Like thousands of parents in California, Christina Stevenson of Antioch has spent years on the state’s subsidized child care waiting list, relying on friends and family to care for her daughter Zylia while she worked full-time. She first signed up when Zylia turned one. That was nearly three years ago.

But now thanks to a new pilot preschool scholarship program sponsored by First 5 Contra Costa, Zylia is starting preschool today along with 21 other preschoolers.

Our two-year pilot is the first project implemented from Preschool Makes a Difference, Contra Costa’s countywide universal preschool plan developed by First 5 Contra Costa and our partners the Contra Costa Child Care Council, the Contra Costa County Office of Education, and the Employment and Human Services Department – Community Service Bureau.

The scholarship program is designed for families whose income is too high to qualify for a subsidy, but who earn too little to afford quality preschool. Since the average cost of preschool is about $9,000 a year, many of these children have been in unregulated care or with extended family members and likely have not had the preschool experiences they need to be ready for kindergarten.

We know that quality preschool matters, especially for low-income children. Children who go to high-quality preschool start kindergarten with stronger language, math, and problem-solving and social skills. They are less likely to need special education services later in school and more likely to remain in school, graduate, and become successful adults.

Our goal is to ensure preschool is available, affordable, and accessible for every family who wants it. Getting there will require more than the resources of First 5 -- it will take well-directed funding from county, state and federal sources as well.

Obviously, this is an extremely difficult time for public funding, but the Obama administration has already greatly expanded funding for Head Start and Early Head Start in the federal stimulus legislation. As a result, even with the California budget in the precarious state it's in, Head Start slots will be increasing over the next year. We remain hopeful that with national leadership on this issue, the time when every child and family can experience the benefits of high-quality early education will not be far off.

- Sean Casey, Executive Director

• The Bay Area First 5 Commissions have developed two new fact sheets about how we’re helping Bay Area children to become healthier and more prepared for school. Download them here: Healthy Children Children Ready for School

• First 5 Contra Costa’s parent volunteer group, the East County Regional Group, was featured in June’s 110 magazine.

• The First 5 Centers have a new brochure. Download it here or please contact Randi Grossnickle to distribute printed copies.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics applauded the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act signed into law by President Obama June 22, which restricts tobacco advertising and promotions directed to children, bans candy cigarettes, and prohibits the use of terms like “light” that mislead consumers into thinking certain types of cigarettes are healthier.

First 5 Contra Costa’s Program and Evaluation Committee met June 24 to review goals, objectives, and strategic directions for the Commission’s new strategic plan. These statements of intent will form the basis for program development and funding allocations over a five-year period, from July 2011 to June 2016.

The Commission will review the recommendations related to these areas at the July 6 Commission meeting. Staff anticipates the strategic plan will be completed in the fall. View the staff report here.

	A $10,000 grant will help improve Richmond’s Elm Street Playlot.

First 5 Contra Costa awarded 27 Family-Friendly Community Grants last month totaling $132,000 to various community groups, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies.

Family-Friendly Community Grants support playgrounds, parent education classes, and projects that promote good nutrition and improved physical activity for young children.

Over one-third of the new projects address the issue of childhood obesity. Funds awarded will support nutrition, cooking, music and movement classes, and community gardens.

For example, the community health clinic La Clinica de La Raza will use its $5,000 grant to implement the Familias en Acíon por la Salud (Families in Action) project, which will provide classes for 200 Spanish-speaking parents on healthful nutrition and ways to encourage their children to become more physically active. Parents Resources and More (PRAM), a parent’s group in Richmond, plans to start a community garden with its $5,000 grant.  
 
The Elm Street Playlot, located in the heart of Richmond’s Iron Triangle neighborhood, will be getting new toddler playground equipment later this year with its $10,000 Family-Friendly Community Grant. The new equipment is a small part of a larger project to restore the neighborhood park, and as a result, improve the community.

First 5 California launched a new online parenting site to help California families with young children find local resources with a simple click of a mouse. The site provides parents and caregivers with quick access to critical information on children's health, education, services, and support.

“Our research shows there is a clear need for a trusted resource that parents can turn to for answers to many of their early child-rearing questions,” said Kris Perry, executive director of First 5 California. “We developed the site to help fill this need and provide families with a free place to go for everything related to children 0 to 5.”

Designed in an easy-to-navigate format, the parenting site links users to a variety of statewide children's health and education programs, as well as First 5 services available in each of California's 58 counties. Other site features include useful tips and parenting information on topics ranging from car safety seats to accessing Paid Family Leave and help quitting smoking.

First 5 California is spreading the message about this new parenting site with billboard, radio, and online advertisements across the state.

Childhood Matters has been invited to return to 98.1 KISS-FM from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings!

A group of parents taking classes at the Delta First 5 Center have started their own parenting club. Since most First 5 Center programs focus on parents and children participating together, the parents wanted a chance to discuss parenting issues and get support from one another – without their children present.

The club meets the first and third Mondays of every month. The parents determine the topics of the meetings, and First 5 Center staff support them by finding guest speakers or facilitators. Each parent takes a turn providing child care.

Future meetings will feature discussions on sibling rivalry, setting limits, and what to expect from your two-year-old.

To join the club, please contact the Delta First 5 Center (925) 516-3880.

	Project organizer Tony Hay cuts the ribbon at the Crusade for Shade dedication at Orchard Park.

Brentwood’s Orchard Park has been shaded for over a year now, thanks to the hard work and dedication of a group of local mothers.

About four years ago, members of the MOMS Club of Brentwood launched the “Crusade for Shade” in an effort to bring more adequate shade to the city’s new playgrounds. The group raised $76,000 for the project, including a $10,000 First 5 Family-Friendly Community Grant. Funds were used to purchase and install three large canopies in the park. A formal dedication of the shade structures took place last week, with MOMS Club members, Brentwood city officials, and the Liberty High School Band.

“Brentwood’s parks do not have mature trees or coverings to provide shade for the playground equipment,” said Toni Hay, Crusade for Shade campaign chair. “We used to hear the kids say ‘the trees are too small and the equipment is too hot.’  Not anymore. Now you hear them say, ‘let’s go to Orchard Park – they’ve got shade there.’”

Exercise, along with a balanced diet, helps children to grow and develop, increase their confidence, learn problem-solving and social skills, and develop lifelong healthful habits. But according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, almost half of all American children do not get enough exercise.  

With childhood obesity on the rise, it is important to get children into the habit of being physically active early. The National Association for Sports and Physical Education recommends that children should do at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity every day and that children should not be inactive for more that one hour at a time, unless they are sleeping.

Activities for babies and toddlers:

Babies love to stretch and move and practice using new muscles. Try spreading a large blanket on the floor or grass. This provides a safe, clean place for your baby to practice stretching and developing muscles during “tummy time.”  Later, your baby will love to practice rolling over, new crawling skills, and pulling herself up.

Once your child is walking:

• Use push and pull toys. Your child’s coordination will develop with practice.
• Dance to music. Children enjoy moving to music. When dancing, offer your child a cloth, a scarf, or a long ribbon.
• Play follow-the-leader. Make it more interesting by pretending you’re an animal. Take turns letting your child be the leader.
• Let your child walk instead of riding in strollers whenever practical.
• Take make believe walks through the snow, in the jungle, or other adventurous places – even if you’re just going to the mailbox, make it fun!

Activities for preschoolers:

• Encourage your child to play outside. Play tag or chase each other, have your child ride a tricycle, or kick and throw a ball.
• Plan a trip to the local park or playground. This is a great place for your child to run and climb.
• Walk the dog, work in the garden, chase bubbles, or just take a walk. These activities help your child burn calories.
• Build an indoor obstacle course. Your child could run or jump through zigzagged shoe boxes, throw a beanbag in a laundry basket, or crawl through a large cardboard box.
• Enroll your child in a dance or tumbling class. First 5 Contra Costa offers free music and movement, sports, and dance classes throughout the county. Visit www.firstfivecc.org.
• Be a model for your child. Children who regularly see their parents enjoying sports and physical activity are more likely to do so themselves.
• Turn off the TV. Limit television watching and computer use. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that preschoolers have no more than 1 to 2 hours of total screen time, including TV, videos, and computers, each day (children under 2 years old should not watch TV at all). Use free time to engage in more physical activities.

Find more information at Raising a Fit Preschooler (pbs.org) or download fun activity cards in English and Spanish developed by the Center for Weight and Health at the University of California at Berkeley.

	Mai Maybon (in pink) has been thriving in Jenni Eggers' family child care for nearly a year.

We moved to Contra Costa in early 2008, after the death of my husband. I contacted the Contra Costa Child Care Council soon after to get referrals for care providers who specialize in working with children who have special needs. Mai has both vision and hearing loss.

Finding the right provider for my daughter was very difficult. The first provider did not work out at all. Mai was only there for six weeks. I thought the next provider was perfect, but that didn't work out either. Of course when I heard that, I was heart broken. I was feeling like, why can’t I find anyone to accommodate my daughter’s needs?

That night I went home crying and frustrated. I spoke with my daughter Drew, who decided to quit her job and watch Mai. She said, ‘We will find a good program for Mai. Until then, I’m watching her.’

I had been working with the Inclusion Facilitator Nina Hinman from Child Care Council’s Inclusion Program. The next day I called Nina and told her our plan. Nina then helped us search for a provider that would meet Mai’s needs and even came to our house to teach Drew things she needed to know to care for Mai.

Then Nina found a wonderful, loving, and caring family child care provider for Mai: Jenni Eggers. All three of us Nina, Drew, and I went out to interview Jenni. The interview lasted two hours. She answered all of our questions in such a way that I knew the third time was the charm!

After I enrolled Mai in Jenni’s child care, Nina visited several times. She was very impressed with how Jenni was meeting Mai’s special needs. And Jenni was very open to the feedback and training Nina provided her. I’m happy to say that Mai has been going to Jenni’s program since September 2008.

I call Nina & Jenni, ‘my angels of protection.’ It seems like they were sent from above to come and protect my daughter Mai.

For more information about the Inclusion Program, contact the Contra Costa Child Care Council (925) 676-5442.