First 5 Kern annual Report to the Community released |
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First 5 Kern is happy to unveil their Report to the Community, summarizing the 2019-20 fiscal year.
The report provides a brief overview of the accomplishments by the programs funded by Proposition 10 in Kern County. It encapsulates the lengthy annual report filed by our independent evaluator, which reviews all the evaluation, program and fiscal reports filed throughout the year.
The First 5 Kern fiscal year goes from July 1 - June 30, which means in the latter stages of the 2019-20 FY, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The report shows, however, that despite dramatic impacts to our programs, they were still able to serve children and families in need.
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The Annual Report from an Independent Evaluator
A key filing every year for First 5 Kern is our annual report, which is put together by Jianun "JJ" Wang, Ph.D., the principal investigator and a professor of research design and statistics at CSU Bakersfield.
Dr. Wang's 133-page report is a thorough and scientific analysis of Prop 10 dollars and the impacts that they have made, statistically, throughout the county.
To read the full report, click the link below.
Past independent evaluations, annual reports to the state, Reports to the Community and special filings can also be found on the First 5 Kern website.
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Behind the numbers...
First 5 California distributes the funds received from Proposition 10 on a percentage basis to each county based on live birth rate. Only nine of the state's 58 counties featured more live births than Kern. (In order: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, Fresno)
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What is the current landscape of ACE screenings
in Kern County?
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Has your doctor ever given you a screening to determine your ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) score? How many providers are asking their patients about ACEs in Kern County?
Research has shown a link between having a high ACE score and a risk of significant health issues later in life, such as asthma, Type 1 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and cancer, to name a few. And while simply having a high ACE score doesn't guarantee these health outcomes, knowing there is an increased risk can change the approach to providing care for that person.
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First 5 Kern is embarking on a project, funded in part by ACEs Aware, to increase the number of screenings for ACEs in our community. One of our first tasks in this grant is to assess how many providers are incorporating ACE screenings in their practice.
An initial assessment of our partners surveyed showed that most local organizations are aware of ACEs and the need to address it in their practice, but many are only in the beginning stages. The process of incorporating ACEs work into their practice can include additional training of staff, establishing a clinical workflow or screening protocol, or aligning a process of referrals. Though just getting started, Kern County has a strong foundation to move this work forward in the coming years.
We welcome our local partners and those who serve our community to join us in this effort and bring your voice to the table on how to best advance this work and provide stronger outcomes for our families.
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ACEs - or Adverse Childhood Experiences - have proven to be indicators of future health concerns, because of how the developing mind and body reacts to repeated exposure to traumatic stress.
This TED Talk from Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, who is now the Surgeon General of California, is a great introduction to ACEs and understanding how they can impact our long-term health.
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What is Trauma-Informed Care? |
Trauma-Informed Care is a way of applying a new lens to the services and treatment that we provide to those in need. It recognizes that an understanding the our life experiences can ultimately change how we choose to receive assistance.
Resilient Kern has spent the last three years training local agencies in trauma-informed care, and the above video provides a brief overview on the process.
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First 5 California provides books for Kern County kids |
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A partnership with First 5 California is bringing 1,500 books to children in Kern County.
Select programs working with families, and in particular, conducting home visiting services, received the book bags, which contain three early reader books. Two of the books are bilingual and one book is in Spanish. They come in reusable tote bags. They also come with an informational insert providing parent tips for reading to their children.
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Dia de los Libros virtual story time event planned Apr. 30 |
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Please join us for a special Día de los Libros story time event on Facebook live on Friday, April 30, at 10 a.m. PT!
This online event will feature a live story time, activities for kids, and special guests, including First Partner of California Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California Surgeon General Nadine Burke Harris, and celebrity guests Hudson Yang (ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat) and his father, journalist Jeff Yang.
This special story time event is in celebration of Día de los Libros, a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for children from all backgrounds.
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Home Visiting Learning & Practice Innovation Hub announced by First 5 Association |
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The First 5 Association has contracted with ZERO TO THREE (ZTT) to be the lead for our Home Visiting Learning and Practice Innovation Hub activities. Over the next 15 months, ZTT will be implementing multiple Communities of Learning for the home visiting field across California.
The First 5 Association is happy to announce the first opportunity at no cost to participants – a Community of Learning (CoL) for home visiting providers focusing on mindfulness!
Beginning in mid-May, the CoL will meet monthly for six months to practice mindfulness together, to explore how mindfulness supports home visiting, and to move towards sustained use of the learned skills.
Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities related to this work over the coming months. Click below to read the findings from the First 5 California Home Visiting Workforce Study.
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Bakersfield Pregnancy Center holds drive-thru baby showers
The Bakersfield Pregnancy Center has had to reinvent their baby shower events during the pandemic, and have hit on a successful version with drive-thrus.
Moms and dads-to-be receive a assorted items, such as personal baby care products and a First 5 Kit for New Parents, as well as other gifts to help them on their way to welcoming their first little one.
First 5 Kern has helped sponsor these baby showers through our efforts to support community events that benefit young children and their families.
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Join Kern County Network for Children in recognizing
Child Abuse Prevention Month in April
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Together with the Department of Human Services, the Kern County Network for Children heeds the call to be aware of the signs of child abuse and neglect and to report it when appropriate.
Between 2008 and 2020, 52 children died from abuse, including five who perished in 2020 alone. All of these children were under five years of age, making them the most vulnerable because they are the least seen. Many others have suffered near fatal and severe injuries at their abusers' hands. In 2019 alone, 2,759 cases of reported child abuse were substantiated in Kern County.
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South Fork preschool in Weldon made use of cleaning supplies and personal care products provided by First 5 Kern while preparing their students for a return to in-person learning |
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CASA Clubhouse opens in Bakersfield |
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CASA of Kern County recently opened a new facility that will enable children to gather and meet with volunteers in a safe environment. The CASA Clubhouse held an open house even in March and is up and running at their location on Columbus St. in Bakersfield. The links below take you to a feature article in the Bakersfield Californian and to the CASA Clubhouse website. |
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Kid-Friendly Recipe: Banana Nut Roll-Up |
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The kitchen is a great place for kids to learn from a very young age. Measuring ingredients, using utensils, following instructions, even the science between hot and cold, are all opportunities for them to learn - and to get messy. This is a quick, easy, and tasty recipe for your family to try at home!
Ingredients:
- 1 tortilla
- 1 banana
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter
Click the link below for the full recipe!
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