E-NEWSLETTER | JUNE - JULY 2018

Summer Bridge Programs are now enrolling for children entering transitional kindergarten (TK) or kindergarten this fall. The summer program helps children prepare for the school environment.  SUMMER BRIDGE FLYERS

Coming soon ... PARENT POINTERS a fun news brief with tips, recipes, activities, and news clips just for parents and caregivers!

First 5 Kern to welcome expecting parents, babies and toddlers The First 5 Kern outreach booth at the Health and Wellness Expo will focus specifically on new parents and their babies. --Carpeted play area for infants and toddlers --Education materials for new parents --New parent kits

Bakersfield Health & Wellness EXPO - FREE! Kern County Museum, June 10, 11am-3pm

Southeast Neighborhood Partnership graduation A graduation ceremony was held recently for parent participants at the Southeast Neighborhood Partnership Nurturing Parenting class. The classes included a UC Merced Nutrition Education Program component and provided nutrition education, healthy recipes, and shopping tips. The classes are held weekly for ten weeks each quarter. Participants receive a graduation certificate upon completion. FOR INFO 661.322-3276 WEBSITE

CONGRATS TO ALL 2018 GRADUATES... ...from preschool to Masters Degree programs. You can do anything you put your mind to!

Adventist Health new mascot welcomed at 'Immunization Celebration' BY KIYOSHI TOMONO, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT/COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, ADVENTIST HEALTH BAKERSFIELD AND TEHACHAPI VALLEY   It was a long way from the Southern Hemisphere, but a playful penguin named Pip popped up on Chester Avenue, May 16. It was all part of a celebration of childhood immunizations hosted on the medical campus of Adventist Health Bakersfield. The event also included a host of community partners, such as First 5 Kern, Advanced Center for Eyecare, the City of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks, Community Action Partnership of Kern, and Golden Empire Transit . The goal was to impress upon parents the importance of getting their kids vaccinated while providing a series of other resources from organizations that help children grow up healthy and strong. Organizers are hoping to make it an annual event. Expect to see Pip, the new mascot at Adventist Health, popping up in other places, too. Pip soon will be featured on the mobile immunizations vehicle that brings vaccination clinics out in the community at no charge for children who qualify. The program, a partnership between Adventist Health Bakersfield and First 5 Kern, has been helping families with kids since 1998.  Now is an opportune time for parents to start planning vaccinations for their kids, before the start of the next school year. Simply put, vaccines save lives. And it’s the law. California schools are required to check immunization records for all new student admission into transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, and all students who are entering 7th grade.  The mobile immunization unit travels to various locations throughout Kern County for convenient access for local families. For more information about the program and to see if your family qualifies for this free program, please call 661.869.6740.    WEBSITE

Vaccines are FREE to children who meet one of the following criteria: --Having no health insurance --Are enrolled in Medi-Cal (Medi-Cal card needed at every visit) --Are American Indian or Native Alaskan

FREE Hemoglobin testing is available for children or expecting/postpartum mothers with WIC, school, or doctor referrals (required regardless of health insurance). Please bring your child's immunization cards. IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE

EVENT COORDINATORS - If you are having a health fair or family resource event, consider inviting the Children's Mobile Immunization Program - contact Melissa Vega at 661.869.6740.

PHOTO: PROGRAM SUPERVISOR OF ADVENTIST HEALTH'S CHILDREN'S MOBILE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM MELISSA VEGA, GIVES PIP AN APPRECIATIVE SQUEEZE AS PIP ADAPTS TO THE BAKERSFIELD WEATHER.

PHOTO: ADVENTIST HEALTH MARKET PRESIDENT (CEO) SHARLET BRIGGS, FIRST 5 KERN'S FINANCE SPECIALIST CRYSTAL GARDNER, AND ADVENTIST HEALTH VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS SAM ITANI.

Videos now on www.First5Kern.org Visit the developing PHOTO GALLERY for these videos: Kidsfest 2018 First 5 Kern visits Buttonwillow and Third Thursday First 5 Advocacy Day in Sacramento Teacher Appreciation Day First 5 Express Visits Bakersfield Adult School Child Care Center Ellie Takes a Walk Discovery Depot at Christmas Assemblymember Salas visits Buttonwillow Community Resource Center Congressman Valadao's Rep Ariana Joven visits McFarland Family Resource Center

Kern Literacy Council 'School Readiness for Parents' at Fairfax BY LAURA WOLFE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KERN LITERACY COUNCIL A key element of the Kern Literacy Council's Family Literacy--School Readiness for Parents program is to get parents and children to interact through books and to build home libraries with books they can keep and read over and over again.  This spring, parents at Fairfax Parent Resource Center read Dory's story in Dory's Ocean Secrets and worked with their children to fill in their own stories. Families worked in the all-in-one storybook/journals for two weeks and were able to get to know their children on a different level. During a Dia de Los Madres celebration, the English as a Second Language (ESL) class received the book If You Give a Dog a Donut . As homework, they translated the Spanish book into English. One parent shared the activity helped her to be a better listener to her children. This year the Family Literacy Program at Fairfax, funded in part by First 5 Kern, served 17 parents and 25 children. VIDEO PHOTO: 5-YEAR-OLD AMY ROJAS' DORY'S OCEAN SECRETS, STORYBOOK/JOURNAL.

Potter the Otter Visits the Dentist narrates the tale of Potter the Otter and his friends as they visit the dentist for a checkup. They learn healthy habits along the way that keep their smiles shining brightly. Both books sell for .99 cents. TO ORDER Potter and his friends are excited to start kindergarten! This story highlights how they prepare for the big day by getting health checkups, learning their ABCs, visiting their classroom, and more! Parent information in the back of the book references California-specific information including start dates and transitional kindergarten programs.

COMMISSION CORNER

Retired Juvenile Probation Director remembers the influence of parents Susan Lerude began serving as a Commissioner for the Children and Families Commission in 2017. Lerude shared her memories of being a child in Kern County: " I grew up in Tehachapi when it truly was a small town. I was blessed to have parents that loved fiercely. My mother was the kindest person I have ever known, and my father was a determined man with a personality bigger than life. They were both loved by my friends who would visit my house to spend hours chatting with my parents. I have many fond memories of my parents such as family dinners, vacations, bedtime prayers, and hours of conversation. I truly was blessed as a child and feel that lasting impression even today." When asked why she would give of her retirement time, to invest in the families of First 5 Kern, Lerude explained: "I retired in 2014 as the Director of Juvenile Programs at Kern County Probation. I have stayed actively involved in our community and believe, after a 26-year career with youth on probation, that our children cannot be successful unless we instill confidence in them. "I am convinced that confidence comes from successes, mentoring, and education at an early age. " I am thrilled to be part of an amazing Commission and the wonderful agency that focuses on helping families and children to be successful."

THE FIRST 5 KERN COMMISSION , known as the Kern County Children and Families Commission, is lead by nine Commissioners (five of whom are appointed by the Kern County Board of Supervisors). Commissioners direct Proposition 10 (tobacco tax) funds, determine the focus of funding through community input and strategic planning process and oversee the evaluation of service provider programs. Meetings are open to the public. MEETING SCHEDULE

'Book & Diaper Drive' benefits Black Infant Health Program First 5 Kern is joining businesses and agencies across the county in the Day of Action, a global day of service, facilitated by United Way of Kern County. Diapers and new books that are collected by First 5 Kern will be designated to the Black Infant Health Program, a First 5 Kern-funded program. Diapers and books can be dropped off at First 5 Kern, 2724 L Street through June 15.

First 5 Kern k i d s f e s t hands-on display focused on 'play is learning' First 5 Kern sponsored the 2018 k i d s f e s t and a beautiful day of hands-on adventure and learning were experienced by kids and their parents who visited the Little Tykes Corner of k i d s f e s t . There was a castle, rocket, sailboat, kitchen appliances, and even a beauty station all crafted of cardboard that parents could easily make at home. First 5 Kern provided an infant sensory station, fine motor play, a chance to make Mother's Day cards. Thank you American General Media for the event that provided resources and fun for our families. FIRST 5 KERN VIDEOS Thank you to the workers who made the day awesome for families: Lucy and Victoria from Adventist Health Bakersfield; Yadira from Shafter Healthy Start; and Shyann, Richard, and Isabelle who are family members of First 5 Kern staff. You were A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

Celebrate summer! Find creative ways to celebrate special days on First 5 Kern's Pinterest Boards KIDS AND AMERICA, KIDS AND HOLIDAYS or KIDS, NUTRITION AND FUN

SUMMER CALENDAR A community calendar on the First 5 Kern website features activities for kids and families, outreach events, website links, flyers, agendas, forms and more! FIRST 5 KERN CALENDAR For ideas to celebrate special JUNE celebrations (below) visit us on PINTEREST NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS - JUNE Safety Month | Healthy Homes Month | Dairy Month | Fresh Fruit and Veggies Month 1 Flip a Coin Day | 4 Cheese Day | 5 Hot Air Balloon Day | 3-9 Fishing Week 6 Yo-Yo Day | 7 Chocolate Ice Cream Day | 8 Best Friends Day | 10 Iced Tea Day 13 Weed Your Garden Day | 14 Monkey Around Day | 15 Smile Power Day | 17 Father's Day 18 Picnic Day | 19 Kissing Day | 20 Bald Eagle Day | 21 Selfie Day | 22 Take Your Dog to Work June 23 Pink Day | 26 Beautician's Day | 27 Sunglasses Day | 29 Hug Holiday NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS - JULY Ice Cream Month | Picnic Month READ IT'S PICNIC DAY, POTTER! ONLINE 1 Joke Day | 3 Compliment Your Mirror Day | 4 Independence Day 4 Country Music Day | 6 Fried Chicken Day | 8 Blueberry Day | 10 Teddy Bear Picnic Day 11 Cheer Up the Lonely Day | 13 Embrace Your Geekness Day | 14 Shark Awareness Day 15-21st Capture the Sunset Week | 15 Cow Appreciation Day | 16 Hug Your Kids Day 20 Moon Day | 22 Parent's Day | 24 Cousins Day | 26 Aunt and Uncle Day 28 Chocolate Milk Day | 29 Tiger Day | 30 Father-in-Law Day | 30 Intl Day of Friendship

We hope you enjoy this e-issue. Twelve issues of HANDPRINTS are emailed by subscription via email to maximize Proposition 10 (tobacco tax) dollars and the environment. Issues are monthly except June and July, December and January.

Click the button to visit the FIRST 5 KERN website with information about funded programs, resources for families, and much more.

First 5 Kern Website

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For communications or media info contact Christine Lollar, 661.328.7034 or   CLOLLAR@KCCFC.ORG