefully. Be sure to observe your child for any signs he is not feeling well, after shots have been administered.

Click here for more information about immunizations, including immunizations needed to start kindergarten or attend licensed child care.

- Sean Casey, Executive Director

• The new and improved Kit for New Parents is expected to debut this fall. Contact (925) 755-4200 to become a kit distributor.
  
  
• First 5 Contra Costa produced a public service announcement highlighting incentives, scholarships, and support now available for Contra Costa’s early care professionals. The PSA ran on Comcast last month. Click here to view it.
  
  
• Contra Costa Health Services is offering free dental services for children and youth. Click here for more information.
  
  
• World Breastfeeding Week is August 1st – 7th. Tune in to the August 13th Childhood Matters show called “Breastfeeding Your Baby” or the August 6th Nuestros Niños show “Breastfeeding: When Nuestros Niños Drink Mother's Milk the Whole Family Benefits”.

A fire badly damaged the temporary location of the Bay Point First 5 Center last month, located at 1985 Willow Pass Road. Fortunately, the fire occurred late at night and no one was hurt. First 5 Center classes and services have been moved to Bay Point’s Ambrose Community Center (3105 Willow Pass Road).

“We’re deeply saddened by the fire,” said Lisa Morrell, First 5 Contra Costa Program Specialist. “But together with the community, we’re quickly moving forward on getting high-quality services up and running.”

Please contact Lollie Guiterrez for more information about classes (925) 709-2023. First 5 Contra Costa will post the latest information on classes here, so check back regularly.

The West County First 5 Center is offering free dance and music classes for parents and young children. The classes take place on Fridays throughout the month of August from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The East Bay Center for the Performing Arts is teaching the classes.

Space is limited. Contact Marilyn Davenport for more information: (510) 559-3014.

A committee made up of early care professionals, K-12 educators, and staff from First 5 Contra Costa, the Contra Costa Child Care Council, and the Contra Costa County Office of Education continues to meet to refine our county’s Preschool Makes A Difference Plan (PMD) – a universal preschool plan for all children ages three to five.

First 5 Contra Costa is not committing local funds for preschool but has spearheaded the planning process over the last eighteen months. Since Proposition 82 – the Preschool for All Act – did not pass in June, First 5 Contra Costa and our partners will seek funding from other sources to implement the plan. In the meantime, the plan will be brought back to the community in the fall for additional review and comment.

Despite the funding setback, Governor Schwarzenegger and the legislature did take an important step forward by including an additional $100 million in the state budget for preschool. $50 million is earmarked to expand state preschool programs, while the remaining $50 million will support one-time funds for preschool facilities.

Click here for more information on the PMD planning process and to review the original draft of the plan.

Young children are growing and need to eat two or three healthy snacks between meals. Small meals and snacks are best for a child’s small tummy. First 5 Contra Costa has developed new activity cards that encourage parents and caregivers to have fun making healthy snacks with their children

Click here for the activities in English or here for Spanish.

For many parents and caregivers, the first day of school can feel like their child’s first step out into the real world. To help transition your child from a familiar home environment to an exciting new classroom, First 5 Contra Costa offers parents and caregivers the following tips to help prepare children for their first day of school.

• Set Your Clocks for School Schedules: A good night’s sleep is critical for young students to succeed in the classroom. Put children on a schedule before school starts and have them go to bed and wake up earlier.
  
  
• Read Together: Try to read together with your child daily. Reading together helps your child get a head start at learning and helps prepare him or her for reading and listening to stories in the future.
  
  
• Take an Adventure Together: Before school starts and on weekends, try visiting places where you and your child can learn together, such as museums, libraries and parks. Later you may ask, “What was something you learned today?”
  
  
• Singing in the car: Sing songs to your child while driving. This is an early lesson in language. Try to drive by your child’s new school and casually point it out or stop by to visit. This will help the school seem more familiar to your child on his or her first day.

Click here for more information about how you can turn everyday life into a learning experience for your child.

Ed Lerman serves as an Alternate on the First 5 Contra Costa Commission. He represents the Contra Costa County Community Services Department, where he has been an analyst since 2002. He was the Director of Clinical Services for the Sonoma Valley Healthcare District for sixteen years before coming to Contra Costa. Mr. Lerman received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Riverside and a master’s in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco. In addition to volunteering for the American Lung Association, Mr. Lerman is an avid sailor and outdoorsman.

What was your favorite book as a child?
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

What food did you refuse to eat when you were a child?
Anything with mushrooms.

Which historical person do you most admire?
Jonas Salk.

What would make Contra Costa a better place for kids?
Safe neighborhoods and universal healthcare.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“I’m hungry!”

What is your motto?
“The end of all education should surely be service to others.” - César Chávez

In the last year alone, members of West County’s High School Teen Parent Collaboration provided services for a 15-year-old mother with twins, a 14-year-old mother who has special needs, and four young mothers who lost their partners to gang violence within a three month period.

“Most of these young mothers are learning how to be there for their children while working on completing their high school education, despite the challenges they face in their day to day lives,” said Sue Dixon, case manager for the program. “Of the 84 young women we served last year, nearly half completed their high school requirements. Twenty-two of these young women will go on to Contra Costa College or will be attending a trade program.”

The program, coordinated by YMCA of the East Bay and funded by a First 5 Contra Costa Parent Education Grant, provides case management, group and individual counseling, and parenting education for teen parents enrolled in Richmond and Kennedy High Schools or those living in West County not enrolled in school. The program works in collaboration with departments of the YMCA and the district’s Adolescent Parent Program.

In addition to the difficulty of caring for a new baby, one young mother had to care for a sick mother, a runaway sibling, and a house completely damaged by a flood during the rainy season. Overwhelmed, she decided it would be easier to drop out of school.

Through home visits and other contacts, the program’s team members were able to help her family access services, which helped the teen mother return to school. By the end of the school year, the teen mother had completed her junior year and served a term as the elected representative on the Head Start Policy Council.

“We will continue to work with this young woman and her family to make sure they continue to get the services they need,” said Dixon. “She’s well on her way to graduating from high school and meeting her goals.”