Annual Report
Early Investments for Lifelong Results
2014–15 | First 5 California Annual Report Our Mission Convene, partner in, support, and help lead the movement to create and implement a comprehensive, integrated, and coordinated system for california’s children prenatal through 5 and their families. Promote, support, and optimize early childhood development. Early Investments for Lifelong Results
2014–15 | First 5 California Annual Report
FIRST 5 CALIFORNIA COMMISSION MEMBERS
George Halvorson, Chair Appointed by Governor
Joyce Iseri, Vice Chair Appointed by Senate Rules Committee
Casey McKeever Appointed by Senate Rules Committee
Conway Collis Appointed by Speaker of the Assembly
Kathryn Icenhower Appointed by Speaker of the Assembly
Magdalena Carrasco Appointed by Governor
Muntu Davis Appointed by Governor
EX-OFFICIO MEMBER: Diana Dooley Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency Jim Suennen, Designee Message from the Executive Director
It has been another year of significant accomplishments in early learning and health for First 5 California as well as our First 5 county commission partners across the state. More and more parents, policymakers, legislators, and stakeholders have come to recognize the importance of supporting children in their earliest years. They understand the long-term payoff of these necessary investments. And by investments, I’m referring to a variety of ongoing efforts to advance our mission and vision. In addition to funding, there also are the investments of time, hard work, advocacy, outreach, dialogue, and partnerships—all with a focus on nurturing and enriching the earliest years in the lives of our youngest children to foster their success in school and beyond. A few milestones from the past year deserve special recognition. In February 2015, First 5 California hosted its first annual Child Health, Education, and Care Summit in partnership with several California agencies: Department of Developmental Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, Department of Education, Health and Human Services Agency, Department of Public Health, and Department of Social Services. This Summit welcomed nearly 1,000 attendees representing preschool, infant/toddler child care, social workers, foster care, military families, higher education, administrators, parents, advocates, philanthropists, and elected officials. Participants included county-level teams consisting of representatives from as many of these local groups as possible. The goal was for both county- and state-level networking to be enhanced, and for services to our common target audiences to become better focused and less duplicative. Our Talk. Read. Sing.® public education and outreach campaign messages reached millions of Californians through television and radio ads, social media, and our Parent Website. The campaign, which highlights the importance of early brain development through linguistic interaction and engagement with babies and young children, will be enhanced with additional content and outreach efforts and will continue through the coming year and beyond. On the program front, two of First 5 California’s Signature Programs continued to demonstrate significant results, with the Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards (CARES) Plus program
2 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report providing professional development for thousands of early educators, and the Child Signature Program (CSP) serving thousands of children statewide in quality early learning programs. Perhaps our most significant accomplishment to date is the development of First 5 IMPACT (Improve and Maximize Programs so All Children Thrive). With CSP and CARES Plus scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2016, and to build upon their successes, the State Commission in April 2015 approved a five-year investment to support a network of local quality improvement systems to better coordinate, assess, and improve the quality of early learning settings. First 5 IMPACT is an innovative approach that forges partnerships between First 5 California and counties to achieve the goal of helping children ages 0 to 5 and their families thrive by increasing the number of high-quality early learning settings, including supporting and engaging families in the early learning process. Investing in more sites to achieve high-quality standards helps ensure more of California’s children enter school with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions necessary to be successful. It provides families the information and support they need to promote and optimize their children’s development and learning, both inside and outside the home. None of this would be possible without the state and local partnerships we continue to develop. We look forward to our ongoing partnership with the 58 First 5 county commissions as we advance our commitment to investing in quality early learning and family resources—all with our collective goal of ensuring our youngest children receive the best start in life and thrive.
CAMILLE MABEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FIRST 5 CALIFORNIA
3 Table of Contents
EXHIBITS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014-15 ...... 5
SUPPORTING HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN Leadership: First 5 California ...... 6 Strategic Plan...... 6 Building Public Will and State Investment ...... 6 Accountability: Funding and Audit Results ...... 9
SERVING CALIFORNIA’S YOUNG CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS Four Key Result Areas ...... 10
FIRST 5 COUNTY COMMISSION PROGRAM RESULT AREAS Improved Family Functioning ...... 11 Improved Child Development ...... 12 Improved Child Health ...... 12 Improved Systems of Care ...... 13
CHILD DEVELOPMENT FOCUS Child Signature Program ...... 14 Early Education Effectiveness Exchange ...... 18 Educare ...... 18 Local Developmental Screenings and Services ...... 19 Race to the Top–Early Learning Challenge ...... 20
PARENT SUPPORT FOCUS Hands-On Health Express ...... 22 Kit for New Parents ...... 22 Award-Winning Media Campaign: Talk. Read. Sing.® ...... 23 Parent Website and Social Media ...... 24 Tobacco Cessation ...... 24
TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS FOCUS Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards (CARES) Plus ...... 26
FIRST 5 COUNTY COMMISSION HIGHLIGHTS ...... 29
APPENDIX A: NUMBER OF SERVICES AND EXPENDITURES BY RESULT AREA AND SERVICE TYPE, 2014–15 ...... 57
APPENDIX B: FIRST 5 CALIFORNIA RESULT AREAS AND SERVICES ...... 58
REFERENCES ...... 60
4 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report Exhibits for Fiscal Year 2014–15
Exhibit 1: First 5 California Children and Families Commission Funds—Allocation of State Portion ...... 7
Exhibit 2: Total Numbers of Services Provided to Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults in FY 2014–15 by Result Area ...... 10
Exhibit 3: Total Expenditures for Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults Receiving Services in FY 2014–15 by Result Area ...... 10
Exhibit 4: Family Functioning–Total Numbers of Services Provided to Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults in FY 2014–15 by Service ...... 11
Exhibit 5: Family Functioning–Distribution of Expenditures for Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults in FY 2014–15 by Service ...... 12
Exhibit 6: Child Development–Total Numbers of Services Provided to Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults in FY 2014–15 by Service ...... 12
Exhibit 7: Child Development–Distribution of Expenditures for Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults in FY 2014–15 by Service ...... 12
Exhibit 8: Child Health–Total Numbers of Services Provided to Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults in FY 2014–15 by Service ...... 13
Exhibit 9: Child Health–Distribution of Expenditures for Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults in FY 2014–15 by Service ...... 13
Exhibit 10: Systems of Care–Distribution of Expenditures by Service ...... 13
Exhibit 11: California Smokers’ Helpline—Education Level of Callers in FY 2014–15 ...... 25
Exhibit 12: California Smokers’ Helpline—Race/Ethnicity of Callers in FY 2014–15 ...... 25
5 Supporting Healthy Development and School Readiness for Young Children
LEADERSHIP: FIRST 5 CALIFORNIA BUILDING PUBLIC WILL AND STATE In 1998, California voters passed Proposition INVESTMENT 10—the California Children and Families Act (the In April 2015, First 5 California adopted its Act)—and declared the importance of investing in Children’s State Policy Agenda to guide the a better future for California’s youngest children. agency’s efforts to advocate before the state For the past 17 years, the California Children Legislature for a comprehensive, integrated, and Families Commission (First 5 California) has culturally competent, and coordinated established standards of quality and invested system for California’s youngest children. The in the development of programs and services Commission’s Policy Agenda reflects First 5 emphasizing improvement in early education, California’s commitment in its Strategic Plan child care, social services, health care, research, to participate and lead in the area of civic and community awareness. The vision of First engagement, and the recognition of the 5 California is for all of the state’s children to Commission’s responsibility to the people of receive the best possible start in life and thrive. California to ensure the wise and effective use of public funds. STRATEGIC PLAN In its Strategic Plan, First 5 California commits to engage and lead in building public will The State Commission approved a new and state investment to support the optimal Strategic Plan for First 5 California in January wellbeing and development of children prenatal 2014. The Strategic Plan serves as an important through age 5, their families, and communities. compass for the Commission’s deliberations The Strategic Plan also recognizes that in order to decide how best to plan future work, to advocate and influence policy change, First 5 investments, and partnerships over the next California must engage in partnerships with First five years. For more information about the 5 county commissions, stakeholders, and other Strategic Plan, please go to http://www.ccfc. allies, from local to federal levels, in order to be ca.gov/about/pdf/commission/resources/F5CA_ successful in institutionalizing efforts to advance Strategic_Plan.pdf. child-centered policies and increase these crucial investments.
6 First 5 California | First 5 California’s 2015 Policy Agenda1 • Promote statewide access to and participation focused on four areas the Commission identified in successful Quality Rating and Improvement as its top state policy priorities: child health, Systems (QRIS). early learning, strong and engaged families and communities, and First 5 revenue. Within First 5 Revenue each priority area, the Policy Agenda identified • Promote inclusion of supports and services targeted goals to achieve a seamless statewide for children ages 0 to 5 and their families in system of integrated and comprehensive existing and new revenue policy discussions. programs for children and families. First 5 • Promote regulation of tobacco-related California seeks to serve as a convener and products, including electronic cigarettes. partner in state policy conversations, working with First 5 county commissions, state agencies, Through its advocacy efforts during the stakeholders, and other advocates to convene, 2015 state legislative and budget session, align, collaborate on, support, and strengthen First 5 California garnered significant state- statewide advocacy efforts to realize the level support for its Policy Agenda goals from following shared goals: policymakers, advocacy partners, and other stakeholders. In collaboration with its early Child Health childhood education and care advocacy • Promote coordination across the health care partners, and leaders in the Legislature, First 5 system to promote access for every pregnant California achieved historic wins for the state’s mother and child age 0 to 5 with affordable youngest children and families through shared and comprehensive health insurance advocacy efforts on the state budget and 2 coverage. legislation relevant to the Policy Agenda. The • Improve parents’ and young children’s knowledge about and access to healthy First 5 California Children and Families foods and physical activity, including support Exhibit 1: Commission Funds—Allocation of for state and/or local taxes on sweetened State Portion beverages and/or unhealthy foods. • Support and promote universal developmental screenings, assessment, ■ First 5 County referral, and treatment. Commissions 80% Early Learning • Expand access to quality early care and education programs for children ages 0 to 3. • Support implementation of high-quality universal preschool access for all low-income four-year-old children, and high-quality ■ Communications/Mass Media 6% ■ transitional kindergarten and kindergarten First 5 California Education 5% statewide. State Commission ■ Child Care 3% 20% • Support a high-quality early learning ■ Research and Development 3% workforce through strengthened ■ Unallocated 2% qualifications, compensation, stability, ■ Administration 1% diversity, and robust professional development systems. Source: Health and Safety Code Section 130105
7 rate for full-day State Preschool; a 4.5 percent increase for the Regional Market Rate (RMR); and a 5 percent increase for License-Exempt rates. The state prioritized increasing the quality of infant/toddler programs through a one-time investment in an Infant/Toddler QRIS Block Grant, a new quality incentive program to support infant/toddler providers to attain a higher level of quality within their local QRIS. The Legislature prioritized funds to engage and strengthen families and communities through the creation of a consumer education website, and statewide database to support parents’ access to information about early learning and child care programs. The budget also made strides to reduce excessive draws progress made through the final 2015–16 on First 5 revenue. The Board of Equalization budget actions moves the agency closer to (BOE) must submit a report to the Legislature reaching its goals across the priority areas.3 by early 2016 outlining options and timelines The 2015 budget included improvements for reducing administrative costs associated to child health policies, including the historic with tobacco tax enforcement while maintaining expansion of full-scope Medi-Cal coverage program effectiveness. to Medi-Cal eligible children, regardless of First 5 California is committed to continuing immigration status, effective as early as mid- the advocacy work achieved in 2015 by 2016. The budget also eliminated a 10 percent continuing to strengthen its partnerships rate reduction on Denti-Cal care providers, with stakeholders and its efforts to build and prohibited insurance coverage from using policymakers’ knowledge base, will, and copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, or any investment in shared priorities. In doing so, other form of cost sharing for the Prenatal the agency will continue to build on this year’s Screening Program fee. successes and continue working toward the The state made a historic investment of underlying Strategic Plan goal to ensure all over $400 million in the early learning and children prenatal through age 5 have the care system, representing investments in the resources, foundation, and systems of support three areas First 5 California and its advocacy they need to thrive. partners supported: access, affordability, and quality improvement. This included 20,330 Strong And Engaged Families And total new slots for children in early learning and Communities child care programs: 6,800 new Alternative • Support evidence-based parent education Payment Program vouchers with a priority for and engagement, including parent infant/toddler access; 7,030 new full-day, full- engagement on early brain development. year State Preschool slots; and 6,500 part-day • Support sustainability of Family Resource State Preschool slots, with 2,500 prioritized for Centers and other community hubs for students with disabilities. The budget invested integrated services for children and families. $129 million in increased early learning program reimbursement rates, including a 5 percent • Increase supports for breastfeeding, family increase for the Standard Reimbursement leave, and baby-friendly policies in all Rate (SRR), a 1 percent increase for part-day settings. State Preschool, and the creation of a separate • Expand voluntary home visiting programs.
8 First 5 California | ACCOUNTABILITY: FUNDING AND AUDIT • Workforce recruitment and development RESULTS • Information technology Under the Act, the State Board of Equalization • Business services collects an excise tax levied on all tobacco The administration of these and other products and deposits the revenue into the programs is consistent with all applicable State California Children and Families Trust Fund, and Federal laws, rules, and regulations. The State allocating 20 percent to First 5 California and 80 Controller’s Office conducts an annual review percent to county commissions. In FY 2014-15, of the 58 county commissions’ independent First 5 California received $87.5 million and audits. In October 2015, the Controller published county commissions received $344.1 million. its review of the counties’ audits for FY 2013- The amount of funding allocated annually to 14, summarizing several findings contained each county commission is based on the annual in the local audits, but did not deem any of number of births in the county relative to the total them significant enough to withhold funding. number in the state. Each county must prepare an The audit can be viewed on First 5 California’s annual independent audit subject to guidelines website at http://www.ccfc.ca.gov/commission/ prepared by the State Controller’s Office. The commission_annual_report.html. counties invest their dollars in locally designed programs, as well as in First 5 California’s statewide Signature Programs as match funding. First 5 county commissions use their funds to support local programs in four result areas: • Improved Family Functioning • Improved Child Development • Improved Child Health • Improved Systems of Care First 5 California’s Administrative Services Division, Evaluation Office, Executive Office, Program Management Division, Communications Office, Fiscal and Contracts Division, and Information Technology Office provide staff support for the following functions, operations, and systems: • Fiscal management of the California Children and Families Trust Fund • Tax revenue disbursements to county commissions • Audits and annual fiscal reports • Local agreement and program disbursement management • Public education and outreach • Evaluation of First 5 California programs • Procurement and contract management
9 Serving California’s Young Children, Parents, and Teachers
FOUR KEY RESULT AREAS The result area, Improved Systems of Care ($105,326,568), differs from the others; it consists First 5 California tracks progress in four key of programs and initiatives that support program result areas to support evidence-based funding providers in the other three result areas. decisions, program planning, and policies: 1. Improved Family Functioning Total Numbers of Services Provided to 2. Improved Child Development Exhibit 2: Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults in FY 2014-15 by Result Area 3. Improved Child Health 4. Improved Systems of Care Child 436,329 Health 595,026 These result areas comprise a framework for reporting and assessing early childhood Family 645,110 outcome data. Appendix A and B include Functioning 336,978 descriptions of the result areas and services for First 5 California and 57 county commissions.* Child 88,455 This data reporting framework provides a Adults Development 141,083 statewide overview of the number, type, and Children costs of services provided to children and adults *Totals for Adults include both Adult and Provider counts for a particular fiscal year. Stakeholders can use this information as Total Expenditures for Children one source to determine impact and resource Exhibit 3: Ages 0 to 5 and Adults in FY 2014–15 allocation from First 5 statewide. Exhibit 2 by Result Area contains the total numbers of services provided Improved to children ages 0 to 5 and adults in FY 2014–15 Improved Child Child Health for Improved Family Functioning, Improved Development 34% Child Development, and Improved Child Health. 43% The distribution of total expenditures ($454,347,967) for children ages 0 to 5 and adults receiving services in 2014–15 is presented by result area in Exhibit 3. Improved Family *At the time of printing, Colusa County is not included. Functioning 23%
Source: County Revenue and Expenditure Summary, November 2015
10 First 5 California | First 5 County Commission Program Result Areas
First 5 county commissions are required an ethnicity, Latinos were the largest recipient to report to First 5 California their annual group (47 percent). For children reporting a expenditure and service data on their programs. primary language, services were provided to In collaboration with the First 5 Association, First Spanish speakers 61 percent of the time and 5 California developed and adopted guidelines English speakers 35 percent of the time. to standardize data collection. Counties report Exhibit 5 shows the distribution of program service data under the four result areas. expenditures by service category. First 5 These data have been aggregated to the State California provided support to schools and level. Data reported are from programs that are educational institutions, nonprofit community- funded by both local and State First 5 funds based agencies, government agencies, and (Appendix A). private institutions. First 5 county commissions provided services to children and adults in order IMPROVED FAMILY FUNCTIONING to improve Family Functioning. In FY 2014–15, county commissions invested $105 million to improve Family Functioning. Family Functioning—Total Numbers of Exhibit 4: Services Provided to Children Ages 0 to 5 Family Functioning services provide parents, and Adults in FY 2014-15 by Service families, and communities with timely, relevant, and culturally appropriate information, services, Adult and Family 160,735 and support. Services include: Literacy Programs 168,358 General Parenting 84,929 • Increasing parent education and literacy Education and Family 61,155 • Providing referrals to community resources Support Programs Community 279,387 • Supplying basic needs, such as food and Resource and 39,907 clothing Referral Targeted 59,304 In FY 2014–15, First 5 county commissions Intensive Family provided 336,978 services to improve family Support Services 27,776 functioning to children ages 0 to 5, and Distribution of 57,926 645,110 services to parents, guardians, primary Kit for New Parents 22,171 caregivers, relatives, and providers. Exhibit 4 Quality Family 2,829 Adults displays the numbers of services provided. Functioning Systems Improvement 17,611 Children While children and adults from all ethnic groups received services, for those reporting *Totals for Adults include both Adult and Provider counts
11 IMPROVED CHILD DEVELOPMENT While children and adults from all ethnic groups received services, for those reporting Child Development services are designed to an ethnicity, Latinos were the largest recipient increase access and quality of early education group of services (63 percent). For children and learning. These services include free high- reporting a primary language, services were quality preschool, special needs assessment and provided to Spanish speakers 47 percent of the intervention, and school readiness programs. time and English speakers 47 percent of the In FY 2014–15, First 5 delivered 141,083 time. child development services to children ages 0 In FY 2014–15, county commissions expended to 5 and 88,455 services to parents, guardians, $196 million to improve Child Development. primary caregivers, relatives, and providers. Exhibit 7 shows the distribution of expenditures Exhibit 6 displays the numbers of services by service category. provided.
Family Functioning—Distribution of IMPROVED CHILD HEALTH Exhibit 5: Expenditures for Children Ages 0 to 5 First 5 county commissions fund Child and Adults in FY 2014–15 by Service Health services that promote health through General Parenting Education Community Resource and Referral identification, treatment, and elimination of risks and Family Support Programs 10% 26% that threaten health and cause developmental Adult and Family delays and disabilities. First 5 Child Health Literacy Programs services are far-ranging and include prenatal 7% care, oral health, nutrition and fitness, tobacco cessation support, and intervention for children Quality Family with special needs. Functioning Systems Improvement In FY 2014–15, First 5 provided 595,026 6% services designed to improve Child Health to children ages 0 to 5, and 436,329 services to Targeted Intensive Kit for New Parents Family Support Distribution parents, guardians, primary caregivers, relatives, Services 1% and providers. Exhibit 8 displays the numbers of 50% services provided. Source: County Revenue and Expenditure Summary, November 2015
Child Development—Total Numbers of Child Development—Distribution of Exhibit 6: Services Provided to Children Ages 0 to 5 Exhibit 7: Expenditures for Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults in FY 2014-15 by Service and Adults in FY 2014–15 by Service Early Education Provider Programs Preschool Programs 6,465 Preschool Programs 18% for 3 and 4 Year Olds 42,601 for 3 to 4 Year Olds 58% 23,680 Quality ECE Investments 28,357 Quality ECE 29,310 Early Education Investments Provider Programs 27,945 15%
Infants, Toddlers, and All-Age 16,026 Early Learning Programs Infants, Toddlers, and 25,281 All-Age Early Learning Programs 12,974 Kindergarten Adults 6% Transition Services 16,899 Kindergarten Transition Services Children 3% Source: County Revenue and Expenditure Summary, November 2015 *Totals for Adults include both Adult and Provider counts
12 First 5 California | While children and adults from all ethnic data indicate that for FY 2014–15, county groups received services, for those reporting commissions expended $105 million to an ethnicity, Latinos were the largest recipient improve Systems of Care (Exhibit 10). In 2014– group of services (61 percent). For children 15, 8 percent of expenditures went toward reporting a primary language, services were Public Education and Information; 18 percent provided to English speakers 54 percent of the toward Policy and Broad Systems-Change time and Spanish speakers 43 percent of the Efforts; and 74 percent toward organizational time. support. In FY 2014–15, county commissions expended $153 million to improve Child Health. Exhibit 9 shows the distribution of expenditures by service category. Child Health—Distribution of Exhibit 9: Expenditures for Children Ages 0 to 5 IMPROVED SYSTEMS OF CARE and Adults in FY 2014–15 by Service Primary and Specialty Systems of Care addresses system-wide Health Access Medical Services structural supports as county commissions Targeted Intervention 9% 8% effectively work toward achievement in the result for Identified Special Needs Quality Health areas of Family Functioning, Child Health, and 15% Systems Child Development. For example, interagency Improvement collaboration allows coordinated wrap-around 5% Safety Education efforts from multiple organizations providing Comprehensive and Injury Screening and targeted services. Since this result area is at a Prevention Assessments systems level, counties do not report numbers <1% 13% of children and adults served. Expenditure Tobacco Education and Outreach <1% Nutrition Child Health—Total Numbers of Services and Fitness Maternal and 12% Exhibit 8: Provided to Children Ages 0 to 5 and Adults Child Health in FY 2014-15 by Service Oral Health 23% 14%
Oral Health 97,032 207,571 NOTE: May not add to 100% due to rounding Source: County Revenue and Expenditure Summary, November 2015 Comprehensive Screening 26,441 and Assessments 117,873 Safety Education and 87,543 Injury Prevention 73,434 Systems of Care—Distribution of Exhibit Primary and Specialty 24,582 10: Expenditures by Service Medical Services 64,780
Health Access 40,252 46,642
Nutrition and Fitness 40,682 ■ Policy and Broad 35,499 74% Systems–Change Maternal and Child 78,818 Efforts Health Care 26,161 18% ■ Targeted Intensive Intervention 7,790 Organizational for Identified Special Needs 22,410 Support Tobacco Education 4,723 ■ Public Education and Outreach 618 and Information Adults 8% Quality Health 28,466 Systems Improvement 38 Children
*Totals for Adults include both Adult and Provider counts
13 Child Development Focus
One of the overarching purposes of First 5 CHILD SIGNATURE PROGRAM California is to invest in quality early learning In October 2011, First 5 California launched programs. National research indicates high- the development of its Child Signature quality early learning programs have a Program (CSP) as a consolidation of the State significant, positive impact on early childhood Commission’s prior investments in early learning outcomes and at-risk children in cognitive, programs (i.e., Power of Preschool [PoP] language, and social development.4,5 Decades program). The purpose of this strategic program of program evaluations show investments in investment has been to increase the quality high-quality early learning produce significantly of early learning and development programs greater rates of return. Effective early childhood across the state. programs generate benefits to society that far CSP works to invest in high-quality early exceed program costs. Yet, nationally, many learning elements designed to enhance the licensed facilities fail to meet or minimally quality of care and education for young children. meet the most basic guidelines for quality. A growing body of research confirms the Approximately 50 percent of California’s importance of quality early learning experiences disadvantaged and at-risk 3- and 4-year-old to effectively prepare young children for school children do not attend preschool, and even and for life. fewer attend high-quality preschools.6 High- The design of CSP integrates proven elements quality early learning programs go beyond the of other First 5 California-funded programs, basics to provide opportunities for evidence- selected core components of Educare (see page based learning activities, along with the 18 for description of Educare), and continues development of nurturing and supportive to align with the California Department of relationships with teachers and caregivers. Education Infant/Toddler and Preschool Scientific studies conclude high-quality early Learning Foundations and Frameworks. CSP was learning programs improve school readiness launched in three phases via three Requests for and lead to better academic achievement in Application to First 5 county commissions. elementary school.7 Cost-benefit and return on CSP 1 and 3 were designed to increase the investment analyses demonstrate investments in quality of early learning and development high-quality early learning programs generate programs by implementing three research- substantial social and economic payoffs by based Program Elements: reducing persistent social costs, such as crime and teen births.8
14 First 5 California | • Instructional Strategies and Teacher-Child Interactions • Social-Emotional Development • Parent Involvement and Support CSP 1 classrooms implementing Quality Enhancements in all three Program Elements are referred to as Quality Enhancement (QE) classrooms. Classrooms that did not implement CSP Quality Enhancements were referred to as Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Classrooms. Launched in 2012, CSP 1 focused on supporting existing quality enhanced classrooms that initially participated in PoP, while CSP 2 focused on providing quality improvement support through training and technical assistance to centers and classrooms in an effort to bring them up to the quality levels of classrooms participating in CSP 1. Professional development and coaching were key focus areas along with ongoing collaboration and support to each of the 34 counties that participated throughout the three- year program. As a result, the quality of early learning provided to children enrolled in CSP 2 classrooms was increased. Launched in spring 2013, CSP 3 allowed CSP 2 counties not participating in CSP 1 to apply for two years of QE funding. The purpose of CSP 3 is similar to that of CSP 1 in terms of Quality Enhancements for qualifying classrooms. CSP was constantly evolving and improving with continuous support for staff, coordinated services for families and children, and strong local partnerships. Program data for FY 2013–14 show CSP 1 and 3 served children at risk of school failure, especially children of low-income families. Seventy-nine percent of CSP classrooms consisted of State Preschool or Head Start programs that enroll children based on income- eligibility requirements. During FY 2014–15, CSP 1 and 3 included 1,350 classrooms serving over 23,500 children. These classrooms consisted of children with special needs (4 percent), infants and toddlers (4 percent), and dual language learners (58 percent).
15 Example Programs to families beginning early in the program year. Studies showed families made important child signature 1 example—los angeles growth in the areas of concrete support; family county functioning/resiliency; and child development/ First 5 Los Angeles’s (LA) CSP 1 was knowledge of parenting, nurturing, and implemented in over 200 centers and family attachment. child care homes across the county, reaching Community Outreach. FSS staff helped over 9,000 children and their families. Among their sites strengthen outreach efforts and its accomplishments, First 5 LA’s CSP 1 partnerships with community organizations. strengthened families through QE efforts in Community outreach included attendance over a dozen sites, improved sites’ community and active participation in First 5 LA Best Start outreach, disseminated findings at state and Communities, which focuses on building national conferences, and created legacy tools supportive communities where children for CSP 1 providers to sustain their capacity to and families can thrive. First 5 LA worked in serve families. partnership with many networks to promote Family Support Services. With the help of a common vision and provide collective will tools such as the Protective Factors Survey and throughout each community to give kids the Family Partnership Agreement, Family Support best start in life. Specialists (FSS) engaged families in trusting relationships and provided critical support
16 First 5 California | Dissemination of CSP Evaluation Findings. First 5 Napa County’s participation in CSP 2 First 5 LA’s Program Coordinator and Local laid the groundwork for programs and the Napa Evaluator presented the work of the CSP team community at large to better understand and at four conferences across the country. They work with the tools and measures for quality shared findings related to the program’s positive improvement and to begin a dialogue with impact on families at the California Association essential partners on future work. for the Education of Young Children, National child signature program 3 example—san Association for the Education of Young Children, mateo county McCormick Leadership Institute, and the Young First 5 San Mateo County’s CSP 3 is helping Child Expo & Conference. transform the Baden Infant Center into a model CSP’s Footprint Project. To facilitate classroom that will showcase infant and toddler sustainability and ensure investments in their care and build capacity throughout San Mateo sites would endure, QE sites were provided hard County. copy and electronic resource binders containing Located on the Baden High School campus, information on resources in their communities, the Baden Infant Center is part of the Teenage presentations on different workshops, flyers, and Parenting Program (TAPP) funded through other educational materials. Cal-SAFE and the South San Francisco Unified Overall, LA CSP 1 has provided a comprehen- School District. TAPP provides expectant parents sive, multi-disciplinary approach to Early Child- and parenting students with parenting skills, life hood Education and has had a positive impact in skills, and information about valuable resources the lives of LA families. available in the community. The program enrolls child signature program 2 example— eight infants, starting as young as six weeks napa county and up to eighteen months, at any given time. First 5 Napa County’s CSP 2 was successful Families receive comprehensive services that in maintaining participation of all 26 classrooms include child development, health and nutrition, throughout the three-year program. The and family support services. establishment of relationships played a key Angel O. Barrios, Executive Director for the role in this noteworthy achievement, along with Institute for Human and Social Development, Inc. support and the provision or acquisition of (IHSD), the Early Head Start grantee overseeing relevant training. the Center, explains “When we originally Critical to the success of CSP 2 was the applied for the funding, we weren’t thinking training CSP 2 and local staff received based of a model classroom. We were only thinking on their individual Improvement Plan and about enhancing program quality. The idea for the ongoing needs expressed by teachers. a model classroom grew out of collaborative Napa County was able to partner with Solano discussions between First 5 California, First 5 County to provide trainings on topics such as San Mateo, IHSD staff members, Early Education Kindergarten Transition, Parent Engagement Effectiveness Exchange, and the Program for Strategies in the classroom and at home, and Infant Toddler Care Partners for Quality. These other areas of shared need. groups determined a model classroom others The CSP 2 Early Learning Systems Specialist could use for observation and learning would (ELSS) participated in recruitment of CARES Plus be a perfect addition to the community. The participants. CSP 2 teachers were specifically classroom would provide quality early education targeted and actively recruited into the CARES and align with IHSD’s mission to promote best Plus program through several outreach events practices for children, as well as increasing made possible through coordinated efforts by partnerships and collaboration in San Mateo both programs. County.”
17 Parents are engaged in many ways at this site, document with highlights from the Summit was including participating in training on a variety distributed to stakeholders and policymakers. of topics such as how to support attachment (http://www.ccfc.ca.gov/pdf/programs/ and protective factors that nurture healthy resources/Quality.pdf) development. In addition, E4 continues an interactive This project is an example of how multiple website that includes a resource center, agencies joined forces to promote and build document library, calendar of events, CSP user quality in early care in a community and a county. community forum, partner information, and other resources. The website was designed EARLY EDUCATION EFFECTIVENESS to provide CSP participants and other early EXCHANGE childhood educators the ability to engage in First 5 California’s Early Education topic-specific discussion, network with others, Effectiveness Exchange (E4) serves as the access customized teaching and learning primary statewide resource designed to facilitate resources, and more importantly, improve quality improvement in early learning centers classroom experiences for children. and classrooms participating in any of the three Child Signature Programs. The E4 was created EDUCARE to provide quality enhancement training and The Educare model promotes school technical assistance to staff from CSP counties, readiness by reducing the achievement gap sites, and classrooms to implement CSP for disadvantaged children ages 0 to 5 who requirements. are less likely to attend high-quality preschool. In its second year of implementation, E4 Ongoing research demonstrates that poverty completed the development of 16 Professional and toxic stress can threaten a child’s cognitive Development to Go (PD2GO) packs. PD2GO development and ability to learn. California is an innovative approach to early childhood children from low-income families typically professional development consisting of a enter kindergarten 12 to 14 months behind the collection of strategically organized professional national average in pre-reading and language development sessions designed for use with skills. Underscoring the importance of Educare, staff members in early childhood centers and a study conducted by the Frank Porter Graham family child care homes. Child Development Institute at the University E4 provided training and technical assistance of North Carolina at Chapel Hill indicates low- through Quarterly Regional Meetings, as well income children (including children with limited as the CSP Annual Meeting as part of the Pre- proficiency in English) who enroll in Educare as Summit to First 5 California’s 2015 Child Health, infants or toddlers enter kindergarten with the Education, and Care Summit. On April 21, same skills as their middle-income peers.9 The 2015, E4 conducted the First 5 California Policy Educare model also strengthens the abilities of Summit in Sacramento. This was an opportunity parents to support their children’s learning when for county, state, and national program they enter school. implementers, researchers, and policymakers In 2010, the First 5 California State to come together for a day of shared learning Commission voted to become a public funder in and priority setting with a common goal of the public-private Educare Quality Early Learning improving child outcomes through aligned Model and invest up to $6 million over three quality improvement efforts. The 2015 Quality years to support the development, operation, Improvement Policy Summit Proceedings and evaluation of multiple Educare Centers in
18 First 5 California | California, specifically in Santa Clara and Los disadvantaged children in California and help Angeles counties. them overcome the socioeconomic barriers that In 2015, First 5 California funded First 5 Santa limit their opportunities for success. Since 1998, Clara to support the operation of California’s first First 5 California and county commissions have Educare site—Educare Silicon Valley—through actively promoted screenings and assessments targeted funding. This investment covers to help identify critical issues for children with costs directly and uniquely attributable to the special needs. When identified and addressed requirements of the Educare program that have early, these issues are less likely to hinder been proven to increase the quality of early children’s chances for success in school and learning programs through improved teacher- beyond. County commissions continue to make child interactions. developmental screening a priority in their Educare Silicon Valley held an official ribbon investments across the state. During FY 2014–15, First 5 California cutting ceremony and began serving children continued its leadership role in the Statewide and families in fall 2015 following multiple years Screening Collaborative (SSC), a group of planning, fundraising, and construction. consisting of multiple State agencies, including Co-located with Santee Elementary School Public Health and Developmental Services, and and in partnership with the Santa Clara County stakeholder organizations such as the American Early/Head Start and State Preschool programs Academy of Pediatrics and Kaiser Permanente. and the East Side Union High School Child In addition, through First 5 California’s role Development Program, the center provides in implementing the Race to the Top—Early support for families through its Family Resource Learning Challenge grant (RTT—ELC), support Center; serves children in high-quality infant, was provided to participating counties on toddler, and preschool programs; and creates a screening and follow-up in early learning hub for professional development and research through its Teacher Professional Development Institute.10 Educare Long Beach, a public-private partnership supported by a multitude of business, non-profit, and education leaders, is currently in the planning, fundraising, and construction phase. The stand-alone facility located on the Barton Elementary School campus in the Long Beach Unified School District is anticipated to be opened in 2018.11
LOCAL DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS AND SERVICES Across California, significant developmental disparities exist among children ages 0 to 5. Such an early readiness gap threatens later learning, development, and health. The California Children and Families Act was intended to create programs that support
19 settings, specifically around use of the “Ages Each consortium is led by an established and Stages Questionnaire,” a valid and reliable organization that is already operating or was screening tool for early childhood development. developing a QRIS or quality improvement system and allocating local resources to the RACE TO THE TOP—EARLY LEARNING efforts. In 2014, Consortia expanded services by bringing on 14 mentee counties to build a QRIS; CHALLENGE mentoring activities included funding, training RTT–ELC, a federal grant, has the ambitious assessors, developing coaches, assisting with goal of supporting the development data practices, and supporting a continuous and expansion of successful local quality quality improvement approach. More than 2 improvement efforts focused on improved million children under five in California (95 outcomes for children with high needs percent of the total in that age group) are by implementing local Quality Rating and represented by the 30 Consortia and mentee Improvement Systems (QRIS). Approximately counties. 77 percent of the grant funding is spent at the In addition, California is using a portion local level to support a voluntary network of 17 of the RTT–ELC grant funds to make several Regional Leadership Consortia in 16 counties. one-time investments in state capacity via 11
20 projects. These investments range from supporting the California Departments of Developmental Services’ and Public Health’s work on developmental screening to creating online training modules of core content and resources. Many of these additional projects target supporting the Consortia and providing additional resources for the state as a whole. The California Department of Education (CDE) is the RTT–ELC lead agency responsible for overall grant administration and project monitoring. Staff members from the CDE Early Education and Support Division (EESD) and First 5 California (F5CA) serve as the RTT–ELC State Implementation Team that provides Consortia and workgroup meeting planning and facilitation, technical assistance (TA) and support, and fiscal and programmatic oversight. integral to the adopted Matrix and serve as a The Consortia, along with the State common foundation to align the work of other Implementation Team, continued its significant existing quality improvement efforts. RTT–ELC progress in refining and operationalizing provides opportunities to develop innovative California’s Quality Continuum Framework service delivery models and develop focused (CA-QRIS Framework), including the Hybrid partnerships that can later be taken to scale. Matrix and Pathways Core Tools & Resources, The RTT–ELC State Implementation Team through collective commitments from multiple contracted the American Institutes for Research stakeholders, aligning and leveraging quality for an evaluation of the QRIS. The researchers improvement initiatives, and focusing coaching are working with a sample of consortia to study and continuous quality improvement practices to how successfully the Tiered QRIS measures early support the rated elements and Pathways. learning program quality, possible alternative One of the most exciting successes to rating approaches, and how Tiered QRIS date expressed by the Consortia is the ratings predict child learning and development unprecedented opportunity RTT–ELC provides to outcomes. Additionally, this evaluation will refocus existing public and private investments inform policymakers on a link between quality on evidence-based and promising practices. In improvement strategies and changes in program essence, RTT–ELC created an umbrella for other or workforce quality, and describe RTT–ELC quality improvement and funding efforts. implementation processes. Evaluation results are With the CA–QRIS Framework and the RTT– due in early 2016. ELC goals and objectives, these independent projects have been aligned with the overarching program quality improvement system and are building upon each other. The key quality improvement tools, such as the Environment Rating Scales (ERS) and the Classroom Assessment Scoring System® (CLASS), are
21 Parent Support Focus
A parent is a child’s first teacher. The more 5 California retired the Hands-On Health Express information and support parents have to and prepared to launch the next iteration of the strengthen their own family’s success and traveling exhibit in 2015, which engages families resilience, the more likely young children will on the importance of talking, reading, singing to learn the habits they need to be self-assured promote early brain development. and life-long learners. First 5 California assists families by offering information, resources, KIT FOR NEW PARENTS guidance, and referrals through its Parent Signature Program. First 5 California’s award-winning Kit for New The Parent Signature Program provides public Parents is the flagship of its Parent Signature education, information, and support to parents Program. The Kit targets hard-to-reach and low- and families in both traditional and new ways, income populations, providing information and including print media, television and radio, social tips for first-time parents, grandparents, and media, and other messaging in six languages, caregivers. reflecting the rich diversity of California. Since 2001, First 5 California has distributed the Kit free-of-charge to local hospitals, physicians, and community groups to reach HANDS-ON HEALTH EXPRESS new parents. The Kits are available in English, Since 2006, First 5 California’s mobile Spanish, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and outreach van has traveled to every corner of the Vietnamese, and include a practical guide for state, reaching out to families and caregivers of children ages 0 to 5. This interactive exhibit featured “Edutainers” who educate parents and entertain children, teaching families how to incorporate fresh foods and physical activity into their everyday lives. In FY 2014–15, the exhibit traveled to more than 145 schools, community festivals, county fairs, and other family-oriented events, making appearances in even the smallest rural communities and directly engaging with more than 96,332 people who walked away with helpful First 5 resources. At the end of 2014, First the first five years, a health handbook, an early reported either unaided recall or recognition brain development brochure and tip card, and of a TV or radio ad. other important information on literacy and • Nearly 40% of target audience members learning, child safety, developmental milestones, who reported ad recognition said they had finding quality child care, and more. First 5 engaged in interpersonal conversation about county commissions are encouraged to add the issue. Nearly 60% reported talking with a local references and resources to the Kit to family member about the issue, 40% reported help inform parents about services in their own talking with friends, and more than a quarter communities. reported talking with a health care provider. To date, 4.8 million Kits have been distributed throughout California since 2001, with 287,309 • Thirty-eight percent reported use of the First distributed this fiscal year alone. 5 California Parent Website to get additional information and assistance on the issue. AWARD-WINNING MEDIA CAMPAIGN: • Campaign exposure was associated with an increased propensity to engage in all three TALK. READ. SING.® behaviors (talking, reading, and singing). Launched initially in spring 2014, the first This was after the study controlled for other phase of First 5 California’s Talk. Read. Sing.® potentially important influences on these media campaign continued through 2015. The behaviors. purpose of this wide-reaching public education • The findings provide positive evidence of and outreach campaign has been to emphasize behavioral effects, which is relatively unusual the importance of linguistic engagement in the case of short-term social marketing between parents/caregivers and young children campaigns. during their first five years of life. Parents are encouraged to talk, read, and sing to babies from the day they are born to foster early brain development and the formation of critical neural connections. The campaign was delivered primarily through television and radio ads, digital and social media, and a dedicated First 5 California Parent Website with information and strategies for parents. To evaluate the impact of the campaign, study data were collected via web survey of the target audience, which consisted of California parents and other caregivers of children ages 0 to 5. Approximately 1,000 interviews were completed between April and May 2015. The survey involved the use of both an opt-in panel combined with a population-based panel to increase the generalizability of the findings. Key findings included: • 60 percent of target audience members could recall a First 5 California Talk. Read. Sing.® campaign TV ad on an unaided basis or by recognition. A third could recall or recognize a radio ad. Almost two-thirds (64.9 percent)
23 The website also links to social media tools, including Facebook and Twitter. As of June 30, 2015, the First 5 California Facebook page has 213,782 followers and has received 213,524 page “likes.” Its Twitter account has more than 18,280 followers who receive daily tweets of information about early childhood development and wellness that parents, care providers, and teachers can use to improve or inspire their relationship with young children. First 5 California launched a hashtag campaign (#talkreadsing) to accompany the ad campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram generating over 372,516 impressions.
TOBACCO CESSATION Through First 5 California’s investment in the California Smokers’ Helpline, parents and caregivers receive information and tools to help them quit smoking and using other tobacco products—especially around children or while PARENT WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA pregnant. Parental smoking and secondhand smoke exposure have been linked to a range of An outreach platform of the Parent Signature ailments in babies and young children, including Program is First 5 California’s Parent Website asthma, ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, (www.first5california.com/parents), which and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). To features practical advice for parents with a reduce the incidence of these health problems focus on accessible information based on and help smokers quit, in FY 2014–15 First 5 early childhood best practices and research. California supported the California Smokers’ Since its launch in 2009, the Parent Website Helpline with $1.4 million for tobacco cessation received more than three million visits. While services for parents and caregivers of young the site covers health, education, literacy, children, as well as for training child care smoking cessation, and more, in 2014 the providers, preschool teachers, pediatric health site expanded with an abundance of new care providers, and parents. information on early brain development. This The toll-free Helpline (1-800-NO-BUTTS) provided visitors an interactive element to provides one-on-one telephone counseling, self- learn more about brain development and the help materials, and referrals to local resources. benefits of talking, reading, and singing, all of Helpline counselors follow protocols that have which supported the ad campaign launched been scientifically proven to double the rate in spring 2014. The content and usefulness of successful long-term smoking cessation. of the site are checked regularly to ensure Counselors and callers work together to develop the most engaging and useful information is a plan to quit, and continue interaction during available for families. Parents can download the quitting process to increase the likelihood of information and view videos, government public long-term success. These services are provided service announcements, and examples of brain in English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and development activities for parents and children. Cantonese), Korean, and Vietnamese. First 5
24 California participants also receive free nicotine breakdowns by education and race/ethnicity, patches, sent directly to their homes. respectively.) The Helpline has been so successful The online tobacco training modules, “Kids in assisting callers that they often receive and Smoke Don’t Mix” and “Los Niños y el Humo testimonials from those who have quit. Recently, no se Mezclan,” continued to be used by First 5 the Helpline received a call from a participant California Signature Program participants. The with a young child who initially contacted the preschool modules give child care providers, Helpline in 2013 to tell them, “I quit when I found preschool teachers, and other classroom out I am pregnant but then I started smoking staff the knowledge and skills they need to again when my mom passed away. I know that encourage smoking parents and caregivers to my family and my 2-year-old daughter need quit. In FY 2014–15, a total of 2,683 individuals me, so I called 1-800-NO-BUTTS for help. I can from 42 counties completed the online training. freely play and chat with my daughter and be Also this year, the Clinical Effort Against with her healthily now. Thank you for helping me Secondhand Smoke Exposure (CEASE) quit smoking. I quit for 2 years now!” (Denise California project continued training pediatric Marsicano, San Jose, who quit smoking on May care providers to screen patients for secondhand 3, 2013.) smoke exposure and help their smoking parents In FY 2014–15, First 5 California’s investment quit. In FY 2014–15, pediatric care providers at provided Helpline services for a total of 6,650 35 clinic sites across the state were trained to participants, including 376 pregnant smokers identify and intervene with smoking parents, and 6,397 tobacco-using parents or caregivers including prescribing quitting aids and referring of children ages 0 to 5 (note: 123 were both to the Helpline. pregnant and had a child 0 to 5). Tobacco users with less education or of ethnic minority background were well represented among Helpline callers. (See Exhibits 11 and 12 for
California Smokers’ Helpline—Education California Smokers’ Helpline—Race/Ethnicity Exhibit 11: Level of Callers in FY 2014-15 Exhibit 12: of Callers in FY 2014-15*
College Degree Less than American Indian/ Asian American/ or Higher 9th Grade Alaska Native Pacific Islander 5.9% 5.1% Other 1.7% 5.6% 0.7% 9th-12th Grade Multi-ethnic No Diploma 8.3% Some College 34% White/Caucasian 35% 43.4% African American/ Black 18.3%
High School Diploma Hispanic/Latino 32.1% 22.1% Source: California Smoker’s Helpline, September 2015 Source: California Smoker’s Helpline, September 2015 Total number of participants was 6,650, of whom 75 did not report their educational level Total number of participants was 6,650, of whom 58 did not report their race/ethnicity *The percentages in this chart do not add to 100 due to rounding
25 Teacher Effectiveness Focus
Quality teacher-child interactions are a development of the early learning workforce. powerful contributor to children’s learning and CARES Plus is an enhancement of First 5 success. Children are supported and developed California’s original CARES program (2000–08) through rich teacher-child interactions with that gained national recognition during its educators who have the knowledge and skills tenure from Head Start, Zero to Three, and the to identify and support the needs of specific Center for Law and Social Policy. groups of children, including dual language CARES Plus offers quality professional learners. Research shows early childhood development opportunities in both English and educators with higher educational levels Spanish for early childhood educators. Some and specialized training have higher quality support services are also provided in additional interactions with children and result in positive languages. These opportunities include access effects on learning.12,13 Unfortunately, one study to online best practice learning sessions, a video indicates only 13 percent of California’s low- library of exemplar teacher-child interactions, income children are in high-quality early learning one-on-one coaching, and at least two sessions programs that support advanced thinking skills with a professional growth advisor. The goals of and language development.14 CARES Plus are to: Teacher quality is so critical that a growing • Improve the effectiveness of the early learning number of state and federal programs have workforce mandated early childhood educators attain more professional development and training in the • Positively impact the learning and field. developmental outcomes of young children • Increase retention of the early learning COMPREHENSIVE APPROACHES TO workforce • Offer support services and stipends to RAISING EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS encourage professional development (CARES) PLUS Through CARES Plus, First 5 California The Comprehensive Approaches to Raising has incorporated the use of the Classroom Educational Standards (CARES) Plus program is Assessment Scoring System® (CLASS®) First 5 California’s Teacher Signature Program. tools. The following validated professional Launched in 2010, it is designed to increase the development tools and training, developed by quality of early learning programs for children the University of Virginia, are available to CARES ages 0 to 5 by supporting the professional Plus participants:
26 • The CLASS Observation Tool: An assessment percent thought the program would help them that focuses on the effectiveness of classroom continue in early care and education field during interactions among teachers and children, the next five years, and 91 percent believed using a common language and lens to their CARES Plus experience would have a very evaluate the quality and improvement of positive effect on children in their care. Analysis those interactions of CLASS® observation data for FY 2012–13 and • Introduction to the CLASS Tool: An online, FY 2013–14 showed participation in evidence- two-hour interactive course to gain an based professional growth training was understanding of the CLASS framework associated with improvements in mean scores in the CLASS domains of Emotional Support • Looking at CLASSrooms: A self-paced and Classroom Organization. Participation in directed study using exemplar videos to focus one-on-one coaching (MyTeachingPartner™) on identifying and analyzing effective teacher- was associated with improvements in all three child interactions CLASS domains (Emotional Support, Classroom • MyTeachingPartner™ (MTP™): An evidence- Organization, and Instructional Support). based professional development tool focused cares plus county example—santa clara on improving classroom interactions through The Santa Clara County CARES Plus intensive one-on-one coaching, classroom program set a record in FY 2014–15; 818 early observation, and reflective analysis of educators successfully completed CARES teaching practice Plus requirements and received a stipend. CARES Plus participants are required to Participants had the option to complete complete a one-hour online tobacco training evidenced-based training, college coursework, module titled “Kids and Smoke Don’t Mix: or MyTeachingPartner™ (MTP™). A Tobacco Training for Child Care Providers and Preschool Teachers.” In addition to the professional development tools and activities listed above, participants may choose to engage in one or more of four professional development pathways: • Evidenced-based training (Component A) • Higher education courses (Component B) • Serve as a CARES Plus advisor (Component C) • MyTeachingPartner (Component D) CARES Plus Evaluation Results During 2014-15, 4,689 teachers completed CARES Plus training or coaching. Evaluation of the CARES Plus program indicates the program is highly valued by teachers who participated in different program components, and that training was associated with improved quality of teacher- child interactions. Among participants surveyed during FY 2014–15, 82 percent found the training to be very useful for their professional development, 78 percent felt the training very much helped them become better teachers, 94
27 These educational pathways or options allow MyTeachingPartner testimonials: early educators at various stages in their careers to engage in professional development activities The following quotes are examples of how focused on enhancing their ability to provide former MTP participants describe their MTP high-quality care to children in Santa Clara experience and express their appreciation for this County. unique training opportunity. Last year alone, Santa Clara County CARES “I am a Family Child Care provider who plus participants completed 3,329 higher entered this program with minimal education in education semester units and 9,790 hours of child development. I became so impassioned by state-approved training. the learning process, I enrolled in an online BA Over 50 participants completed MTP and 209 program for Child Development.” new participants completed the CORE online trainings focused on teacher-child interactions “I feel a new level of self-respect. I am more and the dangers of second hand smoke. intentional and effective as a teacher and have Santa Clara’s CARES Plus program is closely decided to enroll in a Master’s in ECE program, aligned with and integrated into major quality taking my career to a whole new level!” improvement initiatives in the county, including “I taught several DLL children who spoke little the Quality Rating and Improvement System to no English at the beginning of the year. Many (QRIS) and the Child Signature Program (CSP). are now communicating regularly in English and The alignment of these initiatives maximizes forming four- to five- word sentences.” funding efforts and provides a comprehensive “My coach put in a lot of time to provide approach to increasing the quality of care. As a additional support to help me be successful. She result, 270 CARES Plus participants work in QRIS translated everything into Chinese and was able sites and 79 work in CSP classrooms. to use both languages to guide me in learning In addition, QRIS staff used CARES Plus the CLASS dimensions and how to apply the data to verify the educational qualifications, strategies in my daily practice.” Child Development Permits, and professional development of lead teachers in QRIS programs. “El programa MTP es muy organizado y This data sharing significantly reduced the claro. Muchas gracias por la ayuda y soporte de amount of time and expense needed to review mi coach en esta clase. Aprendí mucho y doy individual transcripts and training records. gracias por la oportunidad que me dieron de Santa Clara CARES Plus participants enroll tomar esta clase en mi idioma (español). Puedo using a sophisticated online application process. decir que durante estos meses y con la ayuda de This online system allows participants to log in to mi (Coach), aprendí a desarrollar interacciones the CARES Plus website all year long to: eficaces, crecer profesionalmente en el campo de la Educación de Los Niños.” • Access their professional development plans Translation: “The MTP program is very • Check on their program status organized and clear. Many thanks to the support • Access additional early education resources my coach gave in this class. I learned a lot and I am grateful for the opportunity this gave me to This year, Santa Clara began using text take the class in my native language, Spanish. I messaging to remind participants of program can say that during these months and with the requirements, important deadlines, and their help of my coach, I learned to develop open- program status. This successful approach ended and probing questions, and to grow resulted in a significant increase in retention of professionally in the field of early care and program participants. education.”
28 First 5 County Commission Highlights
Alameda County • The County Board of Supervisors complete ongoing developmental The goal of First 5 Alameda adopted a set of Father-Friendly assessments while working with local County is to provide a network of Principles developed by The kindergarten teachers to help provide early childhood services, professional Fathers Corps, a learning successful kindergarten transitions. development, and community community of male service With the barriers that exist in Alpine support to prepare children ages 0 providers who take part in a County, accessibility is a challenge to 5 for success in school and life, so training/networking series and for its community members. Last they are ready for kindergarten and who, in turn, advocate for and year, local partners helped provide third grade success and are free from provide technical assistance on all children access to oral health and abuse and neglect. the integration of the principles well-child examinations, immunization
During this past fiscal year, one of in their home agencies. checks, developmental screenings, the most significant accomplishments • A poster session of the and the delivery of First 5 California’s of First 5 Alameda was the expansion American Library Association Kit for New Parents. of the Healthy Child Development conference held in San In Bear Valley, First 5 Alpine Initiative. With an investment of Francisco highlighted Lessons funded a license-exempt drop-in child $914,874, it provides increased from Neighborhood Partnership development program for children opportunities for children to be Grants to city and county parks ages 0 to 5. This ski resort/summer identified early for developmental and recreation, and libraries to home village holds many challenges concerns, increased primary create child-friendly practices for the full-time residents who try caregivers’ engagement in their and spaces. to serve the varying population. child’s development, and improved This program has successfully the consistency in screening and Alpine County served seasonal and year-round residents with a focus on all areas referral practices by early childhood The goal of First 5 Alpine County of social-emotional and cognitive providers. Families of 1,945 children is to implement comprehensive, development of early childhood. The were helped by Help Me Grow integrated, and accessible programs program is staffed with professionals (HMG) telephone Linkage Line staff. that will work toward the vision of who emphasize cultural diversity Over 70 percent of those helped First 5 Alpine County: “All of Alpine’s throughout their curriculum. First 5 were children ages 3 or younger. A children will thrive from birth and are Alpine and the Bear Valley Parents successful combination of telephone provided a foundation for life-long Group continue to collaborate on support; in-person assistance to help success.” sustainability of the program. families navigate community-based During FY 2014–15, one of the Other highlights during FY 2014– developmental services; technical most significant accomplishments 15 included: assistance to pediatric and early of First 5 Alpine was the continued • Participation and care and education providers on implementation of its center-based implementation of the First 5 screening and referral practices; a child development programs. First California CARES Plus program new website and searchable online 5 Alpine partnered with the Alpine and Child Signature Program resource directory; Connection County Office of Education to help with the collaboration of First 5 Café networking sessions for ensure school readiness. The Early providers; and a broad-based Learning Center (ELC), under the governance structure replete with auspices of the County Office of a Family Advisory Committee Education, is the largest grantee and and an Operations Committee service provider for First 5 Alpine. formed a strong foundation for The ELC preschool program serves a comprehensive initiative. First as the framework for meeting the 5 Alameda, with First 5 Contra strategic goals of the First 5 Alpine Costa, was awarded a two-year, $5 Commission. Following the standards million grant to expand HMG and set by the National Association for related services to early care and the Education of Young Children, education settings, and to advance highly qualified teachers implement developmental services for children developmentally appropriate with mild and moderate concerns. activities throughout the day. The Other highlights during FY 2014– teachers in the preschool program 15 included:
29 Inyo and Mono Counties During FY 2014–15, First 5 Amador • High-quality parent education spearheaded a collaborative effort to courses for families with young produce a comprehensive community children assessment that incorporated the • Community outreach activities, Child Care Planning Council’s health fairs, and playgroups mandate to document the availability, cost, and quality of child care. The Amador County Community Assessment includes Through its investments, the information that addresses safety goal of First 5 Amador County is net services, employment, health to establish strong systems which care, transportation, and education. support children’s health and school This document has proven to be a readiness. First 5 Amador continues tremendous asset to the community to serve as a catalyst for change and from grant writing to program progress by initiating conversations development. The inclusion of information related to early childhood and developing forums to identify During FY 2014–15, First 5 provided an opportunity to educate and address needs and opportunities, Butte partnered with the California the community on the importance of discuss and develop strategies, and Health Collaborative to convene quality early childhood experiences, implement programs to support stakeholders concerned about which in turn leads to a healthy and children and families. First 5 Amador maternal mental health needs. Out productive community. is a leader in bringing local partners of this gathering, a dedicated group In an effort to support family together in an effort to encourage of mothers and professionals began engagement in education, help effective collaboration resulting in developing an action plan focused community members of all ages enhanced services, thereby improving on addressing perinatal depression enhance literacy skills, and improve systems and building the capacity and providing anxiety services. An access to a variety of reading of the community to promote and initial funding investment of $50,000 materials, First 5 Amador brought support protective factors and from First 5 Butte is enabling this a group of volunteers and partners strengthen gateway assets for young group, now known as Mothers Strong, together to launch “Read Across children. to move forward on its action plan, Amador,” a coalition committed to First 5 Amador spearheaded the which includes: increasing literacy opportunities launch of a two-county Perinatal • Offering a free weekly support throughout the community. One Wellness Coalition to address group for mothers struggling of the coalition’s successes to date Perinatal Mood and Anxiety with perinatal mood and anxiety includes the expansion of the “Little Disorders. A strong collaborative in Chico and Paradise, with plans Free Library Program,” which is continues to work diligently in to add more groups in other becoming an effective strategy for establishing a network of care from communities neighborhood book exchanges in the universal screenings to mental health • Using the tag line You are not outlying areas of the county. services. To date, 60 individuals, alone, developing a community First 5 Amador’s grantees and ranging from home visitors to awareness media campaign in-house programs–which include physicians, have received training on designed to educate the the “Baby Welcome Wagon,” toddler this important topic. public about the prevalence of playgroups, “Dad and Me,” behavioral The Amador County Oral maternal depression and anxiety specialist, “Bridge to Kindergarten,” Health Task Force, coordinated by through magazine ads, articles, “Imagination Library,” and family First 5 Amador, was successful in bus tails, and postcards resource centers–continue to provide establishing a system to increase • Developing maternal mental valuable services to children and the number of young children who health curriculum for use by families throughout the county, receive needed fluoride varnish providers in childbirth and infant meeting families where they live. treatments on an ongoing basis. education courses Through this system change, a Butte County • Collaborating with 2-1-1 to local pediatrician now provides develop a webpage where all the treatments for children at the First 5 Butte County dedicates local perinatal mood and anxiety pediatric clinic during well-child its resources to improving the lives resources can be accessed checkups. Due to the successful of children prenatal through age 5 • Expanding the base of local outcomes and enhanced health to help them reach their greatest resources by promoting services for child patients, the potential by strategically investing in and sponsoring educational pediatrician has shared this effective three initiatives that focus on health, opportunities for local strategy with dozens of physicians family strengthening, and systems professionals and parents throughout the region. strengthening.
30 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report through Postpartum Support all children enter school safe, healthy, on Awakening Greatness in International, MotherWoman, and ready to learn. Children: The Nurtured Heart 2020 Mom Project, etc. During FY 2014–15, one of the Approach for Transforming • Conducting the annual Butte most significant accomplishments was Intensity to Immensity. No- County Embracing Motherhood the “Kids Farmers Market and Safety cost counseling services were Summit and Prevention Education Program.” provided to support parents • Organizing “Champion Mom” With a funding investment of with their children’s emotional events, which focus on growing $50,000, this program provided first- and behavioral development. a base of informed, proactive rate nutrition education, hands-on Foster parents were provided families who offer support cooking experiences, healthy recipes, with stipends and gas cards for to one another, and who will and gave children the opportunity attending parent trainings. advocate for expanded maternal to choose their own vegetables and Continued successful mental health screening and fruits. In addition, a 20-pound bag collaboration with Prevent services of fresh produce was sent home Child Abuse Calaveras brought • Utilizing Facebook to promote with each of the 182 preschoolers partnerships with the hospital birthing maternal mental health throughout the rural county. Personal center, social services agencies, and awareness, inform local mothers safety and prevention skills were preschools to provide parents with about resources, and develop taught at 15 preschool sites by means information on the Period of Purple an online support community of creative stories, puppets, and Crying and the prevention of abusive Another highlight of the year was songs focusing on a variety of topics, head trauma. The community was the Jim Gill Music & Movement Tour, including stranger danger, expression educated about designated safe a collaborative project between the of feelings, and household, car, and surrender sites and child sexual abuse Butte County Library and First 5 Butte. gun safety. Parents attended their prevention. The council hosted the Jim Gill is a musician with six award- own prevention education training. Stand-Up for Children art exhibit winning CDs. Rather than performing Other highlights during FY 2014– and reception, creating awareness for children and parents, Jim has won 15 included: and honoring the work of youth and acclaim for leading them to sing and • The “Children’s Dental Program” adults affected by child abuse and play together. His materials are used provided screenings, cleanings, neglect. by libraries nationwide. fluoride treatments, and oral Mini-grant funding for libraries and Utilizing the Literacy Coach and health education in preschool non-profit agencies provided family partnering with the First 5 Butte classrooms as well as referrals strengthening events, which included Strengthening Families Network and case management on an story times, library special events, program, the Literacy Team reached as-needed basis. A dental van Kids Day in the Garden, Children’s 1,277 children and 173 caregivers, delivered services to children in Fair, Family Book Share, Kid’s Day, and many of whom had not experienced rural areas. community mentoring training. the Literacy Coach or visited their • Twice a month, the “Raising a local library. These visits introduced Reader Home Visiting Program” Contra Costa County Jim’s songs that promote meaningful reached out to 28 families. With First 5 Contra Costa County interactions between children and a goal of using early literacy develops innovative programs and caregivers in a playful atmosphere. to build family resiliency, efficient systems to give all young This onsite program provided each children and parents received children the foundation they need to child with their own book to take various screenings, referrals, be successful in school and life. home. The Literacy Coach also gently and resources in addition to This past year, addressing shared the message that adults participating in literacy activities. children’s developmental delays who may struggle to read with their • Continued outstanding early and effectively was one of First children are able to find help at their collaboration with Behavioral 5 Contra Costa’s most significant library. The program culminated in Health Services and Mental accomplishments. Since 2011, it Jim providing four family concerts Health Services Act funding has increased children’s access to that reached 676 residents and four provided parent and developmental screening, resulting provider/parent workshops with 50 professional trainings with no- in more children being identified with attendees. cost child care. Topics included moderate delays or concerns that understanding trauma, mindful are not serious enough to qualify for Calaveras County parenting, brain development, state-funded intervention services. First 5 Calaveras County facilitates gardens for healthy living, Given that intervention is most partnerships and funds strategies that co-parenting, and nurturing effective in the early years, First strengthen families and support them skills for parents. A highlight 5 Contra Costa developed new in raising healthy young children. First was hosting Howard Glasser playgroups to prevent these delays 5 Calaveras works toward ensuring for a full-day presentation from getting worse and to provide
31 children with a boost in their Budget will be developed for FY Every Day Counts Toolkit relating development. Last year, 153 children 2015–16 and be part of the county to the importance of preschool participated in one of 24 playgroups, budget going forward. First 5 Del attendance). which consist of eight-week sessions Norte will advocate that other public To sustain school readiness with a curriculum focused on all areas entities follow suit. The goal is to programs and reach working families, of child development, including enable community members and First 5 Del Norte made new efforts tips for parents to strengthen their elected officials to understand what to target parents and families during child’s development. When re- is spent on children of all ages and the non-work hours. New programs screened at the end of the playgroup, how much is spent on prevention, include Family Game and Movie most children made substantial intervention, and high-risk services Nights, Family Fun and Safety Day, improvements in their development, and programs. Father Appreciation BBQ, and Free had caught up on milestones, and In partnership with its school Family Swim events. New Saturday no longer needed early intervention district, First 5 Del Norte contracted enrichment programs were added services. Children deemed “at- to produce and evaluate Parent focusing on movement and music, risk” for a delay or disability were Information Forms that were included healthy nutrition, hands-on science, referred for further developmental in all kindergarten registration and story times. A special partnership assessment. packets. The analysis of family includes “Lunch with the Law,” a Other highlights during FY 2014– economics, parent education levels, monthly conversation held at the 15 included: utilization of community resources, FRC to bring local law enforcement • Parents and advocates trained and children’s participation in together with community members in by First 5 Contra Costa assessed preschool or early enrichment a safe, neutral place to discuss how to conditions at 75 parks in low- activities helped create a rich sense of improve the safety of neighborhoods income communities, presented the conditions of families with young for children and youth. A new their findings to local city children. Children’s Library was added to the councils, and to date, have The Community Food Council FRC, and a comprehensive section is generated $1.3 million in city First 5 Del Norte Service Corps VISTA available to parents and caregivers funding for park improvements. member produced comprehensive with a wide range of information • To engage fathers and help Harvest of the Month master copy about special needs, emotional them become more involved in binders and other special nutrition- health, nutrition, and Ages and Stages their babies’ lives, First 5 Contra related materials for distribution to all materials in Spanish and English. Costa funded male home visitors preschools, family daycare providers, in two home visiting programs. nonprofits, and public agencies. El Dorado County Forty-three fathers participated, With support from the county, city, The majority of children in receiving information about the county office of education, and El Dorado County are entering parenting, employment Child Care Council, First 5 Del Norte kindergarten ready. Of the 1,012 resources, community services, expanded programs offered through children in traditional kindergartens and infant development. the Wonder Bus, a mobile early screened using the Kindergarten • Over one hundred child care literacy program for young children. Student Entrance Profile, 81 percent sites, including 35 family child The Wonder Bus traveled throughout were found to be ready, having scores care programs, Head Start, the entire county, serving outlying of 33 or above. state preschool programs, and isolated communities. It is the only The Commission invests in early child care centers, participated countywide early literacy program in literacy, high-quality child care, in First 5 Contra Costa’s pilot Del Norte. caregiving, developmental screens, child care Quality Rating and First 5 Del Norte continued health, and community strengthening Improvement System (QRIS). An its long-term goal of building a to support parents as their child’s first intensive coaching system was comprehensive community-wide teacher in preparing them for school. established to help programs Resource and Referral Hub through El Dorado Libraries are helping improve their ratings. its Family Resource Center (FRC) children, families, and providers and increasing outreach efforts. It to learn and grow: Approximately Del Norte County produced a two-page list of key 27 percent of the children ages 0 FY 2014–15 focused on resources related to ages 0 to 5, to 5 were reached through the El partnerships, sustainability, and continued to update and share Dorado County Library programs, advocacy as guiding principles. First the Community Resource Guide, the highest registration numbers 5 Del Norte took a leadership role in designed a new website, sent an since the program started. The partnership with county policymakers e-newsletter to over 600 people every library completed 750 programs with to adopt a first-ever Children and week, and produced publications 2,304 children and 1,740 parents Youth Bill of Rights, passed by the on many topical issues (Stress Free registered for Ready to Read @ Your Board of Supervisors. A Children’s Holidays, Why Immunize, and an Library. In addition to the early literacy
32 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report programming, the library has enrolled partners reported improvements Lighthouse for Children. The 36 licensed child care providers in knowledge of early childhood facility features a state-of-the- sharing the California Preschool community resources. art child development center Foundations and Frameworks for and community learning center, Language and Literacy through five Fresno County creating a hub of services curriculum modules. The goal of First 5 Fresno for young children in Fresno High 5 for Quality is effectively County is for all children to have a County. engaging participants in quality strong foundation to reach their full • Fresno County Early Stars, the improvement and building a system potential. Through its efforts, First 5 county’s first child care Quality for change: More than half (58 Fresno serves as a catalyst for creating Rating and Improvement System percent) of the county’s licensed early an accessible and effective network of and a recipient of First 5 Fresno care and education providers are quality services promoting children’s funding, completed its first full engaged in High 5 for Quality. This social, emotional, physical, and year of implementation. More includes providers from small and cognitive development. FY 2014–15 than 100 classroom assessments large family child care homes, child marked the second year of First 5 were administered, and a total care centers, and programs that are Fresno’s seven-year strategic plan, of 40 sites received a final star both privately and publicly funded. At which sets out a bold vision aimed rating. year-end, 45 percent of participating at changing the odds for all children. • Nearly five hundred parents sites were rated as Tier 3 or above. Reaching third-grade reading were interviewed as part of the Children are receiving home visits proficiency rates is the primary, long second year of First 5 Fresno’s and appropriate referrals: Home range desired outcome and indicator seven-year School Readiness visits were provided to 1,227 adults of a successful birth to age 5 system Longitudinal Study. The study with newborns. The majority of those of care. follows families receiving surveyed (95 percent) reported During the last fiscal year, services (through their children’s improvements in confidence in caring one of the most significant third-grade year) to evaluate for the child as a result of the visit. accomplishments of First 5 Fresno the impact of funding. Year two Children are receiving was the implementation of Birth highlights include an increase in developmental screenings and through Third Grade (B3) Challenge the number of children read to appropriate referrals: A total of grants at five school districts across every day and parents engaging 470 parents responded to the the county. With a funding investment in high-quality reading question about monitoring child’s of $1,084,320, the B3 initiative experiences (e.g., pointing out development in the client satisfaction aims to increase the number of letters and talking about what survey, where 48 percent reported children in Fresno County who are happened in a book). had monitored their child using a reading proficiently at third grade screening in the past 12 months. by developing effective systems of Glenn County The majority of children in El early learning and family support The goals of First 5 Glenn Dorado County are accessing well- from prenatal to third grade. To this County are to improve: 1) Family child checks: Ninety-five percent of end, the five districts spent the year Functioning: Strong Families; 2) Child families surveyed reported their child engaging with community partners Development: Children Learning and received a well-child exam within the to cross-educate, align efforts, refine Ready for School; 3) Child Health: past 12 months. Rates of well-checks systems, and provide direct services Healthy Children; and 4) System have remained relatively steady since and supports to children and families. Functioning. the first implementation of the First 5 This work led to never-before seen El Dorado surveys in 2007–08. efforts around early childhood Community Strengthening Groups education (ECE), including doubling bridge key organizations toward the number of district preschools, shared goals for children, families, forging new connections between and communities: Three Community kindergarten and local preschool Strengthening Groups met and teachers, data sharing between convened partners throughout district and community agencies, the county, with an attendance of allocating unprecedented Local 250 unique individuals and 112 Control Funding Formula dollars agencies represented. More than half toward ECE, and school districts rising of partners (54 percent) surveyed as ECE community leaders. indicated they were better able to Other highlights during FY 2014– assist families with parenting as a 15: result of their participation. More than • April 24, 2015, marked two-thirds (68 percent) of community the grand opening of the
33 AmeriCorps also provided and made Parent and Family Support assistance with child welfare programs a priority for funding, services, flu clinics, car seat including establishing playgroups clinics, the “Nurturing Parenting that are accessible for as many Program” (NPP), and provided families as possible throughout the facilitation for referred families county with many living in remote and in-home visits. This resulted areas. Evaluations of the playgroups in approximately 15,300 hours continue to show they have had a of direct service to all Head Start, positive impact for young children kindergarten, and transitional and their families. In FY 2014–15, kindergarten programs. First 5 Humboldt began work on a • First 5 Glenn hosted a number Playgroup Initiative to be launched in of events, including a playgroup FY 2015–16. for Little Learners children ages During FY 2014–15, a major 0 to 3, NPP classes with child accomplishment of First 5 Humboldt engagement, events in the was providing 18 playgroups in During this past fiscal year, one of local parks and libraries in each virtually all areas of the county. the most significant accomplishments community, and monthly family There were 10,710 parent/caregiver was increasing parents’ skills and nights held in all communities playgroup visits, 8,632 playgroup reducing numbers at post-testing for (Willows, Hamilton City, and visits by children ages 0 to 2, and those who scored in the “high-risk” Orland). 4,575 playgroup visits by children category. This was done through the • For the second year in a ages 3 to 5 at 1,013 playgroup events. “Nurturing Parenting Curriculum” row, First 5 Glenn funded According to surveys conducted facilitated by the “Little Learners kindergarten and transitional annually (Participant Survey n=393 and Parenting” programs. Almost kindergarten teachers to attend in 2014, Playgroup Survey n=216 in all parents initially identified with state transitional kindergarten 2015), these low-cost groups (ranging high-risk behaviors had increased training in Sacramento. in direct costs from less than $2,000 skills and knowledge as a result of • First 5 Glenn improved system per year up to $14,000 per year for program participation, and moved functioning by including the largest groups) provide a place out of the high-risk category at the NPP and DECA during where parents feel they learn more the follow-up assessment. With a kindergarten roundups and about parenting, find social support, funding investment of $180,000, registrations, the “Fathers as access needed help and services, this program/initiative provides an Teachers: Helping, Encouraging, and provide a place for children to environment that is more sensitive Reading, Supporting” (FATHERS) learn new things, including important and educated about the early mental program, and “Daddy’s Tool socialization skills. In addition, the health needs of its children by Bag.” 2014 Participant Survey showed increasing awareness and capabilities a statistically significant positive of children, parents, and the broader Humboldt County correlation between frequency community. of playgroup attendance and the Other highlights during FY 2014– The mission of First 5 Humboldt frequency with which parents read 15 included: County, together with families to their children. First 5 Humboldt • A total of 76 Devereux Early and communities, is to promote also funds two specialists, certified Childhood Assessments comprehensive, integrated systems in Infant Family and Early Childhood (DECA) were conducted on of services for early childhood Mental Health, to provide support Little Learners children (ages development in order to foster to playgroup parents and playgroup four weeks to four years) at the secure, healthy, and loving children leaders, including referrals for early beginning of the program year. eager to learn and develop their full intervention services if needed. • First 5 Glenn continued its potential. Beginning with the initial In the last three years, the partnership with the Mobile First 5 Humboldt strategic planning Humboldt County Office of Dental Clinic, resulting in 168 process in 1999, parents and Education’s Kindergarten children ages 0 to 5 having their providers alike repeatedly expressed Screening Tool (KST) was used to oral health needs addressed. the desire for “safe and family- screen 89 percent of all incoming • First 5 Glenn had nine friendly” places in their communities kindergarteners. The KST measures AmeriCorps members that would enable families to get children’s readiness in four domains: during this program year, together for recreation, mutual Language/Literacy, Mathematics, seven of whom provided support, and provide opportunities Social Emotional, and Self-Portrait. In literacy, numeracy, and social/ for early learning experiences for all three years, the average score for emotional services. In addition, young children. First 5 Humboldt responded to this expressed need those who attended playgroups was
34 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report higher than for those not attending Court Appointed Special Advocates involvement increased playgroups. The average countywide (CASA), and a family resource center. significantly (78 percent) for first- total score for those who attended First 5 Imperial awarded $203,264 time parents learning to work playgroups was 77 percent in 2014, to the early intervention program with their children. 80 percent in 2013, and 77 percent in to offer developmental screening 2012. For those children who did not services for children ages 0 to 5 Inyo County attend playgroups, this figure was 72 through its family resource center. The goal of First 5 Inyo County percent in 2014, 72 percent in 2013, CASA was awarded another $82,296 is to promote optimal early and 70 percent in 2012. In addition, to provide advocacy and school development, shaping the trajectory Humboldt County Office of Education readiness support for children ages of a child’s life to yield ongoing reported that in 2014, children who 0 to 5 that are in the custody of the benefits and rewards by investing in attended preschool had an average juvenile court dependency system. the Five Protective Factors to improve score of 77 percent. For children Through this partnership, 88 percent child health, development, family who attended both preschool and of children that are new CASA cases strengths, and critical resources for playgroups, the total score rose to 78 participated in developmental children from before birth through percent. screening and surveillance services age 5. facilitated by Family Treehouse staff, One of the most significant Imperial County where all children assessed with a accomplishments of First 5 Inyo was For FY 2014–15, First 5 Imperial developmental delay were supported the systems work the Commission County allocated approximately with court-ordered follow-up referrals embarked upon in order to take a $2.3 million to fund a number of and evaluation. In addition, all CASA more targeted Collective Impact projects that worked to provide child cases that were closed resulted approach to its five-year plan. By services targeting children ages 0 in placement in a permanent home narrowing the goal focus (based to 5 and their parents, guardians, where the majority of the children on a year-long needs assessment and providers. Investments used to were reunited with their parents. process) to improve early child health support these projects addressed Other noteworthy and family strengthening programs strategic objectives by offering accomplishments during FY 2014–15 county-wide, the Commission was services that focused on health, included: able to pledge its funds toward family support, and early care and • Over 3,100 children from helping establish a few high-quality education. Investments used to preschool centers were involved evidence-based programs that support families with young children in multiple mobile library story will benefit early child health and included case management for at- time activities, with each child education providers, as well as the risk families, family resource fairs receiving three to five books for families served, by creating a more at low-performing school sites that their home library. diverse and sustainable network included up to 36 distinct agencies, • Over 1,400 children participated of support. Common goals related and advocacy for children under in fire/burn prevention activities to family strengthening, universal the custody of the juvenile court at over 25 preschool centers, screening, early language/literacy, system. Investments in health and 30 childcare providers were and infant health are now being included support to ensure expectant involved in hands-on fire safety tackled by many community partners mothers receive prenatal education training. with coordinated focus. and programs designed to increase • The parents of 151 hundred Other highlights during FY 2014– breastfeeding rates, intensive children diagnosed with 15 included: child asthma case management asthma or asthma symptoms • Planning occurred for services, and nutrition and fitness participated in intensive case population-level training and activities. Investments in early care management; results showed limited pilot service delivery of and education included story time an increased compliance the Positive Parenting Program activities at over 50 preschool centers in parental asthma control (Triple P) parent education with a book give-away program, medication and 80 percent model. intensive preschool home instruction learned to identify asthma • More than 70 at-risk families services, or preschool slots for triggers. with children ages 0 to 5 were children that have a mild disability • Nutrition and fitness were engaged in an average of six or are “at-risk” of developing a promoted through education, different support services, four disability but do not qualify for special cooking classes, and active of which were reoccurring on a education services. gardening at 15 preschool weekly or monthly basis. As a result of funding during centers for 226 children. • Thirty-three incarcerated parents FY 2014–15, the developmental • Over 70 children completed received five or more weeks of screening partnership was a model 30-week home introductory parenting training. established between First 5 Imperial, instruction program; parental
35 • One-hundred fifty-eight • An increase in the percentage of investment of $704,726, the FRCs expectant families received birth full-term pregnancy occurred in provided early childhood education, and breastfeeding planning 17 programs. home visitation, developmental support through the Newborn • The proportion of children screening, parent education, and Evaluation Support and with low birth weight dropped referral services. Almost 1200 children Teaching (NEST) Program co- among 17 programs that ages 0 to 5 and over 1,000 parents, sponsored with Northern Inyo provided services for a total of siblings, and caregivers visited an Hospital, which won a California 1,610 children. FRC. The total number of services Breastfeeding Coalition Gold • More mothers breastfed their delivered by the five funded FRCs Nugget Award in January 2015. babies and the improvement was over 28,000. was demonstrated across 18 Other highlights during FY 2014– Kern County programs that supported a total 15 included: The goal of First 5 Kern County of 1,069 children. • The 2015–20 Strategic and Fiscal is to ensure all children are healthy, • More parents maintained two Plan was developed. well-protected, and fully supported or more reading activities • The Linkages 2 Learning in early childhood growth toward with children each week in 11 project distributed 1,388 kindergarten entry. In FY 2014–15, programs that assisted 851 school readiness backpacks First 5 Kern continued funding 39 children. to incoming kindergarteners programs of early childhood services • The proportion of children who and facilitated kindergarten in the three result areas: Improved never had a dental visit dropped orientations prior to the first day Child Health, Improved Child from 35.41 percent to 27.29 of school at all 12 participating Development, and Improved Family percent across 17 programs. school sites, serving 834 Functioning. • The percentage of children who incoming kindergarteners. One of the most significant did not have an annual health • The local CARES Plus program accomplishments was national checkup decreased from 10.25 provided support, ranking, recognition of the Medically percent to 5.65 percent among technical assistance, and Vulnerable Care Coordination Project 20 programs. materials to 46 preschool (MVCCP) as a Promising Practice by • Nine programs demonstrated classrooms. In addition, the Association of Maternal & Child an increase in the percentage of it provided training and Health Programs (AMCHP) in June children with all immunization professional growth counseling 2015. With a funding investment of shots recommended by a to 93 professionals working in $51,000 from First 5 Kern, MVCCP doctor. the early childhood education leveraged additional funds from • The percentage of mothers field. Lucile Packard Foundation for smoking during pregnancy • The United Cerebral Palsy Children’s Health ($4,000), Health dropped from 17.73 percent Special Needs project provided Net ($1,000), Kaiser Permanente to 8.73 percent across 11 222 developmental assessments Kern County ($10,000), and matching programs. of children with or at risk of Federal Financial Participation funds • The rate of smoke exposure developing special needs, ($40,000). Since 2008, this project has at home declined from 9.56 and 214 interventions and/or organized biweekly meetings of key percent to 5.78 percent for treatment plans were provided stakeholders to coordinate services 1,276 children in 18 programs. to children with or at risk of for children ages 0 to 5 with special developing a special need. health care needs. The efforts have Kings County • The United Cerebral Palsy helped reduce unintended delays The goal of First 5 Kings County Parent & Me project served 277 that could result in greater medical is to ensure all Kings County children ages 0 to 5 and 231 costs and worsen long-term results families receive access to the parents through weekly center- for children. tools, knowledge, and quality care based early childhood activities. Positive changes during FY 2014– necessary to encourage each child • The Kettleman City Family 15 included: to develop to their fullest potential. Resource Center provided 279 • More expectant mothers First 5 Kings, in partnership with the home visits, serving 26 families. received timely prenatal care in community, will strengthen families, the first trimester, impacting 963 communities, and systems of care for Lake County children in 15 programs. children prenatal through age 5 and Through its investments, First 5 Lake • The rate of monthly prenatal their families. County works to achieve its long-term care increased among expectant During FY 2014–15, one of the goal, as stated in its 2014–19 strategic mothers across 13 programs. most significant accomplishments plan, to inspire and promote healthy, was the First 5 Kings Family Resource safe, happy, and family-centered Centers (FRC). With a funding experiences for children ages 0 to
36 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report 5 through partnerships with local percent completion rate, with 28 investment of $263,100, this program families and service providers. percent of parents reporting an provides home visiting services to During this past fiscal year, one of increase in the number of times high-risk families. It is designed to the most significant accomplishments they engaged in focused play improve family functioning, child through First 5 Lake funding was each week. development, health, and systems the opening of the Clearlake Early • The Children’s Oral Health of care. The primary services Learning Center (ELC) by Easter Program (operated by Lake include weekly parent education Seals of the Bay Area (ESBA). County Public Health Dental and child development lessons With a budgeted annual funding Disease Prevention Program and using the Parents as Teachers investment of $32,388, ESBA has funded by First 5 Lake) provided (PAT) curriculum. Screenings and the goal of increasing the availability 766 children ages 0 to 5 with assessments are completed on both of and access to community- education, screening, and/or children and parents to determine based, age-appropriate, early treatment. It included nutrition an individualized approach to learning opportunities that build and oral health lessons, and addressing child, parent, and family the capacity of families to meet dental screening at preschool/ needs. Each child is screened for the developmental needs of their school sites with 40 percent of developmental progress using the children. Parents come to the ELC the children screened as cavity- Ages and Stages Questionnaire®; with their children to spend time free. This result has held steady simple PAT health screenings are in a safe play environment; receive for the last two years. used for hearing and vision. The Life onsite consultation and tips to • North County Opportunities/ Skills Progression Tool is used with understand their child’s development, Rural Communities Child Care each family to gauge the strengths including timely follow-up on the Choice Program worked with 28 of the family and the areas needing results of their child’s Ages and child care providers to increase attention. Based on this tool and Stages Questionnaires; receive useful opportunities for children to weekly communication with the information; and be connected to experience healthy nutrition family, the home visitor is able to available community resources. Seven and physical activity during make targeted referrals. The Home other agencies also have used the the day and create written Visiting Program served 137 children facility to meet with parents in this policies to inform parents of this ages 0 to 5 and 144 parents or child-appropriate environment. A effort. Eighty-six percent of the caregivers. Another 32 children total of 230 children ages 0 to 5 and providers moved from serving (siblings 6 years or older) participated their parents participated in the ELC fruit and vegetables two times in the program, increasing the total activities over this past year. A second per day to three times per day, number of children served during the center, located in Lakeport, is planned and 95 percent offered at least year to 169. In 2014–15, the number for next fiscal year. 60 minutes per day of physical of service units was 2,037. Other highlights during FY 2014– play time. The First 5 Lassen Children’s Oral 15 included: Health Program—implemented in the • Through its website, social Lassen County community by Smiles For Life, Inc.— media, and events, the Lake Through its investments, the serves Lassen County via different County Hero Project (http:// goal of First 5 Lassen County is to service delivery strategies, including
www.lakecountyheroproject. fund programs aimed at ensuring education, direct prevention,
com/) works to promote the all children enter school healthy consultation services, assessment, strengths of families and inspire and ready to learn. First 5 Lassen health services, community health parents to be heroes to their has two primary areas of focus—oral events, and resource and referral children. Local families are health and home visiting—both highlighted to demonstrate how serving high risk populations. Two
easy it is to be a child’s hero. The programs, the Pathways to Child program provides parenting and Family Excellence program information, monthly family (commonly referred to as Pathways)
challenges, social supports, and Children’s Oral Health Program, and community connections also known as Smiles for Life, have to resources for families with been important investments of First 5
children ages 0 to 5. Almost Lassen. 1,300 parents were enrolled During FY 2014–15, one of the in the program. In January most significant accomplishments 2015, families accepted the of First 5 Lassen was its home
challenge to “play together.” Of visiting program implemented the 87 families that accepted by Pathways to Child & Family the challenge, there was a 62 Excellence, Inc. With a funding
37 preschool slots and 6,800 The program screened 436 children. child care slots, rate increases Of these, 33 percent (n=148) were to providers and teachers, referred for services. The findings and a one-time $24 million demonstrated that 22 percent of the commitment to the Quality 148 referred (n=45) did not have a Rating and Improvement System dental home. A total of 60 percent (QRIS) for infants and toddlers. (n=89) of families that indicated • Working with community their children had a dental home partnership members, First 5 demonstrated the need for services. LA staff is supporting an array Further data regarding the intensity of strategies and activities to of the need and population served produce outcomes that benefit is being reviewed. First 5 Madera is children prenatal to age 5 using this information to determine through the Learning By Doing future policy and programming. process—a process by which Early identification is key to activities. During FY 2014–15, 732 community members develop prevention and treatment. In FY children received an oral health results-focused activities to 2014–15, 150 first-time parents screening, and 570 children ages 0 to strengthen children and families received case management via the 5 received direct oral health services. in their community–in all, 14 Best First Parents Program. The program Hospital-based oral health services Start Communities. performed 1,320 screenings, for children, a local First 5-funded • Supporting new parents, more including Denver II, Ages and Stages program started in 2003 and now than 9,100 women received Questionnaires®, Ages and Stages sustained by Banner Lassen Hospital, home visits under First 5 LA’s Questionnaires: Social-Emotional, continued to provide oral surgery “Welcome Baby” program – and Life Skill Progression. Of the services to children. which provides pregnant women various screenings, two children were and new moms with in-hospital identified as having concerns. Los Angeles County and in-home information and In addition, 152 families received Since its creation by voters in support during pregnancy and intensive multidisciplinary services
1998, First 5 Los Angeles County throughout a baby’s first nine via the Healthy Beginnings Program.
(First 5 LA) has invested more than months. Of the cases closed in 2014–15, none
$1 billion as it worked collaboratively First 5 LA looks to the future, of the families had any recurrence of
across Los Angeles County to building upon existing work, maltreatment. improve the health, safety, and school experiences, and lessons learned readiness of children prenatal to age from previous investments to Marin County 5. maximize its impact to strengthen Through its investments, the goal Realizing it needs to live within families and improve outcomes for of First 5 Marin County is to support its means, as well as be even more the greatest number of children in Los a strong start in life for every child in
strategic in its investments, First 5 LA Angeles County. every community through children’s finalized development of its 2015–20 health, school readiness, and Strategic Plan during FY 2014–15 to Madera County community support for families. lay out a clear path to maximize First 5 The goal of First 5 Madera County During FY 2014–15, one of the LA’s impact to strengthen families and is to ensure children are healthy, most significant accomplishments of improve outcomes for the greatest families are strong, and children First 5 Marin was a collaborative effort number of children prenatal to age 5. are learning. It strives to serve the to fund affordable child care and As part of its mission to ensure families of Madera County through preschool slots, dental services, and all children in Los Angeles County the promotion of meaningful, lasting a public education campaign about enter kindergarten ready to programs that greatly contribute to the highest priority needs of young succeed in school and life, First 5 LA the betterment of the community. children in Marin County. First 5 Marin accomplished the following: During FY 2013–14, one of the joined with the County of Marin and • Working with other First 5 most significant accomplishments of the Marin Community Foundation, commissions and a statewide First 5 Madera was the Oral Health with matching investments of network of early childhood Initiative. With a funding investment $250,000 each, to fund these critical education advocates, First 5 of $40,000, this program provided needs identified by the new Marin LA supported state lawmakers’ oral health screenings and referrals Strong Start Coalition. The Coalition $265 million commitment to in a school-friendly setting, using the and expenditures represent a critical rebuild California’s early learning tooth fairy concept to entice children first step toward a countywide system through high-quality and counter some hesitations that commitment to invest in a strong start care with the addition of 7,000 many children have for the dentist. for all children in Marin. This particular
38 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report funding triad also is a significant Valley, Greeley Hill, and Lake Don extracurricular activities (e.g., working partnership among three important Pedro). The three preschools in the school’s garden and on funders in the county, and serves as provide an outstanding play-based computers in the classroom). an important precedent for ongoing preschool program that prepares cooperative efforts. children for kindergarten. The Mendocino County Other highlights that took place facilities, curriculum, and activities The goal of First 5 Mendocino during FY 2014–15 included: are creative, educational, and focus County is to increase parenting skills • Advocacy and Investment: First on developmentally appropriate and decrease substance abuse so 5 Marin supports the work of activities. This year, there was a focus children are happy, healthy, and ready “MarinKids,” an education and on science, technology, engineering, for kindergarten. advocacy movement for the and math (STEM). During this past fiscal year, one of county’s children (convened in Another highly successful program the most significant accomplishments 2008). MarinKids, in turn, is an was the Children’s Dental Health of First 5 Mendocino was providing active partner and staffs “Marin Program, funded with $55,000. This support for the Family Dependency Strong Start,” a coalition working program provided dental education Drug Court (FDDC) “Parent Mentor to establish an ongoing revenue by a dental hygienist, dental services Program.” With a funding investment stream for children in the county. for children with severe dental of $35,000, the program is designed • Thought Leadership: First problems, and dental screenings. to offer support to parents and 5 Marin supports regular Three local dentists provided caregivers in recovery, to maintain submission of opinion editorials reduced-cost services. their sober lifestyle, and provide safe on priority issues such as child In addition, the CARES Plus and nurturing care to their children. care, preschool, children’s program was funded with $10,000 First 5 Mendocino provides for at health, and family support from First 5 Mariposa and $20,000 least three parent mentors to be systems. Authors include from First 5 California. This program available for support services. FDDC commissioners, staff, and provided stipends for child care also refers its clients to participate community partners. providers and preschool teachers. in the Recovery Positive Parenting • Capacity Building: As part of its Many of the participants completed Program (Triple P). With an additional efforts to expand the capacity the CORE training and 21 units in funding investment of $20,000, of community partners to Early Childhood Education. The this program provides a 10-week outreach, serve, and advocate CARES Plus program made it possible parenting group that focuses on for local children and families, for four teachers to enroll in college parents in recovery of substance First 5 Marin offers free monthly course work—helping them to work abuse. Recovery Triple P is designed workshops (via the “Marin toward a degree in Early Childhood to empower parents to continue to Communications Forum” and Education. make positive parenting decisions “Voces de Marin”) with speakers, An instructional aide was hired for their children and enables them presentations, and training to work in the Mariposa Elementary to feel confident in those choices. It on media, public education, School Transitional Kindergarten (TK) also helps to rebuild relationships outreach, and advocacy skills classroom. The instructional aide that have been, or may have been, (including workshops aimed worked with the reading program/ damaged during the period of time at the Latino and Spanish- assessments, and provided extra parents were abusing a substance. language community). assistance to children who were Other highlights during FY 2014– • Quality Rating and having difficulty. Having the aide in 15 included: Improvement System (QRIS): the classroom also provided time for • For divorced parents, First 5 By funding the assessments that the teacher to work with children on Mendocino provides Supervised were necessary for submission, an individual basis. The class had 25 Visitation and Parenting Apart First 5 Marin supported a TK students who ranged from four to workshops for the Mendocino successful QRIS grant request six years old. Having an aide made it County Superior Court. During from a coalition lead by possible for the students to work on these sessions, parents are the Marin County Office of enrichment projects and technology. strongly encouraged to sign up Education. An additional instructional aide for a Triple P group to build on was hired to work in the Sierra Foothill their parenting skills. Mariposa County Charter School TK classroom. The • More awareness was brought During this past year, one of the instructional aide worked closely with to the bilingual Raise and Shine most significant accomplishments the teacher in providing support, “Warm Line,” increasing the of First 5 Mariposa County was the extra assistance, and one-on-one number of calls from 43 (FY School Readiness program, funded instruction. She made a difference 2013–14) to 143 (FY 2014–15) with $149,040. It served three of by providing opportunities for for an increase of 333 percent. the county’s preschools (Catheys the students to be involved in It is available for parents,
39 caregivers, social workers, and • Advocate for improvement and During the last fiscal year, one of others in related fields who work preservation of systems at the the most significant accomplishments with children. This line offers a local and state levels of First 5 Modoc was its dedication to variety of resources, including During FY 2014–15, one of the Improved Child Development. With referrals to outside agencies, most significant accomplishments a funding investment of $71,206, it scheduling support services of First 5 Merced was the increased funded three separate programs, for Regional Center and Early quality with identified Child Signature providing a high-quality preschool Start participants, and acts as Programs 1 and 2. With a funding experience for 18 children throughout the Inland Mendocino Early investment match of $525,125, Modoc County. The success of these Start Family Resource Center the program maintained quality in programs is partly due to a strong mainline to provide support identified Quality Enhancement collaborative relationship with the services to children in Early Start. classrooms and continued Modoc County Office of Education It also acts as an access point improvement across the Maintenance and the Surprise Valley Joint Unified for developmental screenings, of Effort classrooms. Targets of School District. Funding supports one-on-one parent support, family engagement and coaching for either the full cost or a share of the parenting class information, and teachers were reached. Specialized cost to attend preschool. Families other resources and services training was offered for classroom were provided additional support available in the community. and child-level work. A large through a family support worker. • The early literacy program, number of reliable Early Childhood Monthly parent meetings were held Mendocino County Imagination Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) and information was provided on Library, has made many new and Classroom Assessment Scoring health, safety, nutrition, parenting community contacts this year, System® (CLASS®) assessors were skills, and the preschool learning which helps First 5 Mendocino trained. Professional Development foundations. Weekly child observation get closer to its goal that every was offered with an emphasis on and results of Desired Result child under the age of 5 in the social, emotional, and developmental Developmental Profile assessments county will have a home library screening and individualized teaching also were shared with parents. The of their own by the time they strategies, which were offered to family support worker helped ease start kindergarten. With the neighboring counties and partnering the transition of the children to the help of community partners, agencies. next educational setting. enrollment has increased from Other highlights during FY 2014– Other highlights during FY 2014–5 2,877 to 3,105 children. It’s 15 included: included: estimated that this number is • Twelfth Annual Children’s • The parents of 122 children over 50 percent of the eligible Summit, with 343 attending, attended parenting classes to children in the county. featured Dr. Dayna Long increase parenting skills and (University of California San knowledge. Merced County Francisco, Benioff Children’s • Fifty families who did not have Through its investments, the goal Hospital) as the keynote speaker access to medical services now of First 5 Merced County is to: to open a discussion regarding receive medical benefits. • Improve parents’ (especially new social determinants of health • Ten licensed home care parents) nurturing and engaging • Engaged 150 providers in the providers increased the relationships with their children Steve Spangler group training quality of care they offer by • Improve the quality of care “Silly Slimy Science” participating in the Child Care provided in out-of-home • Assisted the Department of Initiative Project (CCIP). settings (including center-based Public Health in receiving the • Ten center-based providers care, family child care, and non- Partnerships in Community increased teacher effectiveness licensed environments) Health grant that started a Baby by participating in the CARES • Improve the system for early Friendly Hospital Initiative at the Plus program. screening, referral, assessment, two local hospitals • The parents of 42 children and services for children with strengthened and improved developmental, health, social, Modoc County positive parent-infant emotional, behavioral, and other Through its investments, the goal interactions, healthy infant special needs of First 5 Modoc County is to ensure development, and parental • Improve community-level every child in Modoc County is in an competencies through the awareness and acknowledgment environment conducive to optimal “Healthy Beginnings” home of the critical need to prioritize development and that parents and visiting program. and support structured action families have the first option to be • Eighteen children were able to for change benefitting children primary caregivers and teachers for access an enhanced transitional ages 0 to 5 their children ages 0 to 5. kindergarten classroom
40 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report due to the expansion of the During the last fiscal year, one of growing and developing, and classroom experience with the most significant accomplishments what behavior is age-typical. STEAM (Science, Technology, was the tenth offering of the “Summer Parents reported 81 percent Engineering, Art, and Math) Bridge” program as part of the improvement in this area. They activities. Special Needs Initiative, which has also reported significant gains served over 300 children. Summer in their confidence (66 percent), Mono County Bridge originally evolved from the abilities (58 percent), activities Through its investments, the goal Special Needs Project that was (66 percent), and connections of First 5 Mono County is to enhance partially funded by First 5 California. with other families (58 percent). the network of support services for Through this project, incoming This translates to an overall 66 families with children ages 0 to 5. First kindergarteners with or at risk of percent improvement across 5 Mono invests in school readiness, special needs can experience a high- parenting practices. family behavioral health, oral health, quality summer preschool program. • The Infant-Family and Early child safety, and quality child care. The goal is to support children Childhood Mental Health During this past fiscal year, one of in transitioning to kindergarten with training series continued to the most significant accomplishments a sense of self-confidence in their expand locally as more service of First 5 Mono County was service to expressive, social, and intellectual providers are interested in families through its universal home abilities. Observational assessments improving their capacity to meet visiting program, “Welcome Baby!” in summer 2015 show 70 percent the needs of young children and for families with children prenatal of children showed improvements their families. to age 1. One hundred and twenty in their relationships and social children were served—84 percent of interactions with adults after six Napa County projected 2014 births. With a funding weeks. Summer Bridge also serves as Through its investments, the goal investment of approximately $86,000, a training platform for early educators of First 5 Napa County is to support this program provided families with to build capacity. The program a comprehensive system of services prenatal education, breastfeeding supports parents in understanding that ensures children ages 0 to 5 will support, developmental activities, their child’s behaviors and needs, enter school healthy and ready to and connections to playgroups, and encourages participation in and learn. behavioral health services, special advocating for the education of their During FY 2014–15, First 5 Napa needs services, low-income housing, child. County made a $65,500 investment in heating assistance, and multiple other Some additional highlights from the local resource and referral agency community supports. 2014–15 include: to provide Active Minds, a bilingual, Other highlights that took place • First 5 Monterey and the play-based school readiness program during FY 2014–15 included: Monterey County Health that serves children with low to no • County-wide health and safety Department co-chair the Early preschool experiences. As part of fairs Childhood Development the program, parents are provided • Topical fluoride varnish Initiative (ECDI). ECDI began education, support, and role- application provided to children implementing its strategic modeling on how to support their in early learning settings vision and road map to help preschoolers in home-based early • Books to families from “Free First children, from the prenatal learning experiences. A total of 36 Book” stage through third grade, children and 42 parents attended • County-wide playgroups reach their full potential. Using Active Minds. a Collective Impact framework, Monterey County five communities in Monterey County stepped forward to The mission of First 5 Monterey bring together multiple sectors County is to serve as a catalyst to working to improve early create sustainable change in systems, childhood. policies, and practices that enrich the • Analysis of over 3,000 development of children in their first outcome surveys over the past five years. First 5 Monterey focuses four years show statistically on three vision areas: Parenting significant improvements Development, Child Care Quality, and across service areas of home Mental and Physical Health. visiting, playgroups, and Through its investment of group parenting classes. The $7.1 million in FY 2014–15, First 5 greatest growth was in parents’ Monterey provided services to more knowledge of how their than 41,000 young children, parents, child and their child’s brain is and providers.
41 Nevada County measure of dysfunctional discipline Through its investments, the styles, which is scored on a seven- goal of First 5 Nevada County is—in point Likert scale with lower scores
partnership with the community—to indicating more effective parenting, create, foster, and support programs showed participating parents that promote health, wellness, and improved from a pre-test average
child development for children of 3.19 to a post-test average of
ages 0 to 5 and their parents. First 2.65, an improvement of 17 percent. 5 Nevada works on behalf of all Children’s problem behavior also children prenatal to age 5 and their showed an improvement, going families, and focuses on those who from an average of 1.97 to 1.31 on a face significant risks and challenges 4-point Likert scale, for a 34 percent
in achieving their maximum physical improvement. This data come from and socio-emotional health and the Impact subscale of the Strengths
learning potential. First 5 Nevada and Difficulties Questionnaire.
is engaged in four initiatives: early Other highlights during FY 2014– Children were assessed using the learning, family strengthening, 15 included: Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 • 28 child care homes and centers (ASQ-3) at the start of the program communication and outreach, and capacity building and systems were rated for quality over a and again at completion. Children change. three-year period. demonstrated improvements, and • 143 service providers upon completion of the program During this last fiscal year, one of the most significant outcomes participated in collaborative were developing typically as listed meetings in eastern Nevada achieved with First 5 Nevada funding below: County, and 294 attended • 100 percent of children in the was attained by the PARTNERS Family Resource Centers (FRC), who collaborative meetings in problem solving domain implemented the evidence-based western Nevada County. • 97 percent of children in the • 27 children received intensive Positive Parenting Program (Triple communication domain home visiting services in the • 91 percent of children in the P) curriculum, led by a Marriage and Family Therapist. Participating Healthy Families America personal-social domain parents showed improved parenting evidence-based model. • 100 percent of children in the • 97 children and 91 parents who gross motor domain practices, parenting knowledge, and communication with their were not otherwise eligible for • 83 percent of children in the fine services received behavioral partners, while children showed motor domain health care. Upon completion of the program, a drop in problem behavior. The parents had increased confidence PARTNERS FRCs received $161,907 Orange County in their ability to provide age- in funding in FY 2014–15 with some appropriate routines, play, and of the funds supporting the Triple First 5 Orange County is a expectations of their child: P classes. Triple P series were held convener, planner, and sponsor for • 100 percent of parents report six times with participants reporting the implementation of programs in
they read or share books with high satisfaction with the curriculum, four goal areas: healthy children, their child at least two times a instructor, peer interaction, and their early learning, strong families, and
week. relationships with their children; 62 capacity building. Through First 5 • 85 percent of parents report that parents with 69 children ages 0 to 5 Orange investments, the vision is that when they read or share books attended one or more sessions. These all children are healthy and ready to
with their child, they do so for at evening classes included dinner learn.
least 10 minutes. and childcare, removing barriers During this past fiscal year, one of • 92 percent of parents report to participation. The class also was the most significant accomplishments they support expanded available in Spanish for the first time. was the completion of the community learning for their child through “Parenting Ladder” retrospective school readiness assessment using
conversation at least once a surveys were given to all Triple P the Early Development Index (EDI), week. participants and showed an overall a population measure of school • 97 percent of parents report average increase of 1.62 points on a readiness. Since 2007, First 5 they provide early learning six-point Likert scale in the areas of Orange has partnered with school experiences around shapes and parenting knowledge, communication districts to collect information about colors at home. with their partner about child issues, kindergarten-aged children in consistency of positive discipline, and participating geographic areas, to awareness of community resources. create an overall snapshot of their “The Parenting Scale,” a 30-item developmental progress in five areas:
42 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report physical health and well-being, social increasing demand for children’s and parent education services. competence, emotional maturity, mental health services, a process • Children who are suspected language and cognitive skills, and began to improve an integrated victims of felony child abuse communication skills and general health delivery system focused receive mental health advocacy knowledge. on optimizing young children’s services. With a funding investment of social-emotional health. The • Mothers who are experiencing approximately $200,000, this year Commission’s efforts will align perinatal depression receive marked the first year of 100 percent with the broader mental health therapy. school participation. The EDI data planning efforts in the county, • Organizations are building were reported for over 34,000 and focus on the integration of collaborative linkages with children, representing 90 percent parent and child mental health, service providers to develop an of the total kindergarten population and prevention services into the integrated system of support. served by public schools in the health systems. county. The EDI data is a catalyst Plumas County for bringing together individuals, Placer County Through targeted investments, organizations, and community First 5 Placer County has three the goal of First 5 Plumas County is leaders to improve school readiness long-term goals: 1) Children are to promote healthy children, optimal and create better environments for nurtured, healthy, safe, learning, child development, strong families, children. Furthermore, EDI provides and developmentally reaching their and integrated systems of care valuable information to improve potential; 2) Families are strong for children ages 0 to 5 and their programs and supports, and better and connected; 3) Communities families. First 5 Plumas funds intensive coordinate services to help children are caring and responsive. To help ongoing home visitation modeled develop and learn before and during achieve these goals, the county after Healthy Families America and their school years. commission integrates a protective Behavioral Health/Mental Health Other highlights during FY 2014– factor framework for family and services for children and their 15 included: community strengthening. Part of the parents. The Home Visitation Program • Bridges Maternal Child Health commission’s role in implementing is implemented by four separate Network Sustainability Plan: the protective factor framework is to projects working together toward This successful prevention and help support and build the capacity common shared outcomes. early intervention program to of its funded partners. During this last fiscal year, one of ensure children have a healthy In FY 2014–15, First 5 Placer the most significant accomplishments start received $250,000 in funded 25 major programs, including of First 5 Plumas was funding a pilot technical assistance awards those focusing on child health and program for a Behavioral Health to consider the feasibility development, parent support, and Therapist to provide mental health of implementing a “Pay for connecting families to community services in the home. An Early Success” funding strategy for resources. Each program has a Childhood Development Specialist sustainability. The funding logic model that aligns with the also provided early childhood awards have created significant commissions’ strategic plan, as well development services, with bonding value in strengthening the as an individual evaluation plan that and attachment services in the home, Bridges Network evaluation and outlines the programs’ evaluation to infants and children who have program model. requirements. After the end of the experienced emotional trauma. With • Pediatric Mobile Vision fiscal year, each program participates an initial investment of $27,000 for a Program: The partnership with in group learning conversations that six-month pilot project, the initiative the University of California aim to facilitate peer-to-peer learning provided therapeutic counseling, Irvine Health (Gavin Herbert Eye exchanges and provide opportunities infant attachment/bonding, play Institute) and Children’s Hospital for networking and collaboration. therapy, and family therapy to parents of Orange County to collectively Through First 5 Placer-funded and children ages 0 to 5. Based invest $3 million for the Pediatric partners: on the early success of the pilot Eye Mobile is providing early • Services are being coordinated project, the Plumas County Board vision screening and follow-up and are more accessible to of Supervisors invested $286,000 of care to preschool-aged children families in need. Mental Health Services Act funding throughout the county. An • Children are being screened to have First 5 Plumas expand the additional $15,000 from the early to identify any program significantly in the upcoming Lon V. Smith Foundation funds developmental delays or special program year. free glasses to disadvantaged needs. Other highlights during FY 2014– children. • Parents (including pregnant 15 include: • Children’s Mental Health and parenting teens) receive • Families participating in home Initiative: In response to the counseling, case management, visits experienced improved
43 access to health care and concluded, with findings to be 8 percent pre-program to 4 percent increased the frequency of available later in the year. post-program. family literacy activities with their Other highlights during FY 2014– School Readiness: Project children. 15 included: Screening, Outreach, and Referral • Clients of the Behavioral Health • 951 children accessed quality Services provided developmental Therapist showed marked child care services. screenings, referrals, home visitations, improvement in their mental • Almost 1,700 children screened and parent support to children living health status on a standardized for asthma-related symptoms; in transitional housing. During FY screening tool–the Threshold 160 environmental assessments 2014–15, 462 parents and children Assessment Grid. were completed in child care were served. Home visits were facilities. provided to 425 parents and children, Riverside County • Breastfeeding support services 247 children received the Ages First 5 Riverside County has were delivered to over 9,900 and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) invested in a range of Early Learning mothers through the Helpline Developmental Screening, and 36 and Health services with the goal and Home Visitation Services. children received the ASQ:Social and of preparing children for success • 264 children were enrolled in Emotional Developmental Screening. in school and life. First 5 Riverside health insurance. Oral Health: First 5 Sacramento investments include promotion of • More than 6,200 children continued to support five children’s parent/caregiver education to assist received mental health dental centers offering free or low- early learning everyday practices, screenings and almost half cost dental services. Combined, the increased access to quality child care/ of these children received five centers served 2,972 children. preschool, special needs child care treatment services. Sacramento also funded the services, early care and education Smile Keepers Mobile Dental Van, workforce development, improved Sacramento County providing dental screenings and quality healthcare services for First 5 Sacramento County served fluoride varnishes to 7,198 children asthma, breastfeeding support home approximately 60,122 children, at schools and community events. In visitation services, health access, parents, and providers through the addition, First 5 Sacramento provided nutrition and physical activity, oral work of 36 contractors. Highlights leadership and staff support for the health, behavioral health, and the included: Sacramento County Medi-Cal Dental University of California Riverside Effective Parenting: The “Birth & Advisory Committee (MCDAC), Pediatric Residency Program. Beyond” (B&B) program provided working to implement policy and During FY 2014–15, one of the parent education, crisis intervention, systems change to improve dental most significant accomplishments of and home visitation services through care for children and families First 5 Riverside was the accreditation nine Family Resource Centers with Medi-Cal. MCDAC efforts of one of its home visitation-funded throughout Sacramento County. involved working with local dentists, programs. El Sol Neighborhood During FY 2014–15, the program community partners, the California Center attained PCHP (Parent-Child served over 11,000 children and Department of Health Care Services, Home Program) and HIPPY (Home caregivers. During a four-year period and legislators to identify and address Instruction for Parents of Preschool (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2014), the issues for the more than 390,000 Youngsters) certification. With a B&B evaluation included a cumulative Medi-Cal recipients in Sacramento funding investment of $2,142,399 study of referrals to Child Protective County. for three years, this program Services (CPS) for 2,512 families. The Media Efforts: Social engagement provides evidence-based home rates of CPS reporting pre-, during, efforts span across four platforms visitation models integrated with the and post-program declined for both (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Promotoras, a promising-practice the cohort of families with prior CPS Pinterest) with more than 8,750 model, creating a unique approach history (50 percent, 1,256 families) followers. In partnership with the in providing intensive home visitation and for families without any prior Dairy Council of California and child services to children and families in referrals to CPS (50 percent, 1,256 development agencies throughout Riverside County. Over 500 families families). Altogether, 50 percent of California, First 5 Sacramento have benefited from this program families enrolled in B&B without any participated in quarterly Twitter Party and parents reported an increase CPS history, and 81 percent of the Chats #Tips4Tots. The one-hour in parental knowledge regarding participants had no referrals to CPS parties on various children’s topics child development, parent-child post-program. For the 50 percent of went viral nationwide. A three-month, engagement, the importance of early B&B families with CPS history, only multi-media campaign about the literacy practices, and increased 17 percent had new referrals post- family resource centers, featuring participation in activities that foster program; the rate of substantiated the newest center, generated 1.5 early brain development. Formal dispositions with CPS declined from million impressions from radio spots, evaluation of this program recently digital ads, customized default text
44 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report reply, streaming ads, and pre-roll. Juan Bautista Public Libraries. Parent • Asthma stabilization and In addition, First 5 Sacramento co- participants reported high rates of education provided to 327 branded the Sugar Bites ads with library card use and book checkouts, children and their caregivers the campaign creator, First 5 Contra and strong agreement that Story Time • Oral Health Screenings for 8,300 Costa, for outdoor display ads that provided benefits. children and treatment provided targeted high-need areas throughout First 5 San Benito served more to 1,300 children Sacramento at 33 convenience stores than 800 families in the Raising A • Successful Literacy, Water Safety, and 25 bus transit shelters. Reader program. Participants showed and Oral Health Campaigns the following: n Oral Health: Distributed San Benito County • Increase from 49 percent to 62 promotional material Through its investments, the goal percent of parents who reported (toothbrushes) to all of First 5 San Benito County is to having a routine for looking at contracted oral health ensure children thrive and reach their books agencies. n full potential at home, in school, in the • Increase in child enjoyment of Water Safety: Attended three community, and throughout life. reading and positive behaviors water safety events in the In FY 2014–15, First 5 San Benito while reading books Inland Empire, serviced more funded the Fit for Kids program, • Increase in weekly library/ than 1,000 families at the which provides physical fitness and bookmobile visits (from 6 annual water safety event, nutrition education to children in early percent to 20 percent) and distributed promotional education sites. Children participating materials (coloring books, in the program showed: San Bernardino County water watch tags). n • Daily fruit/vegetable First 5 San Bernardino County aims Literacy: Attended four consumption increased overall to promote, support, and enhance literacy events, serviced from 63 percent to 93 percent. the health and early development of over 2,000 families at the • Daily water consumption children prenatal through age 5. This annual literacy events, and increased overall from 68 is accomplished through investments distributed promotional percent to 95 percent. The in the areas of health, family support, materials (books, book greatest increase by site was 50 and early education as well as markers, growth charts, percent (from 50 percent to 100 support for systems improvement and backpacks, crayons, glue percent). capacity building efforts in the county sticks, scissors, and pencils) to • Daily soda/juice consumption of San Bernardino. the community and a variety decreased overall from 62 FY 2014–15 yielded many notable of agencies. percent to 20 percent. The accomplishments and positive • Developmental screenings greatest decrease at a single site outcomes for San Bernardino provided to 4,392 through direct was 66 percent (from 81 percent County’s youngest residents and their service contracts and thousands to 15 percent). families. One of the most significant more through early intervention First 5 San Benito enhanced investments was 586 participants in system support the quality of its parent education a family literacy initiative, yielding program by adding Positive Parenting an increase in parents’ perceptions San Diego County Program (Triple P) education to the of their abilities to actively support The goal of First 5 San Diego is for Family Wellness network of ten and enhance their children’s love all children ages 0 to 5 to be healthy, school-based partners. Highlights for reading. Data from this initiative loved and nurtured, and enter school from the Triple P Level Three Stepping demonstrated that a significant as active learners. Stones provided by Easter Seals number of parents who, prior to the During the last fiscal year, one of include: program, rarely or never practiced the most significant accomplishments • Parents’ perceptions of their important behaviors with their of First 5 San Diego was its home parental efficacy improved children such as reading together, visiting initiative, First 5 First Steps. between pre and post surveys in following a reading routine (bedtime, With an annual funding investment seven out of eight categories. etc.), practicing the alphabet, singing of $5,000,000, this initiative provides • Parents were satisfied with songs, and playing rhyming games, county-wide home visitation workshops. While most said began to practice these behaviors services to specific high-risk target they would use the parenting regularly as assessed through a populations, including pregnant and strategies taught, results varied standardized evaluation tool. parenting teens, military personnel, by parenting topic. Other highlights in FY 2014–15: refugees, immigrants, and low- As part of the commission’s • A comprehensive year-round income families using the Healthy commitment to literacy, First 5 San preschool experience for 984 Families America model and the Benito staff members provided children Parents as Teachers curriculum. weekly Story Time in Hollister and San First 5 First Steps strengthens
45 for all four-year-olds for the next 25 San Joaquin County
years. This legislation, predicated Since its inception, the First 5 on First 5 San Francisco’s successful San Joaquin Children and Families implementation of the city’s Preschool Commission (F5SJ) has brought for All Initiative since 2004, also critical services to tens of thousands represents a 30 percent increase in of high-need parents, caregivers,
funding for San Francisco’s children, and children in San Joaquin County. and offers continued opportunity to Today, F5SJ continues to invest in the leverage support for related child community by funding high-quality health and family strengthening programs and services to improve the
initiatives. lives of the county’s youngest children Other highlights from FY 2014–15: and their families. • Funded preschools continue In FY 2014–15, with a funding to achieve high ratings in the investment of $1.06 million, First 5 quality of their environments San Joaquin administered the federal (94 percent of sites meeting Race to the Top–Early Learning child and family relationships by benchmark scores) and teacher/ Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant for early providing support, education, child interactions (96 percent and guidance during home visits. learning and development sites of sites meeting benchmark The program promotes positive throughout San Joaquin County. The scores). In addition, San cohorts of 148 licensed programs parenting, nurtures the development Francisco’s Quality Rating and of healthy relationships between participated in a Quality Rating and Improvement System expanded Improvement System (QRIS). Early parent and child, enhances parent its reach among funded knowledge about the growth and learning providers are supported by preschool sites as well as to coaching and mentoring, and have development of their children, and several family child care homes, opportunities for scholarships, quality provides community referrals for with a total of 163 sites rated. awards, training, and professional parents and their children, including • Nearly 10,700 parents/ development as they advance connections to a medical provider. caregivers and children were First 5 First Steps served over 600 through the QRIS tiers. RTT-ELC served by San Francisco’s Family QRIS highlights during FY 2014–15 families county-wide and provided Resource Center (FRC) Initiative. included: approximately 12,000 home visits. Centers offered a wide array of • Early child care center and First 5 San Diego was honored prevention services, including to be the recipient of the 2015 home-based providers received 68 parent/child interactive $618,000 in Quality Awards to Achievement Award by the National playgroups promoting positive Association of Counties in recognition support quality improvement parent/child relationships for of outstanding innovation for its First activities. over 3,000 parents and young 5 First Steps home visiting initiative. • Scholarship awards of children. More targeted one- $16,875 helped teaching to-one services also are a core San Francisco County staff further their education part of the family support in Early Childhood and Child The goal of First 5 San Francisco model, with approximately Development coursework. County is to ensure all children, birth 2,000 hours of intensive case • The local Lifestyles Magazine to age 5, will be safe, healthy, and management provided to 300 featured a family child care thrive in supportive, nurturing, and families referred from child provider with a QRIS score of 5.
loving families and communities. welfare through Differential In FY 2014–15, with a funding
This goal is supported by strategic Response. An evaluation has investment of $100,000, F5SJ investments within five initiatives demonstrated these families are administered the Breastfeeding representing more than 200 funded less likely to have substantiated Initiative to increase breastfeeding programs: Preschool for All, Early child welfare referrals following rates in the county by supporting Childhood Education Quality, Family case management services at a hospitals to become “baby friendly.”
Resource Centers, Family Support funded FRC. Through this project, San Joaquin Quality, and Early Childhood Health • As a result of funded health and County Public Health Services
and Mental Health. mental health early identification coordinates six local hospitals to
The biggest accomplishment of and intervention initiatives, select and implement the California FY 2014–15 for the city and county a total of 9,451 health and Department of Public Health of San Francisco was the passage developmental screenings were Breastfeeding Model Hospital Policy. of local legislation that will ensure conducted with children birth to Highlights included:
high-quality, universal preschool age 5. • Delta Health Care (Women, Infants, and Children [WIC]
46 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report agency), Lodi Memorial Hospital, Among many accomplishments this to replace sugary beverages and the Breastfeeding Coalition past year, one highlight has been the with water. of San Joaquin County piloted expansion of Social and Emotional • First 5 San Luis Obispo County an electric breast pump loan Foundations for Early Learning participated in the development program. (SEFEL) trainings offered through of the P5 Children’s Advocacy • Lodi Memorial Hospital became the First 5-funded Early Learning Network (P5CAN), a new the second hospital in San for All Network. This professional collective of agencies dedicated Joaquin County to receive the development program provides to serving and advocating for World Health Organization educators and other providers with the county’s youngest children. (WHO) designation of “baby- the knowledge, tools, and support • Through its quarterly partner friendly.” they need to implement social and meetings, First 5 San Luis • A third hospital is in the process emotional learning in preschool, Obispo educated its funded of applying for this designation. transitional kindergarten, and partners on the impact of In FY 2014–15, with supplemental kindergarten classrooms. Support adverse childhood experiences targeted revenue from San of the program begins with the and toxic stress on brain Joaquin County CalWORKs and commission’s strong belief that development and overall health. the Lucile Packard Foundation for social and emotional growth and • As part of the local Post-Partum Children’s Health of $190,365, development are critically important Depression Support Program, F5SJ administered the Help Me for the overall development and First 5 San Luis Obispo and the Grow San Joaquin County project school readiness of children. Center for Family Strengthening and supported the San Joaquin The trainings this year included welcomed Walker Karraa, County California Community Care 32 graduates from a diverse mix Ph.D., author of Transformed by Coordination Collaborative (5Cs). of Early Childhood Education Postpartum Depression, to San Highlights of these projects teachers, administrators, and college Luis Obispo County’s annual included: instructors, as well as a new focus Maternal Wellness Forum. • The Help Me Grow Call Center on parent trainings. First 5 San Luis • First 5 San Luis Obispo hosted and Care Coordination staff Obispo is proud to advance this “Drop Everything and Read” responded to 984 inquiries vital component of child wellness in book signings at two school for support, and provided classrooms and homes throughout readiness sites featuring Shalini referrals for 350 children whose the county. Singh, author of Lee the Bee, parents participate in the county Other highlights of FY 2014–15 Turn Off That TV. CalWORKs program. included the following: • The San Joaquin County 5Cs • In partnership with the County San Mateo County supported the development of Childcare Planning Council, During FY 2014–15, First 5 a county-wide team of health Community Foundation, local San Mateo County maintained its navigators to improve care nonprofits, and businesses, First multifaceted investments in programs coordination for children with 5 San Luis Obispo promoted supporting all aspects of a child’s special health care needs. April as “Month of the Child” early years, including Early Learning; and “Child Abuse Prevention Child Health and Development; San Luis Obispo County Month” through a rich calendar Family Engagement; and Policy, Through its investments, the goal of events, including the Thirty- Advocacy, and Communications. of First 5 San Luis Obispo County is seventh Annual San Luis Obispo Supported by $8.7 million in to ensure that our children thrive in Children’s Day in the Plaza, community investments, its funded nurturing, respectful environments and the Fifth Annual Dinner partners provided over 20,000 and enter school healthy and ready to Honoring Hands-on Heroes services to children, parents, and learn. It allocates funds and advocates and Champions of Youth. The providers, and distributed 2,352 Kits for quality programs and services, awards were presented to for New Parents. supporting children prenatal to age individuals for their outstanding During the past fiscal year, a key 5, to ensure that every child is healthy contributions that make a accomplishment of First 5 San Mateo and ready to learn in school. positive difference in the lives of was developing and beginning the During FY 2014–15, First 5 San children every day. implementation of its new strategic Luis Obispo investments contributed • As a member of the county plan. An exciting aspect of this to the success of many programs Healthy Eating Active Living work was conducting collaborative and services supporting children San Luis Obispo (HEALSLO) community planning processes for and families in its five initiative Coalition, First 5 San Luis two large-scale, complex initiatives. areas: Health, Oral Health, Perinatal Obispo helped sponsor a Drink First 5 San Mateo is proud to work Substance Abuse Prevention, School Water Week “H2Only” media with its community partners to Readiness, and Special Needs. campaign encouraging families intentionally grow their capacity to
47 enhance connections among and areas where policy change can children. All 118 participating center across agencies and sectors, analyze have a meaningful impact on and family child care sites developed gaps in the local service array, their well-being, and generate plans and received assessments, identify and tap into broad-based momentum by acting on these coaching, training, grants, and ratings. resources, and tackle systemic issues opportunities. First 5 Santa Barbara’s QRIS is unique that compromise the quality and • Developing the Child Signature in that it requires accreditation for accessibility of services. Program infant classroom into the top tier. To simplify the system for • Fifteen partner agencies are a model site for center-based users, and show the cross-benefits of participating in the Watch Me infant care. A critical component both, First 5 Santa Barbara worked Grow Special Needs Project, of the model site has been the with the National Association for which includes service strategies development of an observation the Education of Young Children such as developmental room to support provider (NAEYC) to develop a crosswalk screening and assessment, professional development as and integrated verification system. care coordination embedded well as parent education and Through this model, accreditation within communities and public engagement. Office space in a validators review sites looking at the health clinics, cross-disciplinary building adjacent to the infant criteria for both accreditation and medical case management for center is now equipped so a the QRIS matrix (along with other complex cases, legal assistance, live video feed of the classroom local quality initiatives). The goal is and work focused on systems can be streamed. This program that all sites will be validated this improvement. will develop capacity through way when accredited and for QRIS • Twenty partner agencies are observation, coaching, and ratings. With nearly 30 percent of all involved in efforts toward Early reflection. This unique resource centers currently accredited (state/ Learning Quality Improvement will benefit the county as a national average is 5 percent), and a & Expanded Access for Children whole by creating a place growing number of family child care with Special Needs, which where ECE students from local homes working toward accreditation, includes service strategies such community colleges, as well this model will continue to be the as support for early learning as other infant/toddler care framework and will help sustain the sites, including family child providers, can come to observe local QRIS. The vision is an integrated care homes, to participate best practices in teacher-child QRIS and accreditation system that in the local Quality Rating interactions, program design, is streamlined for providers and and Improvement System; environment, and parent adaptable as the system grows and professional development engagement and support. changes, a model that can be used by for current early learning other counties across the state. providers, including coaching, Santa Barbara Other highlights during FY 2014– mentoring, and professional Through its investments, the goal 15 included: learning communities; Early of First 5 Santa Barbara County is to • Because of the QRIS system Childhood Education workforce devote its funding and organizational in Santa Barbara County, development at the community capacity in the following two primary more child care programs colleges; enhanced referrals areas: are screening children for to quality child care for • Family Support developmental delays. A total of children with special needs; n Parent education and support 1,604 children are now receiving early childhood mental health n Intensive case management, developmental screenings, consultation; and embedding information, and referral/ using a valid and reliable transformational family linkages to services with screening tool, in programs engagement principles and follow-up that did not conduct screenings practices within early learning n Child and maternal health prior to QRIS. As providers and settings. access parents respond to concerns Other highlights during FY 2014– • Early Care and Education uncovered through this effort, 15 included: n Improving the quality of children have a better chance • Convening a Children’s existing childcare and for early interventions and being Policy Cabinet with director- preschool services ready for kindergarten. There level representation from n Creating new quality childcare are now 3,191 children receiving multiple county agencies and and preschool services and developmental assessments community-based organizations. expanding access to them through QRIS programs. The purpose of this group is FY 2014–15 was First 5 Santa • Parents who had at least two to allow for open conversation Barbara’s first fully operational year of assessments in the Family about the status and needs the Quality Rating and Improvement Development Matrix (FDM) of young children, identify System (QRIS), serving a total of 3,967 showed improvements for
48 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report nearly all FDM indicators, professional development, conduct perinatal substance use with the largest gains seen clinical guidance, and and mental health screening in the areas of child health evaluation. with pregnant women using insurance, knowledge of • Technological Innovation: the 4Ps Plus (Parent, Partner, community resources, clothing, Made through the creation Pregnancy, Past) screening tool. employment, childcare, and piloting of the ASQ and As a result of investments in UDS, nutrition, and support system. ASQ:SE mobile application there were 14,262 developmental • The Welcome Every Baby (App) for the Apple iPad. This and behavioral health screenings program provided home visits App is being piloted in English conducted between January 2013 by a registered nurse to 488 and Spanish, contains audio and April 2015. Of the children families; 18 of those families also and video enhancements, screened, approximately 683 received a second nurse visit. scores automatically, and prints were referred to early assessment Most mothers (80 percent) were wirelessly. and intervention services, which breastfeeding at the initial nurse • Sustainability Planning Efforts: significantly increased children’s visit, which occurred within Through the collaboration ability to interact positively with two to seven days of hospital with other First 5 counties and others, self-regulate their behavior, discharge. The nurse helped the First 5 Association, First 5 effectively communicate their 85 percent of the mothers with Santa Clara is participating in feelings, and enter school prepared breastfeeding and provided a pilot project to leverage and to learn. In addition, the parents/ a referral for lactation support align with healthcare reform caregivers served were more services as necessary. efforts involving managed confident in their parenting skills, health care organizations and more sensitive to their children’s Santa Clara County other funding streams at the needs, more able to manage stress, Through First 5 Santa Clara national, state, and local levels and better prepared to support their County’s partnership with Santa that prioritizes developmental children’s ability to recuperate from Clara Valley Health and Hospital screening, home visitation, and trauma. System (SCVHHS) and Behavioral care coordination. Additionally, Health Services Department, it First 5 Santa Clara is proposing Santa Cruz County was able to leverage $11,483,121 a pilot project to the Santa First 5 Santa Cruz County’s mission from Medi-Cal and the Early Clara Family Health Plan for is to help children succeed in school Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and the purpose of developing and in life by investing in their health, Treatment Program with the direct a cost model for universal early learning, and family support. investment of $2,470,000 in the developmental screening, Through these investments, First 5 Universal Developmental Screening and lastly, is partnering with Santa Cruz helps ensure all children Initiative (UDS). This sustainable, Stanford University’s Center on enter school ready to achieve their leveraged investment ensures that Longevity to study the impact of greatest potential. developmental and behavioral volunteering on county retirees. In FY 2014–15, First 5 Santa Cruz screening, through the use of the Through the partnership with continued to lead implementation standardized Ages and Stages SCVHHS, county retirees will of the Newborn Enrollment Project Questionnaires (ASQ)-3 and ASQ: have the opportunity to be known locally as Baby Gateway. Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE) screening trained and to volunteer as Operating in all three local birthing tools, is routinely conducted during developmental screeners in hospitals (Watsonville Community well-baby/child visits in pediatric pediatric clinic settings to Hospital, Dominican Hospital, clinics and practices throughout enhance UDS sustainability. Santa Clara County. Children whose • Early and Comprehensive screening results indicate potential Health Screening Approach: developmental and/or behavioral To ensure children receive health concerns are connected to comprehensive health prevention and early intervention screenings during their well- services. As a result of the baby/child visits, First 5 Santa partnerships and investments made Clara is developing a pilot in UDS, the following are First 5 Santa project to integrate vision Clara’s key accomplishments: and hearing screening with • Leadership and Governance developmental and behavioral Structure: Provides health screening. Furthermore, strategic oversight of UDS First 5 Santa Clara and its implementation, systems and partners are developing a pilot policy alignment and advocacy, project with obstetric clinics to
49 still using strategies learned During FY 2014–15, one of from Triple P. First 5 Shasta’s most significant • The Santa Cruz Reading Corps accomplishments was the program grew to 14 tutors development and implementation serving over 600 children in of First 5 Institute, a coordinated 16 classrooms. On one key effort to provide education and emergent literacy skill, letter training opportunities to parents naming, the percentage of and providers of services to children children at or near target for ages 0 to 5 on a wide variety of later reading success, grew from topics related to the Pathway. With 31.7 percent to 71.1 percent by an investment of only $23,000, First the end of the school year. 5 Institute hosted 71 events serving • Through braiding First 5 530 unduplicated participants. California Child Signature Professional development Program and Race to the Top opportunities included topics such and Sutter Maternity and Surgery – Early Learning Challenge as Understanding Poverty, Mandated Center), the program provides Grant funding, First 5 Santa Reporting, Technology of Participation enrollment assistance to mothers Cruz coordinated the facilitation methods, Brown Act, and their newborns, and helps link continued implementation and Positive Parenting Program. For newborns to a medical home. The of a local Quality Rating and parents, activities included a wide program conducted 2,706 newborn Improvement System. Of the range of parent-child activities such visits, reaching over 87 percent of 43 center-based sites receiving as library story times and the creation all newborns and also distributed technical assistance, coaching, and management of a calendar the First 5 California Kit for New independent assessment and of parent-child activities in the Parents. In 2015, Santa Cruz added rating, 17 were designated community. educational information to the Kit Child Signature Program 2 Other highlights during FY 2014– promoting timely vaccination and sites. Quality was enhanced at 15 included: awareness of the ongoing risks of these sites through ongoing • Literacy Efforts: First 5 Shasta lead poisoning. Since the beginning Classroom Assessment provided a grant to the Shasta of the program in FY 2009–10, Scoring System®, Ages and Early Literacy Project to support Watsonville Community Hospital Stages Questionnaire, and a wide range of literacy efforts has seen a substantial decrease in Early Childhood Environment in Shasta County, including the Emergency Department visits by Rating Scale/Infant Toddler placement of Little Free Libraries children less than one year old, Environment Rating Scale across the county, of both Reach from 2,315 in the year prior to the technical assistance and Out and Read and Raising program’s start, to 1,268 in 2014. coaching. At the close of the a Reader, and a variety of Other key accomplishments in the fiscal year, 15 CSP 2 sites were parent and community literacy past year include: rated at Tier 4 and two sites at activities. In addition, First 5 • First 5 Santa Cruz commissioned Tier 3. Shasta distributed over 18,000 a phone survey of the Positive children’s books through a wide Parenting Program (Triple Shasta County range of community partners P) participants to better First 5 Shasta County’s vision is that and at a variety of community understand the impact of all Shasta County young children are events. the program. Participants ensured optimal early development • Cuddle-a-Reader: First 5 Shasta reported high levels of and are ready to enter school. First partnered with the Mercy satisfaction, use of program 5 Shasta uses its adopted strategic Foundation and the Mercy strategies, and continued framework “Pathway to Children Volunteer Guild to provide each interest in participating in Ready for School and Succeeding baby born at Mercy Medical Triple P services. The data also at Third Grade” (Pathway) and five Center (Shasta County’s primary indicated that Triple P has a selected Pathway Goals to guide its birthing hospital) with a tote bag high success rate: 77 percent investment in early childhood. These of materials, including a board of participants reported a lot goals include Healthy, Well-timed book, information on how and or some improvement related Births; Health and Development on why to read to your baby, and a to their original concerns. On Track; Supported and Supported library card application. an average of 10 months after Families; High-Quality Childcare and • Week of the Young Child completing services, 95 percent Early Education; and Continuity in (WOYC): First 5 Shasta of participants said they were Early Childhood Experiences. coordinated over 40 parent-
50 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report child events and community is pleased the change of approach to • Siskiyou Reads! Early literacy activities for children ages 0 to 5 better include participant input has Initiative to promote daily during the annual WOYC. A total resulted in more participation and reading and increase the of 1,537 people attended with enthusiasm for professional growth. number of books in a child’s distribution of 13,000 calendars home library; initiated and over 1,300 children’s books. Siskiyou County partnerships to adopt the Reach • Mercy Maternity Center: First The goal of First 5 Siskiyou Out and Read partnership 5 Shasta partnered with a local County is to work collaboratively through local clinics maternity clinic to provide with partners to provide education, • Collaborative investment in online childbirth instruction, and support, and resources to families county-wide robust parenting prenatal education and support with children prenatal to age 5 to education workshops and in order to address the high rate optimize every child’s development classes of patients with no childbirth and preparedness for academic, • Eat Healthy—Stay Active preparation and to provide social, and life success. First 5 Siskiyou Initiative: nutrition education additional education and plays a key role in advocating and and promotion in partnership support about the importance modeling increased partnerships to with Siskiyou County Public of prenatal care and lifestyle support the ultimate outcome for its Health and FRCs management for a healthy youngest citizens. • Collaborative investment in pregnancy. One of the most significant professional development trainings for those who work Sierra County accomplishments of First 5 Siskiyou was the investment in 10 Family with families. These free in- First 5 Sierra County continued its Resource Centers (FRC). With a county trainings provide quality program, Provider Network, which funding investment of over $250,000, education opportunities to encourages professional growth this initiative provides essential build the capacity of medical of childcare/preschool providers. services and support such as Cal providers, social workers, family Approximately $17,000 (7 percent Fresh and other application assistance support workers, educators, of the total program budget) is used programs, playgroups, parent support clinicians, etc. Topics included to subsidize college units in early groups, early childhood resources, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety childhood education and incentivize education, evidence-based parenting Disorder with Dr. Pec Indman. providers attaining educational classes, case management services, milestones (licenses, degrees, tobacco use prevention, second- Solano County etc.). The county is quite rural and and third-hand smoke resources, an The mission of First 5 Solano access to college classes is difficult. early literacy program, and more. In County is to be a leader that fosters Most of the providers have been with addition, the FRCs are a key partner and sustains effective programs and the county for many years and have in our Read–Sing–Play Every Day! partnerships with the community to “maxed out” on classes they could Campaign and provide educational promote, support, and improve the take, and therefore there has been a resources and presentation at local lives of young children, their families, decline in program participation. preschools, such as Harvest of The and their community. Through its In FY 2014–15, First 5 Sierra Month program. Investing in the 10 strategic framework, the First 5 Solano contracted with a parent, who FRCs located throughout our frontier funds services in the Priority Areas of teaches in the Sonoma State Early county creates the opportunity for Health & Well Being; Early Learning Education program, to provide families to access services, support, & Development; Family Support a series of workshops shaped and educational resources within and Parent Education; and First 5 directly by input from providers. The their community. Results from families Futures. First 5 Solano values the key incentive structure was changed to participating in FRC programs show criteria of evidence-based, focus on include stipends for the county’s notable improvement in daily reading high risk/high need, coordination, own sponsored workshops. (Previous habits, parent-child interactions, collaboration, leveraging, and stipends required accredited college social support, knowledge of child increasing access. units.) The workshops have been development, increased quality family During FY 2014–15, one of the well received and participation in time, and a decrease in isolation. most significant accomplishments the program has increased by 40 Other highlights during FY 2014– of First 5 Solano was the launch of percent. Another workshop series is 15 included: the Help Me Grow Solano call center. being planned for next year and the • Oral Health Education and Help Me Grow Solano became an hope is to partner with the public Screening Initiative affiliate in December 2013. The schools to support teachers needing • Welcome Home BABY! Universal official call center was launched in Early Childhood units to teach new parent home visitation October 2014 and received 1,141 transitional kindergarten. First 5 Sierra program calls and referrals within a 9-month
51 period. In addition, nearly 400 services, dental services, and risk accomplish goals in early childhood families with multiple needs were assessments. (with First 5 Sonoma providing provided with family navigation to • Ninety-three families attended backbone support): increase access assist them in accessing resources. the Kindergarten Readiness to quality preschool; launch a Help Me Grow Solano also is a leader Round-up. Each child completed community-wide literacy campaign in the county’s Collective Impact effort an assessment of skills needed to engage parents; promote for young children to strengthen and for success, and parents were professional development of early align the early childhood system. provided information on helping care providers in order to improve Other highlights that took place their child to develop school quality early care environments; during FY 2014–15 included: readiness skills. and adopt a countywide, common • First 5 Solano received Healthy kindergarten readiness assessment to Families America Accreditation Sonoma County promote greater articulation between (evidence-based home visiting). First 5 Sonoma County has pre-K and K-12 systems. A Cradle • The county commission developed a three-year allocation to Career workgroup conducted a conducted a poll of likely plan to support continued investment preschool facilities needs assessment Solano voters showing support in three major goal areas (Healthy and identified critical space needs. for a potential ballot initiative Development, Family Support, and Commissioners acted to create a introducing a tax measure to Early Care and Education), totaling Preschool Facilities Grant program support children and families. $10.4 million. It’s also supporting and the Sonoma County Board of • First 5 Solano hosted the innovative systems change and Supervisors provided matching funds sixth annual Solano Economic community engagement efforts by for grants totaling $655,000. Two Development Corporation making an additional $1.7 million hundred sixty-four preschool slots business breakfast with investment over the next three were created or preserved as a result keynote speaker Dowell Myers years. The county commission has of this collective effort. First 5 Sonoma (Sol Price School of Public focused on leveraging resources continues to address this need by Policy, University of Southern by supporting collective impact developing partnerships with local California) focusing on why efforts aligned with its strategic school districts and guiding funding investing in children is so critical priorities, including Cradle to to open more preschools on school for the economy. Over 100 Career (www.c2csonomacounty. campuses. business leaders and public org), Upstream Investments (www. First 5 Sonoma works closely officials attended. upstreaminvestments.org), and the with the Upstream Investments • Nearly 600 children without Sonoma County Funder’s Circle as Policy initiative, promoting strategic prior preschool experience or strategies to develop sustainable investments in evidence-based and who are considered high-risk funding sources for First 5 Sonoma prevention-focused approaches attended Pre-Kindergarten programs. Systems change efforts that can help guide funders to Academies in summer 2014, include advancing Adverse support effective programs that an increase of 30 percent over Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and improve community well-being. 2013 attendance. trauma awareness in the community, The connection between Upstream • Solano County Family Resource developing universal access to quality Investments and First 5 Sonoma’s Centers provided 851 children preschool, promoting developmental investment in evaluation and data and families basic needs, screening as a common practice in collection has helped build grantee information and referrals, and clinic settings, supporting a home capacity to understand and report case management. visiting collaborative, working with outcomes that can be presented to • As part of the Family school districts to develop preschool Strengthening Partnership, 246 facilities on school campuses that children received screening maximize state and federal preschool from a Child Welfare Social funding, and developing pay-for- Worker or Public Health success investment models. Nurse. Ninety-nine percent of By joining with Cradle to Career, a children receiving Child Welfare cross-sector partnership connecting Services remained safely in the all segments of the educational home or with the family unit. continuum to improve educational • Solano Kids Insurance Program attainment and career outcomes, First (SKIP) secured health insurance 5 Sonoma expanded its stakeholders for 614 children ages 0 to 5, beyond the 0 to 5 community. Cradle providing their families with to Career identified four bold steps to access to preventive medical
52 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report local funders and, in turn, supports • Parents of 2,040 children wrapped in a gold bow reminds sustainability of programs outside received more intensive services us that breastfeeding reduces the of First 5 Sonoma funding. The focused on improving child risk of breast cancer,” to guests as Funder’s Circle has come together abuse risk factors. they arrived, encouraging them to under the Upstream Initiative goals to • 389 children experienced wear the pin and recognize that “invest early, invest wisely, and invest improvements in their family breastfeeding helps reduce the risk together.” As part of investing early, environments after being for breast cancer. The award is on the Funder’s Circle has identified early enrolled in respite childcare. display at the First 5 Sutter County childhood programs as a priority, • 1,204 families increased the office. with its members supporting First time spent reading with their Statewide data demonstrates low 5 Sonoma’s investments in parent- children at home after receiving breastfeeding rates in Sutter County child programs like AVANCE and literacy services. (ranks 48th out of 50 counties where Pasitos Playgroups. In 2015, Sonoma • Families of 6,790 children data was collected), and the need County was selected by the Institute have increased knowledge for mothers to receive continued for Child Success to receive technical and utilization of community support to initiate and sustain assistance for developing a local pay- resources. breastfeeding. That support comes for-success model to attract investors • Proposition 10-funded programs from the community – the community to First 5-funded programs in early brought in more than $7 million of mothers, grandmothers, and care and education and Nurse-Family from other funding sources others. First 5 Sutter and the Tri- Partnership. during FY 2014–15, increasing Counties Breastfeeding Alliance, the level of services for children along with many other local partners, Stanislaus County ages 0 to 5 and their families. Of such as Sutter County Women, Through its investments in family that $7 million, $5 million came Infants, and Children program, work support, child safety, health, and from funding sources outside of continuously to promote and educate early learning, the goal of First 5 Stanislaus County. local health providers, businesses, Stanislaus County is to promote and parents about the benefits of the development and well-being of Sutter County supporting breastfeeding mothers children ages 0 to 5 and their families. First 5 Sutter County, together with and infants, which is vitally important During FY 2014–15, one of its most its community partner, Tri-Counties to improving the health of children significant accomplishments was the Breastfeeding Alliance of Colusa, and families to reduce the risk for operation of the Family Resource Sutter, and Yuba Counties, were breast cancer. Center/Differential Response awarded the California Breastfeeding Program. With a funding investment Coalition’s “Golden Nugget Award Tehama County of $2,059,357 from First 5 Stanislaus for Excellence in Reducing a Key First 5 Tehama County focuses and the Stanislaus Community Barrier to Breastfeeding.” The award, resources on ensuring children ages Services Agency, this program one of seven statewide, was given 0 to 5 are ready for school. Three provided intensive family support and in recognition of the collaborative funded programs work toward this child protection services to families efforts of First 5 Sutter, as well as goal. The School Readiness Program, when child maltreatment reports are the Geweke Caring for Women a multi-faceted program, including filed. Since the start of the program Foundation, for increasing the home visits, playgroups, KinderCamp, in 2005, the rate of recurrence of awareness of not only the health developmental screenings, and additional maltreatment reports, advantages and cost savings of “READY! for Kindergarten” classes, is within six months of the first report, breastmilk, but the preventive value of implemented in four school districts has remained below the rates existing breastfeeding on breast cancer. First in the county. The Mobile Dental prior to the program’s initiation. In 5 Sutter Executive Director, Clinic provides oral health care two quarters, the rate of recurrence Michele Blake, and the Tri-Counties to pregnant women and children, of additional maltreatment reports Breastfeeding Alliance’s chair, Tina targeting the communities served by within six months of the initial report Lavy, along with the support of the School Readiness Program. The has been below the national goal of Larry, Dale, and the Geweke Family, third program, the Corning Family 5.4 percent. organized a campaign to promote Resource Center, serves low income, Other highlights during FY 2014– and support breastfeeding at the primarily Spanish-speaking families 15 included: 2014 Pink October Fashion Show, residing in Corning. • Parents of 10,809 children held in Yuba City during Breast During FY 2014–15, with an received family support services Cancer Awareness Month. The Sutter investment of $329,129, the School through countywide Family County Commission distributed Readiness Program: Resource Centers or other pink and gold pins, attached to • Provided over 1,600 home programs. a card that stated “a pink ribbon visits, 233 case management
53 services, screened 492 children Trinity County Tulare County for kindergarten readiness or First 5 Trinity County continues to The goal of First 5 Tulare County
developmental milestones, improve the lives of children ages 0 is to promote early childhood and identified 166 three- and to 5 by maximizing strong community development of children ages 0 to 5 four-year-old children in need partnerships and resources. Through in the areas of health and wellness, of early care and education and its investments, the goal of First 5 early care and education, parent
referred them to programs Trinity is to improve children’s lives education and support services, and
• Conducted 127 playgroups, by providing opportunities for school integration of services. In FY 2014–15, 70 KinderCamp sessions, and readiness and healthy living. First 5 Tulare invested $5,360,980, three “READY! for Kindergarten” During the past fiscal year, one of which supported services for 24,550
classes for parents the most significant accomplishments children and 17,830 caregivers. • Served children who are more of First 5 Trinity was the Trinity During the past fiscal year, a likely to have access to health County Office of Education’s School significant accomplishment of
care and oral health care, Readiness Program. With a funding First 5 Tulare was achieved by the and more likely to participate investment of $62,500, this program Tulare Community Health Clinic in formal early childhood provided the following outcomes: Breastfeeding Pilot Project. With an education programs than • Kinder Camp at Hayfork was investment of $80,000, this program children in school districts not well attended by parents and promotes breastfeeding for new served by the program children, with a total of 17 mothers prior to hospital discharge The School Readiness Program students and 25 adults over the and during home visits. Project staff expanded into Red Bluff Elementary last two summers. became Certified Lactation Educators, District schools with Local Control • The School Readiness Program and together with an International Accountability Plan funding from successfully served students and Board Certified Lactation Consultant, the Tehama County Department families in seven locations across trained clinic staff to support all of Education and Small Population the county, reaching the most aspects of breastfeeding. The Tulare County Funding Augmentation frontier areas and providing Chamber of Commerce partnered
dollars from First 5 California. The early learning concepts to with project staff to decorate project leverages AmeriCorps students and early learning the Chamber’s storefront with funding by using AmeriCorps strategies to their families. breastfeeding promotional materials,
members as home visitors. A • School Readiness providers building awareness and support for complementary county-wide public received a total of 18 hours of breastfeeding moms with employers
education campaign, “Read, Sing, professional development in the and community residents. and Play,” encourages all parents to areas of early literacy, classroom Other highlights during FY 2014– read, sing, and play with their children management, art, science, and 15 included: every day, and to take them to the mathematics for pre-K students. • Building awareness for those doctor and dentist at recommended Other highlights that took place serving young children and their
intervals. included: families by hosting a Hands-On First 5 Tehama spearheads the • Funding a total of six projects: Heroes awards banquet, which
Early Intervention Partnership, Children’s Garden project, drew 200 attendees which has become the prevention soccer program, swimming • Developing core service committee of the newly formed Blue safety program, school provider agreements for the Ribbon Commission and championed readiness, Parent Nursery next three-year funding cycle
by the Juvenile Justice Court Judge. Preschool, and a Welcome Baby to both continue and enhance In the Partnership, administrators project services that have direct influence on • A new Executive Director to • Funding $600,000 in capital organizational systems work in an assist the county commission projects for community integrated fashion to promote the in establishing goals and organizations to better serve best outcomes for children and objectives for the upcoming young children and their families
families. Efforts include: five-year strategic plan in both urban and rural settings • The School Readiness Program • Expanded outreach efforts by • Building preschools’ technology as a safety net participating in more community capacity for both classroom • Expanding community agency events to highlight what First 5 instruction and reporting involvement in School Readiness Trinity offers the community by purchasing tablets
Program Path I referrals and providing training for • Utilizing the Strengthening instructional staff Families Framework as a platform for collaboration
54 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report • Promoting learning and sharing how to better communicate among two hospitals and a with parents about children’s community health center on behavior. breastfeeding, sharing best • Fewer young children had practices, and achieving “Baby- cavities or dental disease. Friendly” designation • Children served in programs targeting high-risk families Tuolumne County received a developmental The goal of First 5 Tuolumne screening. County is to enhance the healthy • Linkages between community development of young children programs, services, and systems through direct services and by continued to contribute a more enhancing the capacity of the adults comprehensive approach to who care for them. The biggest serving families. investments were targeted for intensive services for families with the Ventura County most entrenched barriers to success. First 5 Ventura County adopted referral and follow-up. First 5 Ventura The overall funding investment for a new strategic plan in June 2015 to looks forward to expanding this pilot grants and programs in FY 2014–15 guide its investments over the next in FY 2015–16. was $502,253. five years. The plan builds on the Several accomplishments were First 5 Tuolumne supported multi- significant accomplishments realized realized this year in the development year investments in five focus areas: for young children and their families of countywide systems initiatives in 1) Children’s oral health through and addresses declining resources strengthening families, oral health, education, screening, and in future years. Moving forward, prenatal care, and promoting fluoride treatments the county commission will actively breastfeeding. Through these 2) Nurse home visiting for at-risk identify and prioritize investments partnership-based collaboratives newborns and young children in systems and/or infrastructure with county agencies, schools, and 3) Family learning and literacy to development, funding direct services community organizations, common promote family stability and only when there is an inability of frameworks for addressing the early learning current services or resources to meet needs of young children and their 4) Parent education and support a demonstrated need and when there families were created and advanced. for parents at risk of child is a long-term plan for sustainability. First 5 Ventura championed the abuse and neglect Strategic investments will shift Five Protective Factors framework 5) Social-emotional consultation toward capacity-building efforts to create a common language and to preschool teachers that promote parent engagement, approach to family needs, and built In addition, First 5 Tuolumne build best practices and quality on that framework to align partners partnered with First 5 California in standards, engage partners in cross- in trauma-informed care efforts CARES Plus and the Child Signature system governance, and increase the and community implementation Program, supporting early childhood alignment of resources for improved of Positive Parenting Program educators with coaching, professional outcomes for young children. seminars. An oral health educational development, and stipends. Significant strides were made curriculum, designed by a countywide Outcomes measured in FY 2014– this year in Ventura County’s Help collaborative, has been rolled out 15 included: Me Grow collaborative. With a to service providers working with • Parents improved their focus on early learning settings, children ages 0 to 5. A Perinatal Bill of parenting skills and knowledge, the collaborative-trained teachers Rights was drawn up to communicate with those at highest risk making conduct developmental screenings the vision of many different partners the most significant gains. and launched a toolkit for early for high-quality, accessible prenatal • Children improved early literacy childhood educators that includes care. An ongoing convening of skills, and parents supported a strong set of protocols for proper birthing hospitals has resulted in early literacy by reading more to screening, referral, and follow-up. all six local hospitals either having their children. Initiated as a pilot project, a strong achieved or actively working toward • Teachers learned how to partnership was built with 2-1-1 “Baby Friendly” status. incorporate curriculum and Ventura, demonstrating the role of First 5 Ventura has championed practices to support children’s 2-1-1 in asking callers with young access to quality preschool since its social-emotional development children about developmental inception. Through the work of its into early childhood classroom concerns and facilitating appropriate implementation partner, the Ventura environments, and learned
55 County Office of Education, 116 • Quality Food: Increasing access • 16 newly licensed foster homes, sites are participating in the quality to fresh produce in communities for a total of 84 countywide and initiative, including 48 family child throughout the county a 98 percent retention rate care homes. Largely due to technical • Developmental Screenings: • 98 families received intensive assistance and trainings, 64 of the Providing developmental/ case management and home 89 sites rated in FY 2014–15 were mental health assessments visiting services as part of in the highest quality tiers of 4 or to children ages 0 to 5 and the Step by Step/Paso a Paso 5. Over 1,400 children attended ensuring referral and access to program preschool as a result of First 5 Ventura appropriate levels of treatment • Increased dental access funding funding. Close to 60 of these spaces A total of $850,000 was allocated allowed for over 827 pregnant were successfully converted to State in FY 2014–15 to the Expanded Family women and 2,207 children ages Preschool, allowing First 5 Ventura Resource Center (EFRC) initiative. This 0 to 5 to have dental visits, with County to invest these dollars in year’s accomplishments included: an additional 1,518 children facilities, further expanding the • 985 eligible families were reached through the Smile number of available preschool slots. connected to needed services Savers program Over the past 15 years, First • 180 families received services to • 860 children ages 0 to 5 5 Ventura has made a significant increase financial management obtained and used library countywide investment in its place- skills and to maximize their cards with the support of family based Neighborhoods for Learning income through the Earned literacy programs (NfLs) initiative. Through 11 NfLs Income Tax Credit initiatives, 25 family resource centers • 286 parents received the Yuba County are now available throughout the knowledge, skills, and Through its investments, the goal county, bringing together early opportunities to engage in of First 5 Yuba County is to devote learning, health, and family support activities that support their its funding to local resources and resources to families in their child’s social, emotional, services that exist in the community neighborhoods. physical, and cognitive and proven to improve parenting, the development health of children, and the quality of Yolo County • 671 families received fresh early education. FY 2014–15 marked the third and fruits and vegetables every During the past fiscal year, one of final year of First 5 Yolo County’s week through free produce the most significant accomplishments enhanced strategic plan. As a result distribution at the family of First 5 Yuba was the expanded of the restoration of Assembly Bill 99 resource centers focus in the delivery of care for funds in 2012, First 5 Yolo expanded • 552 children were screened for children with special needs. With a its strategic plan to include stronger developmental issues and are funding investment of $152,230, this family support services through a accessing appropriate levels of provided more than 300 children place-based Family Resource Center treatment with special needs services such model. This funding strategy enabled In addition to the EFRC services, as swimming, art, music, and sand First 5 Yolo to address high needs of many activities continued through therapy. children ages 0 to 5 and their families, First 5 Yolo’s programs funded Other highlights during this past including: under the Integrated Family Support fiscal year included: • Resource and Referral: Helping Initiative (IFSI), including oral health • Increased educational services families access services for prevention and treatment for young for parents with children which they are eligible children and pregnant women; demonstrating behavioral and • Financial Literacy: Helping early learning/child development physical delays families maximize and manage programs for children in West • Increased car safety services for their financial resources Sacramento and rural Yolo County; parents • Early Childhood Education: family literacy programs; foster • Improved access to pediatric Providing parents with parent recruitment and retention dental care interactive parent/child efforts; home visiting using the • Instrumental in the development workshops to increase skills and Healthy Families American model; of a quality early education confidence in their ability to be as well as health insurance outreach, parent cooperative preschool the child’s first teacher enrollment, retention, and utilization. • Improved access to children’s • Parent Education: Providing A total of $3.2 million was invested in bereavement services parents with education on a support of First 5 Yolo’s IFSI. • Continued support for the wide variety of parenting skills Outstanding achievements professional development of and nutrition through IFSI investments included: early education providers
56 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report Appendix A: Number of Services and Expenditures by Result Area and Service Type, 2014–15
Result Area and Service Type Children Parent Provider Total Adult Total Percent of Total Percent of Percent 0 to 5 Services Services and Provider Number of Services in Expenditures Services in of Total Services Services Services Result Area for Services Result Area Expenditures Improved Family Functioning* Community Resource and Referral 39,907 278,991 396 279,387 319,294 33% $10,766,693 10% Distribution of Kit for New Parents 22,171 57,891 35 57,926 80,097 8% $613,455 1% Adult and Family Literacy Programs 168,358 158,845 1,890 160,735 329,093 34% $7,067,335 7% Targeted Intensive Family Support 27,776 58,232 1,072 59,304 87,080 9% $52,779,453 50% Services General Parenting Education and 61,155 84,344 585 84,929 146,084 15% $27,911,512 26% Family Support Programs Quality Family Functioning 17,611 773 2,056 2,829 20,440 2% $5,944,754 6% Systems Improvement Subtotal 336,978 639,076 6,034 645,110 982,088 100% $105,083,202 100% 23%
Improved Child Development* Preschool Programs for 3- and 42,601 5,698 767 6,465 49,066 21% $113,111,298 58% 4-Year-Olds Infants, Toddlers, and All-Age Early 25,281 15,808 218 16,026 41,307 18% $11,746,787 6% Learning Programs Early Education Provider Programs 27,945 3,504 25,806 29,310 57,255 25% $35,124,503 18% Kindergarten Transition Services 16,899 12,493 481 12,974 29,873 13% $6,629,046 3% Quality ECE Investments 28,357 16,154 7,526 23,680 52,037 23% $29,514,965 15% Subtotal 141,083 53,657 34,798 88,455 229,538 100% $196,126,599 100% 43% Improved Child Health* Nutrition and Fitness 35,499 37,348 3,334 40,682 76,181 7% $18,642,475 12% Health Access 46,642 39,733 519 40,252 86,894 8% $14,428,204 9% Maternal and Child Health Care 26,161 78,308 510 78,818 104,979 10% $34,704,497 23% Oral Health 207,571 91,556 5,476 97,032 304,603 30% $21,893,921 14% Primary and Specialty Medical 64,780 20,164 4,418 24,582 89,362 9% $11,495,495 8% Services Comprehensive Screening and 117,873 24,278 2,163 26,441 144,314 14% $20,481,316 13% Assessments Targeted Intensive Intervention for 22,410 5,889 1,901 7,790 30,200 3% $22,530,038 15% Identified Special Needs Safety Education and Injury 73,434 87,297 246 87,543 160,977 16% $936,064 <1% Prevention Tobacco Education and Outreach 618 2,968 1,755 4,723 5,341 1% $517,077 <1% Quality Health Systems 38 19,069 9,397 28,466 28,504 3% $7,509,079 5% Improvement Subtotal 595,026 406,610 29,719 436,329 1,031,355 100% $153,138,166 100% 34%
Total 1,073,087 1,099,343 70,551 1,169,894 2,242,981 $454,347,967 100% Improved Systems of Care** Policy and Broad Systems-Change – – – – – $19,369,819 18% Efforts Organizational Support – – – – – $77,899,759 74% Public Education and Information – – – – – $8,056,990 8% Total – – – – – $105,326,568 100%
Grand Total 1,073,087 1,099,343 70,551 1,169,894 2,242,981 $559,674,535
* Counts may include individuals in more than one Result Area or Service Type. ** Improved Systems of Care does not list counts of individuals served because it supports services in the other Result Areas. Note: Services and expenditures are for 57 county commissions reporting in November 2015. Six county commissions provided financial data pending final audits.
57 Appendix B: First 5 California Result Areas and Services
Result 1: Improved Family topics, and/or support for basic family Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs; needs and related case management (e.g., programs for homeless children; migrant Functioning meals, groceries, clothing, emergency programs; and similar investments. Providing parents, families, and funding or household goods acquisition c. Early Education Provider Programs communities with relevant, timely and assistance, and temporary or permanent housing acquisition assistance). Programs providing training and educa- culturally appropriate information, Fatherhood programs are also included tional services, supports, and funding to education, services and support. here. In general, these programs are improve the quality of care. This includes
designed to provide less intense and Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Services shorter term (“lighter touch”) support Education Standards (CARES) Plus and a. Community Resource and Referral workforce development programs. Programs providing referrals or service services and classes for families by
information about various community non-clinical staff (e.g., Family Resource d. Kindergarten Transition Services resources, such as medical facilities, coun- Centers). Programs of all types (e.g., classes, home
seling programs, family resource centers, f. Quality Family Functioning visits, summer bridge programs) that are and other supports for families with young designed to support the kindergarten Systems Improvement
children. This includes 2-1-1 services Family functioning system efforts are transition for children and families.
or other general helplines and services designed to support the implementation e. Quality Early Childhood Education that are designed as a broad strategy for and integration of services primarily in linking families with community services. Investments Result Area 1. This may include use of the Improvement efforts designed to support b. Distribution of Kit for New Parents Family Strengthening approach, Protective the implementation and integration of ser- Programs providing and/or augmenting Factors planning or implementation, vices primarily in Result Area 2. This may the First 5 California Kit for New Parents to service outreach, planning and manage- include Race to the Top—Early Learning new and expectant parents. ment, interagency collaboration, support Challenge and other Quality Rating and services to diverse populations, database Improvement System investments. This c. Adult and Family Literacy management and development, technical category includes early literacy and STEM Programs assistance, and provider capacity building. systems-building projects. This also could
Programs designed to increase the Provider loan forgiveness programs for include interagency collaboration, facility
amount of reading that parents do with which child or provider counts are not grants and supply grants to providers,
their children, as well as educate parents measured are included in this category. support services to diverse populations,
about the benefits of reading or looking and database management and develop-
at books together (e.g., Even Start, Reach ment. CSP 2 is reported in this category. Out and Read, Raising a Reader). Family Result 2: Improved Child literacy may include adult education pro- Development grams that provide English as a Second Result 3: Improved Child Language and literacy classes, and/or a Increasing the quality of and access General Equivalence Diploma. to early learning and education for Health young children. Promoting optimal health through d. Targeted Intensive Family Support identification, treatment, and Services Services elimination of the risks that threaten Programs providing intensive and/or a. Preschool Programs for 3- and children’s health and lead to clinical services by a paraprofessional 4- Year-Olds and/or professional, as well as one-to-one Programs providing preschool services, development delays and disabilities in services in family support settings. preschool spaces, and comprehensive young children. Programs are generally evidence-based, preschool initiatives primarily targeting Services and are designed to support at-risk three and four year-olds. Child Signature expectant parents and families with young Programs (CSP) 1 and 3 are included in a. Nutrition and Fitness
children to increase knowledge and this category, as well as county programs Programs providing strategies to promote
skills related to parenting and improved which mirror the quality and intensity of children’s healthy development through
family functioning (e.g., home visiting, the CSP. nutrition and fitness, including programs counseling, family therapy, parent-child to teach the facts about healthy weight, interaction approaches, and long-term b. Infants, Toddlers, and All-Age basic principles of healthy eating, safe classes or groups). This category also Early Learning Programs food handling and preparation, and includes comprehensive and/or intensive Programmatic investments in early tools to help organizations incorporate services to homeless populations. learning programs for infants and physical activity and nutrition. Recognized toddlers, as well as all-age programs. strategies include “Let’s Move” Campaign, e. General Parenting Education and Examples of all-age programs that MyPyramid for Preschoolers, and sug- Family Support Programs may be included here are child related ar-sweetened beverage initiatives. Programs providing short-term, non- early literacy and Science, Technology, intensive instruction on general parenting
58 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report b. Health Access in a medical, education, or community Hospital investments, projects for cross- Programs designed to increase access setting. These services determine the sector data integration, and designing to health/dental/vision insurance nature and extent of a problem and rec- a community-endorsed developmental coverage and connection to services, ommend a course of treatment and care. screening framework. such as health insurance enrollment This may include strategies to connect and retention assistance, programs children to services which promote health that ensure use of a health home, and development, such as Help Me Grow. Result 4: Improved Systems investments in local “Children’s Health of Care g. Targeted Intensive Intervention for Initiative” partnerships. Providers may be participating in Medi-Cal Administrative Identified Special Needs Implementing integrated, Programs providing early intervention or Activities to generate reimbursements. comprehensive, inclusive, and intensive services to children with disabil- culturally and linguistically ities and other special needs, or at-risk c. Maternal and Child Health Care appropriate services to achieve Programs designed to improve the for special needs. May include strategies health and well-being of women to targeting language and communication improvements in one of more of the achieve healthy pregnancies and skills, social and emotional development, other Result Areas. improve their child’s life course. developmental delays, and related parent Services Voluntary strategies may include pre- education. Mental Health Consultations in natal care/education to promote healthy ECE settings are included in this category. a. Policy and Broad Systems—Change pregnancies, breastfeeding assistance “Special Needs” refers to those children Efforts to ensure that the experience is positive, who are between birth and five years of Investments in broad systems-change screening for maternal depression, and age and meet the definition of “Special efforts, including inter-agency collab- home visiting to promote and monitor Needs.” oration, work with local and statewide the development of children from stakeholders, policy development, and prenatal to two years of age. Providers h. Safety Education and Injury related efforts. This category includes may be participating in Medi-Cal Prevention county investment and work with The
Administrative Activities to generate Programs disseminating information Children’s Movement and/or on grassroots reimbursements. about child passenger and car safety; safe advocacy efforts. sleep; fire, water, home (childproofing) d. Oral Health safety; and the dangers of shaking babies. b. Organizational Support
Programs providing an array of services Includes education on when and how to Training and support provided to that can include dental screening, dial 9-1-1, domestic violence prevention, organizations that does not apply to one assessment, cleaning and preventive and intentional injury prevention. Referrals of the three programmatic Result Areas, care, treatment, fluoride varnish, and to community resources that specifically but instead has a more general impact. parent education on the importance focus on these issues also may be included Other examples of organizational support of oral health care. This may include in this category. include business planning, grant writing provider training and care coordination workshops, sustainability workshops, and of services. i. Tobacco Education and Outreach assistance in planning and promoting Education on tobacco-related issues and large community conferences or forums. e. Primary and Specialty Medical abstinence support for people using Database management and other cross- Services tobacco products. Includes providing agency systems evaluation support, and Programs designed to expand and information on reducing young children’s general First 5 program staff time are enhance primary and specialty care in exposure to tobacco smoke. included in this category. the community to ensure the capacity to serve children. Services include j. Quality Health Systems c. Public Education and Information preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, Improvement Investments in community awareness and and specialty medical care provided Efforts designed to support the imple- educational events on a specific early by licensed healthcare professionals/ mentation and integration of services childhood topic that does not apply to one organizations. Services may include primarily in Result Area 3. This may include of the three programmatic Result Areas, or immunizations, well child check-ups, service outreach, planning and manage- promoting broad awareness of the impor- care coordination, asthma services, ment (general planning and coordination tance of early childhood development. vision services, services for autism/ activities, interagency collaboration, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, support services to diverse populations, other neurodevelopmental disorders, database management and development, and other specialty care. technical assistance and support, contracts administration, and oversight f. Comprehensive Screening and activities), and provider capacity building Assessments (provider training and support, contractor Programs providing screening, assess- workshops, educational events, and large ment, and diagnostic services, including community conferences). Provider loan developmental, behavioral, mental forgiveness programs for which child or health, physical health, body mass index, provider counts are not measured are and vision. Screening may be performed included here. Includes Baby Friendly
59 References
1 First 5 California’s 2015 Children’s 6 RAND Corporation. (2009). 12 Bueno, M., Darling-Hammond, L., State Policy Agenda. Strategies for Advancing Preschool and Gonzales, D. (March 2010). http://www.ccfc.ca.gov/pdf/ Adequacy and Efficiency in A Matter of Degrees: Preparing about/leg/2015%20Children’s%20 California. RAND Labor and Teachers for the Pre-K Classroom. State%20Policy%20Agenda.pdf Population Research Brief. Santa The Pew Center on the States, Pre-K Monica, CA. Now. 2 First 5 California’s 2015 Children’s State Policy Agenda. 2015-16 7 RAND Corporation. (2007). The 13 Minervino, J. (2014). Lessons from State Budget Positions. 2015-16 Promise of Preschool for Narrowing Research and the Classroom: Legislative Bills of Interest. http:// Readiness and Achievement Gaps Implementing High-Quality Pre-K www.ccfc.ca.gov/about/about_ Among California Children. RAND that Makes a Difference for Young legislation.html Labor and Population Research Children. Bill and Melinda Gates Brief. Santa Monica, CA. Foundation. 3 First 5 California State Commission Meeting. July 23, 2015, Agenda 8 Kay, N., and A. Pennucci. (2014). 14 Preschool California. Research Item #6. http://www.ccfc.ca.gov/ Early Childhood Education for Low- Shows: The Benefits of High- pdf/commission/meetings/ Income Students: A Review of the Quality Early Learning. Retrieved handouts/Commission- Evidence and Benefit-Cost Analysis December 18, 2015, from: http:// Handouts_2015-07/Item_6_-_State_ (Doc. No. 14-01-2201). Olympia: www.earlyedgecalifornia.org/ Legislative_and_Budget_Update. Washington State Institute for resources/research--studies/ pdf Public Policy. making-the-case.html
4 Heckman, James J. (2006). Skill 9 Educare. http://www. Formation and the Economics educareschools.org/our-results/ of Investing in Disadvantaged Children. Science, Vol. 312: 1900- 10 Educare California at Silicon Valley. 1902. http://educaresv.org
5 Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Christina 11 Mayor Helps Raise Money Weiland, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, For Educare Center At Barton Margaret R. Burchinal, Linda M. Elementary. Harry Saltzgaver, Espinosa, William T. Gormley, Jens Executive Editor, Gazettes. Ludwig, Katherine A. Magnuson, Retrieved December 18, 2015, Deborah Phillips, and Martha J. from: http://www.gazettes.com/ Zaslow. (2013). Investing in Our news/m-helps-raise-money- Future: The Evidence Base on for-educare-center-at-barton- Preschool Education. New York: elementary/article_ee314a88-a11c- Foundation for Child Development. 11e4-92e5-3b1d38d2b9ef.html
60 First 5 California | 2014–15 Annual Report
Our Vision California’s children receive the best possible start in life and thrive.
First 5 California California Children & Families Commission 2389 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 260 Sacramento, California 95833 P: (916) 263-1050 F: (916) 263-1360 62