First 5 Kern and the Historic Fox Theater team up for messages for parents |
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First 5 Kern needs to get messages out to parents. The Fox Theater in Bakersfield needs help while being forced to shut down. It's a perfect arrangement!
The historic landmark has spent their lockdown charging a small fee to make good use of their colorful street display through the "Marquee Inspired" program. First 5 Kern has put together a series of messages aimed at parents - three appeared in August and two more are coming in the first week of September.
"We thought this was a unique way to reach parents and families with important messages, while at the same time helping an iconic Kern County landmark that is struggling to get through this time," said First 5 Kern Executive Director Roland Maier.
Thus far, the messages included a nod to First 5 California's popular Talk.Read.Sing. campaign, promoting Help Me Grow Kern County, and a message about immunizations, which have steeply declined not only in California but globally, during the pandemic while families are generally avoiding doctors' offices.
Watch for upcoming First 5 Kern messages on the marquee from Sept. 2-5.
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Resilient Kern - Trauma-Informed Kern County - website launch |
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Resilient Kern (formerly known as Trauma-Informed Kern County) has officially launched ResilientKern.org.
The website will be the primary point of contact for the local trauma-informed effort, containing links to news stories and upcoming trainings, recorded training sessions for review, downloadable content, and more.
As the local movement grows, so will the site, with educational collateral and other items that agencies can use for their employees and clients. Register to receive emails from Resilient Kern to stay apprised of any local news or training opportunities.
Resilient Kern is supported by First 5 Kern and funded by a grant from Kaiser Permanente.
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Did you know...
For the last several years, Trauma-Informed Kern County has worked to build a coalition of dozens of agencies, non-profits, and care providers in our county to work together in altering the lens through which they view the needs of the people that they serve.
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First 5 Kern welcomes a new staff member!
A Kern County native, Hector joins us from First 5 LA, where he spent over three years as a program manager. At First 5 Kern, he is tasked with developing partnerships throughout the county to fulfill systems change efforts.
Hector also has experience in policy work for California Food Policy Advocates and Community Health Councils. He attended the University of California at Berkeley for undergrad studies and UCLA for grad school.
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First 5 Association is keeping an eye on bills moving through Sacramento |
Two key bills passing through Sacramento are nearing the end of the road before becoming law in California.
SB 1383 would expand California's Family Rights Act (CFRA) to include any business with five or more employees. Currently, the CFRA applies only to companies employing 50 or more people. The bill protects employment status for an employee to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to recover from childbirth and bond with a new child, or to care for themselves, a child, a parent, or a spouse. SB 1383 has passed the Senate Appropriations committee.
SB 793, which effectively bans flavored tobacco (including vaping products), was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom at the end of last week. The bill cleared both the Senate and Assembly after undergoing modifications to exempt certain types of tobacco which are not known to market toward children.
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Wind in the Willows preschool reopens with COVID-19 recommendations
Social distancing, personal hygiene, individual supply cubbies, teachers wearing masks... Wind in the Willows Preschool in Boron has recently reopened, and are a great example of how to effectively implement coronavirus safety recommendations.
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First5Kern.org focus: annual reporting
Each spring, two key documents are published for the public to review our work and the work of programs that we fund. The Report to the Community and the Strategic Plan can both be found on our website.
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The Report to the Community is published after the previous fiscal year is completed and analyzed, and includes highlights for a broad overview of the services our programs offered. |
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The Strategic Plan is a formal document that outlines specific measures that our programs will take in assisting the public. It shows the result indicators in each focus area that programs must use to measure their efficacy. |
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National Breastfeeding Month wraps up |
August is National Breastfeeding Month, and we wanted to take the time to share some resources for new parents and parents-to-be. |
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Did you know...
Breast milk, when combined specifically with baby saliva, causes a chemical reaction that produces hydrogen peroxide that the body can use to kill harmful bacteria.
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NOW HIRING!
Lamont Elementary School District is hiring for a Child Development Teacher.
The Child Development teacher will create a developmentally appropriate learning environment for children age birth to five, and will assist parents and children in activities that facilitate the development of language, reasoning abilities, social skills, and attitudes.
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New documentary addresses closing the preschool gap |
A new documentary, "Starting at Zero," explores the power of investing in high-quality early childhood education so that all children and families have the opportunity to attain the American Dream.
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Kern County Network for Children virtual meetings
The Kern County Network for Children has resumed their monthly meetings, hosting them in a Zoom format. On the agenda for September is an update on local community collaboratives and a review of local services for homeless populations.
Reach out to KCNC for more information on how to participate in the virtual meetings.
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