Residents to Design the Park of their Dreams
Parent leaders with Contra Costa County Regional Groups are organizing virtual workshops—to be conducted over Zoom—to make final design decisions on major renovations to local parks. This parent-led community design workshop is a crucial step in ensuring the transformation of community parks to reflect the unique identities, needs, and desires of neighborhood residents. It’s a natural outgrowth of the community-driven approach this effort has taken since the beginning. In 2018 the regional groups led participatory community park needs assessments that resulted in the identification of priority parks across the county, one of which was DeAnza Park, in addition to Boorman Park in Richmond.
“These projects are an example of what we can accomplish together when we work in partnership across our organizations and follow the leadership of residents. Children and families will benefit from this new park for generations to come”, said Rhea Elina Laughlin with First 5 Contra Costa.
Public parks are essential spaces for promoting community health, and in particular, physical activity, outdoor play, and mental well-being among families with young children. Early childhood is a critical time in the life course for promoting health and preventing chronic disease. With improved access to quality parks in their own neighborhoods, the youngest children of Contra Costa County are more likely to benefit from opportunities for a healthy start to their lives.
As public health officials continue to advise that people gather outdoors to avoid exposure to COVID-19, safe and culturally relevant outdoor spaces are more critical than ever. This is particularly the case for communities where most families live in multi-family or apartment housing and have little access to private outdoor space. Parks are not just physical spaces for exercise and play, but communal spaces for connecting with friends and family during this difficult time.
Saturday, September 12
11am – 2pm
Boorman Park Design Party
Parent leaders with the West County Regional Group (WCRG)—in partnership with First 5 Contra Costa, the City of Richmond, and Healthy & Active Before 5—and the residents near Boorman Park in Richmond will come together to make final design decisions on major renovations to the park. Vallier Design Associates have prepared design options for two age-appropriate playgrounds, a fitness zone, family restrooms, and a community gathering and education space.
“We are thrilled for this Boorman Park transformation! Our children can’t wait to play in the brand new park that we helped to create for our community”, said Maria Isabel Barrera with the West County Regional Group.
The Boorman Park renovations are made possible by a $4.16M grant from the Parks, Recreation, and Water Bond Act (Prop 68) awarded to the City of Richmond. Funding was secured in part by the grassroots advocacy of parents in the First 5-sponsored West County Regional Group and the leadership of the City of Richmond.
Saturday, September 26
10am – 12pm
DeAnza Park Community Design Workshop
RSVP link (TBA)
Parent leaders with the East County Regional Group (ECRG)—in partnership with First 5 Contra Costa and Healthy & Active Before 5—and the residents near DeAnza Park in Pittsburg will come together to make final design decisions on major renovations to the park. DeAnza Park residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on the proposed design for fitness equipment and a repaved walking path.
The community design workshop is just one facet of a community driven process for creating new and equitable parks in critically underserved communities. From the very beginning, community advocates have been central to these projects. The DeAnza park renovations are the result of combined support from a foundation grant, the City of Pittsburg, and First 5 Contra Costa. Funding was secured in part by the grassroots advocacy of parents in the First 5-sponsored East County Regional Group.
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Regional Groups are parent advocacy groups of residents working to make communities healthier, safer, and more equitable for young children and families. Three groups exist in Contra Costa County and work in partnership with the First 5 Contra Costa Community Engagement and Advocacy Program: East County Regional Group (ECRG), West County Regional Group (WCRG), and Central County Regional Group (CCRG).
First 5 Contra Costa’s Family Resource Centers Awarded over $50,000
First 5 Contra Costa’s Family Resource Centers Awarded over $50,000 to Address Family Needs During COVID-19 Crisis
First 5 Contra Costa in partnership with the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) and Scotts Valley Tribal TANF applied for and was awarded a $52,400 grant from the California Family Resource Association (CFRA) to provide emergency relief to Contra Costa families. In April, Governor Newsom announced $42 million in new investments to protect young children at heightened risk for abuse and mistreatment due to COVID-19, with $3 million allocated specifically for Family Resource Centers (FRC) to distribute to families they serve.
“We are excited to have this valuable resource for families and to be working with our local community partners—the Child Abuse Prevention Council and Scotts Valley Tribal TANF—to extend our reach beyond the families we serve at the First 5 Centers.”said Lisa Korb, Family Support Program Officer at First 5 Contra Costa.
The grant, released from the Office of Child Abuse Prevention, named FRCs as the recipient of the grant and named foster and tribal families as the priority populations to be served. First 5 Contra Costa funds a network of six FRCs operated by non-profits Aspiranet and Bay Area Community Resources. The First 5 Centers (FRC) support families to help parents raise healthy and happy children, and connect families to community resources.
In collaboration, First 5 Contra Costa, the Child Abuse Prevention Council, and Scotts Valley Tribal TANF will provide gift cards (gas and food), children’s books, and other needed supplies like diapers, wipes, cleaning supplies to approximately 1,000 families who have experienced a loss of income as a result of COVID-19.
“We are grateful to our family-strengthening partners to be able to provide critical support to our community during these unprecedented times.”said Carol Carrillo, MSW, Executive Director at the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC). The CAPC strives to prevent child abuse in Contra Costa County by raising awareness through educational programs, trainings, parent education, support, and advocacy.
Scotts Valley Tribal TANF provides culturally relevant social services, with the goal of encouraging the formation and maintenance of healthy and self-sufficient Native American families. “The resilience of our community continues to be strong. This funding and local partnership will help SVTT provide additional support, resources, and services to Native American families living in Contra Costa County.” said Sharon James-Tiger, Executive Director at Scotts Valley Tribal TANF.
http://www.svtribaltanf.org
First 5 Centers Put On Graduation Ceremony Parade for Families with Preschoolers
After a year-long Kindergarten readiness class taught at the Delta and Antioch First 5 Center, families lined up in their cars decorated with hand-made signs while graduation music played, bubbles floated in the air, and celebrated their accomplishment in a unique, yet memorable way.
In previous years, a large and intimate celebration was held at the end of the class to honor the parents and children’s achievement, as well as to show appreciation for spending the year with the First Center staff to learn the different aspects of school readiness for their children. However, this year with the current shelter-in-place order, families and staff needed to get creative and pull-together to create something special.
Leading up to graduation day, staff sent families a cap and gown and were encouraged to decorate it with their preschooler. Families were then instructed to line-up in their cars while staff held up individual signs of celebration for each child who then received a backpack filled with school supplies, a Potter the Otter Kindergarten book, other goodies, and a certificate of completion.
“It was nice to see everyone, the families and our staff, and it gave us that familiar feeling of closeness,” said Shalila Melvin of the Antioch/Delta First 5 Center. “It also brought a sense of culmination and celebration for the families that will be moving on.”
In a weekly class called Road Map to Kindergarten©, an evidence-based tool that First 5 adopted for the centers, parents learn about how difficult it can be for them to be separated from their child. While parents learn how to support their child’s transition to Kindergarten, the children portion is titled “Bridge to Kindergarten” where they participate in classes that strengthen their social emotional development.
During this current time of virtual interactions and distance learning, the ceremony was also shared on Facebook LIVE so that friends and family members could share in the joy. Click here to view the ceremony on the Antioch First 5 Center Facebook page, and click here to view the ceremony held at the Delta First 5 Center.
To learn more about Kindergarten readiness classes, or about other First 5 Center classes, please click here to contact your local First 5 Center.
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Visits East County First 5 Center to Discuss Early Screening and Intervention with Parents
Last week, First 5 Contra Costa was thrilled to meet with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier for a tour of the East County First 5 Center in Pittsburg, and a discussion of our “Help Me Grow” program to improve early screening and intervention. Rep. DeSaulnier is carrying a bill this year that would significantly increase federal funding for developmental services, so children in our counties and others who need help are identified sooner, and helped faster.
Far too often, children arrive at their first day of kindergarten with signs of obvious developmental, behavioral or social challenges. In many cases, this can be prevented through timely developmental screening and early intervention, one of the most important things we can do to promote children’s health in their first years. Yet only 29% of California children receive timely developmental screenings.
First 5 Contra Costa has worked hard to ensure every pediatric provider in our county uses a standard developmental screening tool at recommended intervals. The County’s 211 information and referral service now has trained developmental specialists available to navigate parents to the programs and resources their child needs. And each of our five First 5 Centers—including the one Rep. DeSaulnier visited–has regular developmental playgroups for children with mild to moderate delays and their parents.
But children with more intensive conditions need more intensive services, and those remain harder to access. California’s Regional Center system and school districts are not sufficiently funded to meet the needs of children with autism and other significant developmental conditions. That’s why we’re so excited about Congressman DeSaulnier’s bill.
The bill—The Funding Early Intervention is the Right IDEA Act (HR4107)—would increase funding in two parts of existing law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT (IDEA), over ten years. The IDEA makes free and appropriate education available to eligible children with disabilities from birth to 21 years of age. The DeSaulnier bill would increase funding for Part C of the IDEA, which gives states early intervention funds for infants and toddlers. It would also increase funding for preschool programs serving children with disabilities. Funding levels in both of these areas have eroded to the point that per-child spending is now only about 35% what it was more than two decades ago. Every year, 1 in 4 California children is at moderate or high risk for developmental, behavioral or social delays.
In Contra Costa we’re doing all we can to meet the needs of these children, their families and communities so that every child has their chance to develop to their full potential. But to do so, we’ll need help from our state and federal governments to ensure early childhood programs are fully funded. Congressman DeSaulnier’s bill is a strong step in the right direction.
For more information on Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, please visit:
https://desaulnier.house.gov/
For more information on the Help Me Grow program and early intervention and screening, please visit:
https://helpmegrowcoco.org/
For more information on your local First 5 Center and upcoming programs and activities, please visit:
http://www.first5coco.org/funded-programs/first-5-centers/
New Campaign Helps East Bay Babies Reach Full Potential
First 5 Contra Costa is pleased to announce our new campaign to help parents meet the everyday challenges of raising babies and toddlers and help more kids achieve healthy development. Called Help Me Grow, the campaign directs parents to a new website and 211 phone line where they can find answers to parenting questions and concerns, no matter how big or small. Services are free and confidential.
The campaign includes bilingual ads in English and Spanish and is sponsored by First 5 Alameda County, First 5 Contra Costa, and the Thomas J. Long Foundation.
“From the day they are born, babies are constantly changing. It’s exciting, and it can also be challenging for families to figure out what their baby or toddler needs next,” said Sean Casey, Executive Director of First 5 Contra Costa. “Help Me Grow support families through every stage of their baby’s development, from first smiles to the first day of school.”
Through its phone and texting services and website, Help Me Grow offers parents information about developmental milestones, what to do if they have concerns about their baby’s development, and where to find local services such as parenting classes, health clinics, or food banks. Help Me Grow also helps families find free developmental screening to check how babies are growing and developing; referrals for children to get evaluated if there are developmental concerns; and services for children who need to catch up on their development.
The advertising campaign will run through the summer and includes online ads, brochures and posters distributed through pediatric offices in the East Bay, and outdoor ads in Contra Costa County communities.
New bilingual brochures, postcards, and posters are available for Contra Costa organizations to distribute. Email us at helpmegrow@first5coco.org to order a supply.
Connect to Help Me Grow:
- Visit helpmegrowcoco.org
- Call 211 to speak to a HMG Specialist
- Text “hmg” to 898211
A New Home for the Antioch First 5 Center!
The Antioch First 5 Center will soon have a new home! Located at 300 H Street in downtown Antioch, the new site is about 2700 square feet and just around the corner from the former First 5 Center location.
We expect to open in a few months after completing some minor tenant improvements. In the meantime, First 5 Center classes and activities will occur in Antioch at nearby locations in February and March:
- Find First 5 Center classes and activities happening in Antioch here.
- Antioch families are welcome to sign up for classes at other First 5 Centers as well. Class calendars for each site are here.
- Families who want a developmental screening for their child, or who have questions about Help Me Grow developmental playgroups, should call the Antioch/Delta First 5 Center (925) 516-3880.
- The East County Regional Group is holding its monthly meetings in downtown Antioch. Contact Alejandra Plascencia (925) 771-7338 for location information.
Get the latest information on our First 5 Center site updates webpage.
Antioch Getting New First 5 Center
Exciting changes are underway for First 5 Center services in Antioch!
The Center is moving to a new location in downtown Antioch, and will open soon. Until then, First 5 Center classes and activities will take place at nearby locations in January and February 2018:
- Find First 5 Center classes and activities happening in Antioch here.
- Antioch families are welcome to sign up for classes at other First 5 Centers as well. Class calendars for each site are here.
- Families who want a developmental screening for their child, or who have questions about Help Me Grow developmental playgroups, should call the Antioch/Delta First 5 Center (925) 516-3880.
- The East County Regional Group will still hold meetings in downtown Antioch. Contact Alejandra Plascencia (925) 771-7338 for location information.
Long-term, First 5 Contra Costa plans to open a much larger regional First 5 Center in Antioch in order to serve more families. We’ve already started meeting with a group of Antioch parents to consult us on locations and will have more community input sessions in 2018.
Another change to note is that starting January 1, the nonprofit Aspiranet will provide First 5 Center services in Antioch. This agency also runs First 5 Centers in Brentwood, Concord, and Bay Point. We thank Brighter Beginnings for their many years of service operating the Antioch First 5 Center.
See updates about First 5 Centers in East County here on our website.
Contra Costa Kids Drinking Less Sugary Drinks
Together with Healthy and Active Before 5, we launched our hard-hitting and award-winning Sugar Bites campaign in 2013 urging parents to protect their toddlers and preschoolers from sugary drinks and serve them water instead. New data show local parents are heeding the message.
Analysis of children’s sugary beverage consumption among families new to First 5 services shows a steady decline over the last four years. The data come from First 5 Contra Costa’s annual family survey, a detailed list of questions hundreds of families complete when they start participating in services we fund.
The survey asks parents if their child had a sugary drink yesterday. Back in 2012/13, 80% of respondents answered yes. Last year, the response had dropped to 63%.
Juice Drinks
Sugar Bites is a unique campaign for many reasons, one being its focus on sugary juice drinks. Three of the four print ads we’ve run feature drinks like Sunny D or Capri Sun to challenge deceptive marketing tactics used to trick parents into thinking juice drinks are healthy beverages for young children. We also ran a TV commercial with this message.
Juice contains as much sugar as soda, sometimes more. Sugar Bites has provided a much-needed counter message for parents barraged by misleading claims from the beverage industry.
Since 2012/13, children’s consumption of juice in Contra Costa County is down 26%.
Decline mirrors state health data
Data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the nation’s largest state health survey, show a decrease in juice consumption among young children in Contra Costa County as well.
Families with children age two to six were asked if they served their children juice yesterday. In 2011, 22% of respondents said their child did not drink juice the day before. By 2015, this percentage had tripled, with 66% of children not drinking juice.
We continue to run the Sugar Bites campaign each year. For the last two, we’ve had a smaller campaign targeting Concord and San Pablo via bus ads, grocery carts, convenience stores, and window clings on sugary drinks cases in small shops. The last campaign had about 24 million media impressions (the number of times people saw the ads). First 5 Sacramento also runs the ads in the Sacramento region.
Learn more about Sugar Bites at www.cutsugarydrinks.org.
We want to hear from you!
First 5 Contra Costa is hosting focus groups to help us improve services for African American families. We are looking for parents who have participated at First 5 Centers, in home visiting services, or other programs we fund to attend the focus groups. A light meal, child care, and $40 gift card will be provided.
The focus groups, along with a needs assessment currently underway, will help create improved services for African American families. We’re allocating $200,000 to pilot these services later this year.
While we are proud of the services we provide at First 5 Centers, we recognize that not all families have benefited from them. Only 6% of families served by First 5 Centers are African American. We’re looking to change that, or create new services altogether.
Join us for the focus groups!
Richmond: August 3, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Call to register: (510) 210-5271.
Pittsburg: August 14, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Call to register: (925) 967-4709.
Program Turns Parents Into Literacy Champions
Twenty-two parents at the West County First 5 Center are on their way to becoming certified “ Tandem® Literacy Champions.”
Tandem Partners in Early Learning®, the organization we fund to provide StoryCycles book-sharing programs throughout the County, trains parents so they can, in turn, help other parents in the community learn how to build their children’s early literacy and language skills.
The first step to becoming a Literacy Champion is for parents to attend four training sessions on early literacy and family engagement. Of the parents and caregivers participating at the West County First 5 Center, one was a father, three were grandparents, and most were bilingual in English and Spanish.