June 28, 2019
Here is a quick look at some headlines from this week impacting the lives of kids 0-5 and their families. The purpose of these stories is simply to inform, and they do not necessarily reflect First 5 Kern's areas of support or efforts towards these issues.

Follow First 5 Kern on social media for more kid-centric information.

Now for the headlines........
CALIFORNIA AIMS TO INCREASE SCREENINGS FOR ACEs 

The studies on childhood trauma are not new, but how it is being addressed is, and California is set to take action. New reimbursement measures are being put into place to bring about an increase in screenings for Adverse Childhood Experiences . The impact of ACEs on physical health can be so impactful, that it could fundamentally alter how children are treated for conditions as wide-ranging as asthma, chronic diseases and even behavioral issues in the classroom .

OTHER NEWS FROM EDSOURCE: The nationwide conversation about vacc ines continues, and California is proposing to limit the exemptions, in reaction to measles outbreaks in the state. EdSource's article, "What Schools and Parents Need to Know About California's Vaccination Law" is a good primer.
CHILDREN COULD BE GREATLY IMPACTED BY POVERTY LINE SHIFT

School lunches, Head Start and health insurance are just three easy examples of how California's kids are poised to be impacted, should the Trump administration follow through with their proposed adjustment to the poverty line.

"Moving the line in the sand labeled 'poverty' doesn't change the reality on the ground for kids," said First 5 Association Executive Director Moira Kenney in this EdDive article.

The Hill also covers the proposed change , as does the Sacramento Bee , both offering additional numbers on the kids that stand to be impacted .
CITIZENSHIP QUESTION DENIED BY THE SUPREME COURT

In a narrow 5-4 decision on Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected the proposed addition of a citizenship question to the Census for 2020. The court said they found a disconnect with the reasoning provided for the addition of the question, and has sent it back to a lower court. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, said that "the damage has been done, regardless of the decision..." Here is further reading on the story from CNN .

Note: Prompted by statistics pointing to a dramatic undercount of children 0-5, First 5 Kern is a member of the Kern Complete Count Committee, a group of agencies working together to generate an accurate count for the 2020 Census for Kern County.
COULD TEENAGERS BE THE ANSWER TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY'S CHILDCARE DESERT?

UC Merced claims the Central Valley is a "childcare desert" - defined as a community with a dramatic difference between the number of childcare slots available, and the number that is needed. To help alleviate the issue, they have teamed up with a local high school, and the results are promising. This Valley Public Radio story explains the interesting relationship and how they are uncovering potential solutions, for now and in the future.
THE NUTRITIONAL DEFICIT OF PREGNANT AMERICANS

The Chicago Tribune breaks down a recent study that analyzed data from the nutritional intake of pregnant women over a 14-year span and reported dramatic findings. The study claims that a large number of pregnant women in America are either not getting enough nutrients, in some cases taking in too many nutrients, and apparently, are overwhelmingly consuming way too much salt.
HANDLING THE COST OF A SUMMER WITHOUT SCHOOL

This article on the website Bankrate, looks at the real cost of childcare during the summer and how Americans plan to pay for it. Their survey found over a third of families have to pay for it with credit cards, and basically summarizes the summertime as a mad scramble for care of their children.
IS MORE RESEARCH NEEDED ON FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN?

The San Diego Union-Tribune is calling into question Governor Newsom's insistence on expanding kindergarten and pre-K to full-day schedules. Their editorial references a few studies and makes the suggestion that a commission should be set up for further study, in order to put the best plan forward.
Have a news story you would like to share? Send it our way!
‌
...about First 5 Kern
First 5 Kern was established in 1998 when California voters passed Proposition 10, which levied a 50-cent tax on tobacco products. Revenues generated from the tobacco tax are used to fund local programs in the areas of health and wellness, early childcare and education, and parent education and support services that promote early childhood development for children ages zero to five.

For more information on First 5 Kern and the agencies we support, please visit www.First5Kern.org   and follow us on social media.
Special thanks to Vecteezy for assistance on graphics