THE MONTH OF THE YOUNG CHILD - APRIL 2018
PLEASE BEAR WITH US AS WE LAUNCH OUR NEW WEBSITE THIS WEEK. THE CALENDAR LINK WILL BE DELAYED.
CLICK THE RED UNDERLINED TEXT TO LINK TO MORE INFO
KERN COUNTY NEWS
Honoring Six Babies Who Have Died; Preventing Child Abuse
Counties across the nation recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month and on April 6, people united and wore blue in support of Child Abuse Prevention.

In Kern County, hundreds gathered to honor the six children who died in 2017 from child abuse or neglect; Dept. of Human Services, 100 E. California. Six other children are also thought to have passed due to abuse and are still under investigation.

April 29th is designated as Blue Sunday , providing an opportunity for places of worship to offer prayers and disseminate information for victims of child abuse and those who rescue them .

REPORTING CHILD ABUSE - Sudden changes in a child’s behavior or appearance could be indications that a child is experiencing some type of abuse. If you suspect a child you know is being abused, you can help by reporting it to your local police department. The Bakersfield Police Department can be reached at 661.327.7111 for non-emergencies, or 911 for emergencies.

FOR INFO: Department of Human Ser vices, 661.631.6453, jonessa@kerndhs.com.
Public Health Officer / Commissioner Retires to Keep Serving
Retiring Dr. Claudia Jonah, Kern County Public Health Officer, was recognized by the Kern County Board of Supervisors for nearly 30 years of service to the County of Kern.

Dr. Jonah, who served as a First 5 Kern Commissioner for almost ten years, was honored at the April Commission meeting.

According to a Bakersfield Calif-ornian article, Dr. Jonah plans to continue her work "on Valley Fever issues, mentor youth, and spend more time at church." ARTICLE

PHOTO: DR. JONAH WAS HONORED AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' MEETING WITH SUPER-VISOR/COMMISSIONER LETICIA PEREZ. SHARED BY PERMISSION FROM COUNTY OF KERN, PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT.
FIRST 5 KERN NEWS
Lamont Weedpatch Family Resource Center Turns 25
In 1993, from a window at the Dept. of Human Services, the Lamont Weedpatch Family Resource Center began serving families.

Outgrowing the service window they relocated to a refurbished warehouse classroom. In 2002, when the center expanded services to families of preschool children, they received $100,200 from First 5 Kern towards new building facilities at 7839 Burgundy Avenue, where they remain today.

In 2014, with the help of Supervisor Leticia Perez, the Center added a playground.
First 5 Kern continues to support Lamont families through the Center, funding to the 'Lamont Vineland School Readiness Program' which provides direct family support services through case management, parenting classes, health and development milestone screenings, referrals, and early learning through center-based and kindergarten transition activities.
PHOTO: CHILDREN ENJOYED LEARNING AT THE FIRST 5 KERN OUTREACH BOOTH, AT THE MARCH 17, LAMONT HEALTH FAIR. THE ADULTS, IN LINE IN THE BACKGROUND, ARE AWAITING HEALTH SCREENINGS. HUNDREDS WERE SERVED. A LEPRECHAUN WAS SPOTTED AND THE ATTENDEES WERE THE GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW!
APRIL CALENDAR
The community calendar will be available April 9, at www.FirstKern.org.
Click the links for events, opportunities, meetings, links to flyers, agendas, forms and more - FOR ALL OF KERN COUNTY.

MOBILE IMMUNIZATION CLINIC APRIL ENGLISH | SPANISH
FIRST 5 KERN PINTEREST | Check in on social media @First5Kern
April is National ...
Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month | Poetry Month | STRESS AWARENESS MONTH

Special April Weeks:
1-7 Library Week | 8-14 Garden Week | 15-21 Week of the Young Child | 22-28 Karaoke Week

Nationally recognized days in April:
6 Wear Blue for Child Abuse Awareness | 7 No Housework Day | 10 Siblings Day
14 Reach as High as You Can Day | 15 World Art Day | 16 Stress Awareness Day
21 Kindergarten Day | 22 Jelly Bean Day | 25 Administrative Professionals Day
26 Take Your Daughter to Work Day | 27 Tell a Story Day
First 5 Express Brings Mobile Adventures to Bakersfield
Flyers (in English and Spanish) available on the website April 9.
FIRST 5 EXPRESS WILL VISIT BAKERSFIELD ADULT SCHOOL CHILDREN'S CENTER, APRIL 11, 9AM AND 6PM.
Flyers available on the website in English and Spanish, April 9.
FIRST 5 EXPRESS WILL VISIT GREENFIELD FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, APRIL 12, 3:30PM.
Flyers available on the website in English and Spanish, April 9.
Black Infant Health Program Graduation
Graduation for the Black Infant Health (BIH) program was held March 23, for 11 pregnant and mothering African American moms.

The group-based approach of BIH aims to improve health and reducing racial health disparities. Nearly 100 African American moms each year participate in life-planning counseling and case management services, empowering them with strategies to reduce stress and develop life-skills.

The graduation ceremony honors the completion of ten prenatal and ten postpartum intervention sessions, providing social support, access to health care, and highlighting participants' strengths that encourage positive choices. The effort helps ensure healthy outcomes for both mom, their families, and the community at large.

BIH is funded by First 5 Kern, a Title V MCAH Block Grant, and state and county general funds.

PHOTO TOP: A program participant and her daughter were joined by the little one’s father who attended to support her accomplishment.
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PHOTO MIDDLE (l to r): BIH Coordinator Emmetta K. Harris, Community Outreach Liaison Christina Martinez, participant Celena Hall, and Lead Group Facilitator Rosalia Garcia.
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PHOTO BOTTOM: BIH Coordinator Emmetta K. Harris (center) received program recognition from Michael Bowers, Field Representative for Senator Andy Vidak (left), and Jeff Flores, Chief of Staff for Kern County Supervisor Mike Maggard and Kern High School District Trustee. 
Impacting Trauma in Kern for Children and Families
trauma-informed county cohort 2
FIRST TRAUMA COHORT OF 100
The first of four Trauma-Informed County cohort trainings was held March 13, and attended by 100 participants who are dedicated to being part of the year-long effort.
Training was conducted by Lisa Conradi, Psy.D. and Jane Jonsson, RN, PHN. It was facilitated by Marc Thibault, Project Director of the Medically Vulnerable Care Coordination Project. The project is funded by First 5 Kern and Kaiser Permanente. FOR INFO: 661.328.8888
trauma-informed county cohort 1
HOLDING PRECIOUS TREASURES
It was an honor for First 5 Kern to provide Easter bags for the Bakersfield Homeless Center's (BHC) Eggstravaganza on March 24. The annual event sent a message of hope and community for the more than 100 families who attended. First 5 Kern funds early child care and school readiness through BHC's Discovery Depot Child Care Center. FOR INFO: 661.324.0984
The first ever 'Sesame Street in Communities Office Hours' LIVE web session will be held April 25, 4pm online. The first half hour will include a complete walk-through and training on “Traumatic Experiences” topic page and resources; the second half hour will field questions.
YUMMY NEWS - RECIPE OF THE MONTH
1 Hour, 2 Sheet Pans = Dinner for 4
This entire dinner can be made in an hour (or less - including prep time), baked in the oven altogether, and using only two sheet pans! This sheet pan dinner consists of roasted Parmesan asparagus, honey-butter roasted carrots, pineapple brown sugar ham (or substitute with baked chicken), cheesy augratin potatoes, and a toasted baguette. We tested it!
SOURCE: CHELSEASMESSYAPRON.COM | VIDEO TUTORIAL | JUST THE RECIPE
PARENT NEWS
EARLY CHILD EDUCATION NEWS
STATE AND NATIONAL NEWS
FUNDED PROVIDER TIPS
Social Media 'Mentionables' that Might Matter
BAKERSFIELD OBSERVED is a fun blog about all things Bakersfield and Kern County.

LOOKING GOOD ON CAMERA - Quick tips for social media photos and videos.


WHAT IS ALIGNABLE? Smaller, local organizations often feel disconnected and without a good network to keep in contact, funds to advertise, or a place to ask for advice or help. LinkedIn can be overwhelming. Alignable is a fairly new social media network created for small local businesses and agencies that encourages communication and collaboration. The Alignable platform lets you ask questions or get opinions and feedback about relevant topics - and it's all local. (Click the headline to access.)

First 5 Kern has been trying Alignable and we find its personable format refreshing. We "recommended" the 22 agencies we fund. In the short time we've been on we have 38 connections. The Bakersfield site has 1,600 businesses, 16,000 connections and 500 events, and services. Initial national tests show local businesses improved the reach of local customers by 50%.
We hope you enjoy this e-issue. Monthly issues of HANDPRINTS are emailed by subscription
via email to maximize Proposition 10 (tobacco tax) dollars and the environment.
Click the button to visit the FIRST 5 KERN website with information about funded programs, resources for families, and much more.
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For communications or media info contact Christine Lollar, 661.328.7034 or   CLOLLAR@KCCFC.ORG