NOVEMBER 2021
National Brush Day is November 1st
November 1 is National Brush Day.

Conveniently scheduled the day after Halloween, National Brush Day provides a timely opportunity to reinforce the importance of healthy dental care habits.

Given all the candy and baked goods that both parents and children eat on Halloween, this is a good time to remind families in your community to brush up on their dental care routines. This includes ensuring everyone is brushing two times a day and flossing daily and most importantly, visiting the dentist regularly.

The Medi-Cal Dental Program provides free or low-cost services to children and adults! Click here to find a Medi-Cal dentist in your area that’s accepting new patients.
Download and share the interactive teeth brushing calendar in English and Spanish to keep track of your clean routine!
How much toothpaste?
Are your kids using the right amount of toothpaste when they brush? For kids ages 3 and younger, a small amount of toothpaste, the size of a grain of rice, is all you need. Kids ages 3 and older should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.

Visit SmileCalifornia.org for more children's tooth tips!
First 5 Kern and UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
team up for research study
Help Me Grow Kern County is hiring!
Help Me Grow Kern County is looking for a Care Coordinator to help lead this unique program that offers FREE developmental screenings for children 0-5.

The care coordinator will work closely with families to review screening results and, when needed, connect families to support services throughout the community.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable working with parents and discussing sensitive topics surrounding their child’s cognitive, social and emotional well-being and growth. They will also lead the monthly collaborative partner meetings and establish and maintain effective working relationships with child-focused agencies throughout Kern County to promote programs for child development. The Care Coordinator will play a pivotal role in ensuring the expansion and future success of Help Me Grow Kern County.
 
This job is expected to be filled quickly, so don’t wait! 
Join the Help Me Grow Kern County collaborative
Does your agency support child development, or provide services to families and children with learning disabilities or developmental delays? Help Me Grow Kern County promotes developmental screenings, connects families to services, and hosts monthly meetings to learn more about how services are directed to families in need. Please reach out for an invite to a future meeting!
Commission approves Annual Report to the California Children and Families Commission
The First 5 Kern Commission held a special meeting last week to review and approve the Annual Report to the California Children and Families Commission.

The report details revenue and expenditures for the 2020-21 fiscal year, and provides a summary of how many children, primary caregivers and providers were served during the year. Click the link below to review the report.
The number of children 0-5, primary caregivers, and child care providers served by Prop 10 funds in Kern County during FY 2020-21.
First 5 Center for Children's Policy issues report on addressing childhood mental health needs
The First 5 Association, together with the First 5 Center for Children’s Policy and The Children’s Partnership, have released a detailed report titled Addressing Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Needs: Opportunities for Community Solutions that delves into the historical and escalating mental health needs of very young children, the current landscape, and the ways in which California, local agencies, and communities must bolster their support and resources in the wake of the pandemic and its potential impacts on child development.

The report focuses on community-based programs in California supporting infants, toddlers, and preschoolers’ social-emotional health, as well as their goals, service models, and funding sources. Research shows that these community-level programs are uniquely positioned to create long-lasting change at a local level, yet, existing programs for young children are often limited by a lack of resources, lack of workforce and lack of public understanding and political will. New state and federal funding in response to the pandemic have the potential to create significant change, but more must be done to ensure that these investments reach our youngest children in community-based settings that offer critical opportunities for prevention and early supports.
NEW FIRST 5 KERN EMAILS
Please note that First 5 Kern staff have new email domains. Each individual email now ends with @First5Kern.org. The previous email accounts ending with @kccfc.org will still receive emails, but the primary addresses have changed.
AROUND THE COMMUNITY...
  • Children's Mobile Immunization Program calendar
  • giving "thanks" in Frazier Park
  • supporting food insecurity in Taft
  • recognizing Homeless Youth Awareness Month in November.
Community Connection for Child Care resources for parents and providers
Community Connection for Child Care (CCCC) is a child development and family services agency dedicated to providing options, education and support to children, families, child development professionals and the community.

There is a free online referral system for parents, to help them find a provider that fits their location and needs.

Training sessions are available for providers, with November sessions on trauma-informed care and infant-toddler brain development.
Kern County Family Magazine November issue is now available

Kern County Family Magazine explores all aspects of family life in Bakersfield and surrounding areas, and is readily accessible through a digital format.

Their Thanksgiving issue includes holiday meal planning tips, an article on sparking your child's passions, gift ideas for kids, an event calendar and other great content for families.

Click on the image to check out the November issue!
ACEs & Stressbusters posters now available
First 5 Kern has produced ACEs Aware posters featuring information on Adverse Childhood Experiences, why they matter, and how to reduce stress and build resiliency.
 
These posters, which measure 2' x 3', are double-sided in English and Spanish, and are perfect for displaying in waiting rooms, exam rooms, family resource centers or other offices where the public - or your staff - can see them. They are designed to help introduce people to ACEs and provide a broad overview of how they can impact our daily lives.
 
Please reach out to us and arrange a pickup for these posters and help get them out into the community!