First 5 Contra Children and Families Commission enters its strategic planning process at an extraordinary time in the history of California and the nation. When the Commission first agreed to develop a new plan last spring, the “landscape” of Contra Costa – its demography, economy and services for families – though challenging, could still be described in terms that would be familiar to the Commissioners. Less than a year later, we face a gloomy outlook as funding for prevention, early intervention, safety net, and other services for families seem to be slipping from our County’s grasp.

Even the future of First 5 itself is in question as some legislators and the Governor have proposed using Proposition 10 dollars to help balance the state budget. In his 2009-10 budget proposal, the Governor calls for a permanent 60 percent reduction in funding for First 5 commissions. He proposes to eliminate the State Commission (First 5 California) and cut in half the revenues for the 58 county commissions. The funds diverted from the state and county commissions would go to the State Department of Social Services for what the Governor calls “high priority state programs that would otherwise require General Fund support.”

It is ironic that the Governor has chosen to fund “high priority state programs” by demolishing high priority local programs – programs currently meeting the needs of millions of children and families throughout the state.

First 5 commissions provide one of the few funding sources for prevention and early intervention services for California’s youngest children, and are increasingly plugging holes in the local safety net left by diminishing resources and state budget cuts. As you’ll read in this newsletter, First 5 California and many county commissions have guaranteed that no child 0–5 will end up on a Healthy Families waiting list and are working to assure that no child will lose access to health care because of a family’s lost employment or increased health care premiums.

As public funding dissipates and family support systems fall apart, First 5 funds emerge as among the last discretionary funds left to support families with young children. I encourage everyone to educate our legislators about the many ways First 5 continues to benefit Contra Costa families, and how diverting Proposition 10 funds will erode proven programs that prevent future costs to the state.

- Sean Casey, Executive Director

• First 5 Contra Costa has produced a resource guide in English and Spanish listing all of our funded programs in one place. Contact tirwin@firstfivecc.org for copies or download it here in English or Spanish.

• The much anticipated Kit for New Parents, in 4 Asian Languages, is available to order now! In addition to English and Spanish, Kits are now available in Vietnamese, Korean, Cantonese and Mandarin. Call 1-800-KIDS-025 to order single Kits or contact (925) 755-4200 to set up a distribution for your agency.

• Children Now’s California Report Card ‘09: Setting the Agenda for Children is now available. The Report Card presents the most current data and analysis available on the status of California's children. The highest grade given, a B+ in after school programs, illustrates that bipartisan efforts on behalf of children are possible and can lead to significant improvements. For the first time in its history, the Report Card also provides immediate children's health and education policy actions, or ‘the children's agenda,’ that California's leadership should pursue.

• A recent issue of Pediatrics featured a study describing how tobacco smoke contamination lingers even after a cigarette is extinguished - a phenomenon they define as ‘third-hand’ smoke. This study is the first to examine adult attitudes about the health risks to children of third-hand smoke and how those beliefs may relate to rules about smoking in their homes. Small children are especially susceptible to third-hand smoke exposure because they can inhale near, crawl and play on, or touch and mouth contaminated surfaces.

• Click here to find classes and activities happening at the Antioch, Bay Point, Delta, Monument, and West County First 5 Centers this month.

The Commission’s strategic planning retreat will take place February 4 and 5 at the Concord Hilton (1970 Diamond Blvd., Concord). Both days are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Commissioners will discuss the current landscape of services for children, review trends at the county level and in the early childhood field, review and affirm the mission, vision, and guiding principles of the plan, and review sustainability scenarios.

First 5 staff have prepared a Briefing Book as a reference for the Commission as it considers the many questions before it in the planning process. The book contains information and statistics about conditions that affect young children in the areas of health, family relationships, family finances, childcare and early education, and communities.

The Briefing Book is posted here.
The agenda will be posted here Monday.

First 5 Contra Costa commissioners voted at their January meeting to contribute funds that will keep over 950 local children ages 0 to 5 from being placed on waiting lists for health coverage. This funding will pay health care premiums for new applicants to the Healthy Families program until the end of June.

“First 5 Contra Costa is pleased to help expand health coverage access to more children in our county, particularly during this period of rising unemployment and economic instability,” said Sean Casey, First 5 Contra Costa executive director. “This important collaboration continues to make health coverage affordable and accessible to our most vulnerable children.”

First 5 Contra Costa approved a contribution of $250,484 as part of a $16.7 million joint initiative between First 5 California and First 5 county commissions throughout the state. The funds provide immediate relief for infants and young children who would have been denied health coverage because of the state’s budget crisis.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg; Assembly Speaker Karen Bass; and Lesley Cummings, director of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, which administers the Healthy Families program, have all expressed public support of First 5’s funding solution.

“With this plan, First 5 California and First 5 county commissions continue to advocate for the well-being of our state’s youngest children by providing immediate relief to those facing a lapse in health coverage,” said Kris Perry, executive director of First 5 California.

First 5 is the largest and most stable funding source of health coverage for children up to age 5 in California. Last year, the agency spent more than $48 million on children’s health insurance.

In an effort to ensure low-income children have high-quality preschool experiences before kindergarten, First 5 Contra Costa will launch a pilot preschool scholarship program in Pittsburg this summer for eligible families. The pilot program will target families who do not qualify for child care subsidies.

First 5 Contra Costa will allocate approximately $400,000 to the pilot over a two-year period. Between 20 and 25 children are expected to participate in the first year of the pilot, and as many as 40 children (some new and some continuing) the second year. Scholarships will cover full-day or half-day preschool, depending on need.

The pilot program is based on the work of the Preschool Makes a Difference Plan, a community-wide planning effort led by First 5 Contra Costa, County Office of Education, Child Care Council and Community Services Bureau, to provide accessible and affordable high-quality preschool for all 3 and 4 year old children, as funding becomes available. In addition, a recent evaluation of First 5’s School Readiness Program found that children engaged in First 5 preschool programs in the Mt. Diablo School were significantly more prepared for school than their non-preschool counterparts.

Licensed child care centers and family child care homes interested in participating must submit their applications in March. Each site will then be assessed for program quality and level of participation in First 5-funded quality improvement efforts, including the Professional Development Program and the Early Learning Demonstration Project.

Once selected, programs will receive additional training and support, such as educational materials for parents, the Raising a Reader book-lending program, and assistance connecting to local elementary schools to ease kindergarten transition. These supports will benefit all children and families enrolled at a pilot site, not just the children receiving scholarships.

The Preschool Makes a Difference Advisory Committee, a representative group of local experts in the early care and education field, including child care providers, are advising First 5 staff on the pilot and helping to finalize enrollment criteria.

First 5 Contra Costa is offering Family-Friendly Community Grants up to $10,000 for local community improvement, health, and literacy projects that benefit children five and younger.

Funds support neighborhood clean-ups, new or improved playgrounds, parent education and training, health fairs, and projects that promote healthy nutrition and improved physical activity for young children. Family-Friendly Community Grants are available for nonprofit organizations, small community groups, city agencies, public adult schools, and public libraries. A total of $200,000 is available.

Applicants must attend a mandatory Information Workshop in order to apply:

February 26, 2009: 6:30 PM
First 5 Contra Costa
1485 Enea Court, Suite 1200, Concord

March 12, 2009: 6:30 PM
Church of Christ, 1020 East Tregallas Road, Antioch

March 18, 2009: 6:30 PM
West County First 5 Center, 2707 Dover Avenue, San Pablo

March 31, 2009: 1:00 p.m. Make-up session
First 5 Contra Costa
1485 Enea Court, Suite 1200, Concord

April 2, 2009: 10:00 a.m. Make-up session
First 5 Contra Costa
1485 Enea Court, Suite 1200, Concord

Please RSVP for Workshops: (925) 771-7315 or 7311.

Spanish translation and child care will be offered at all workshops. First 5 staff will be offering an optional workshop for applicants needing assistance with the application process. The application is available on www.firstfivecc.org.

Please share information with groups you think may be interested. Click here for a flyer.

Low-income workers do not need to pay to get their taxes done! Please help us get the word out that over 30 free tax preparation sites are now open to help low-income working families get their whole tax refunds and receive valuable tax credits.

Bilingual flyers publicizing the free tax preparation sites are available here. Please e-mail tirwin@firstfivecc.org if you would like to distribute flyers.

Since 2004, the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Campaign has helped file over 9,000 tax returns totaling $10.6 million in refunds. A new partnership with AARP tax assistance sites tripled the amount of returns in Contra Costa in 2008.

It may be easy to dismiss dental care for young children as unnecessary. After all, it may seem they’re only baby teeth. But these teeth are important to a child’s development because they help children chew food and speak clearly. These little chompers also hold space so permanent teeth can grow in straight. Starting good dental health habits when children are young will protect their smiles now – and in the future.

In recognition of February as National Children’s Dental Health Month, First 5 Contra Costa provides these answers to Frequently Asked Questions about how to care for your child’s teeth.

What is baby bottle tooth decay?
Also known as early childhood caries, baby bottle tooth decay is caused when children are allowed to go to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or juice. When this happens, the sugar from the liquid stays in contact with the baby’s teeth for several hours, breaking down the enamel and discoloring teeth. Severe cases can lead to cavities and the removal of teeth.To prevent baby bottle tooth decay, parents should never allow infants to fall asleep with a bottle and should encourage children to begin drinking from a cup as they near their first birthday.

When should children start brushing their teeth?
Brushing teeth is one of the easiest ways to prevent cavities. That’s why parents should begin brushing their children’s teeth regularly as soon as the first tooth comes in, which is usually around 6 to 12 months. Although children can be taught how to brush when they are toddlers, parents should continue brushing a child’s teeth until he or she is 6 years old.

When should children first visit a dentist?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends parents schedule a visit to the dentist when their child’s first tooth comes in. After that first visit, children should have a dental checkup at least once a year.

Click here for full article.

	PDP participant Fey Saeteurn and children enrolled in La Petite Academy.

Fey Saeteurn credits her participation in the Professional Development Program (PDP) for helping her to earn an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Contra Costa College and becoming the assistant director at La Petite Academy, a Richmond-based child care center serving over 70 children. The PDP, funded by First 5 Contra Costa and implemented by the Contra Costa Child Care Council, Contra Costa, Diablo Valley, and Los Medanos Community Colleges, and Cal State East Bay, Concord Campus, provides training and incentives to help child care providers advance their education and provide higher quality care. Ms. Saeteurn shares her story:

I am blessed beyond what words can express to have your support to further my education. It would not have been possible for me to continue school without the Professional Development Program. I grew up in a family of eight with a single mother on welfare. It was not easy. Then I became a mother on welfare with two daughters. It was the same cycle. I wanted a better life for my daughters and for me. With the help of this program, I broke the cycle. I went from obtaining an associate teacher’s permit to a teacher’s permit to graduating with an Early Childhood Education associate’s degree. I was promoted at work and am now the assistant director of our center.

I received help to pay for my books and an ESL tutor to help me with my classes, but the personal support is what I appreciated the most. I couldn’t have done this without the advisor at Contra Costa College, Ramona McCoy. She went above and beyond to support me every semester in what I needed to succeed. She inspired me and others to want to further our education.

Ms. McCoy has now given me the opportunity to become an advisor for other child care providers. I love to help others succeed the way this program has helped me, so I try to mentor my co-workers and share information about how the First 5 program can assist them.

Because of the PDP, I know so much more about child development. I now better understand that each child is unique and has his or her own time table in their development. But when their development is a bit delayed, I can now recognize the symptoms because of the knowledge I’ve gained through my education.

It has been a sacrifice and a big commitment as a parent but it was all worth it for the good. My goal is to transfer to Cal State East Bay. The PDP is the greatest program offered at Contra Costa College. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.