The next phase of Ready Kids East County (RKEC), called “Womb to Classroom,” will continue to support families by uplifting opportunities, creating networks, and cultivating pathways with cross-sector partnerships with the focus on building capacity for providers and families with Black and African American children, ages zero to five years old.
With building communities and pathways in mind, First 5 Contra Costa hosted a RKEC kick-off event on January 15 intended to increase partner awareness about the current East County landscape and some ongoing system-level efforts that will impact Black and African American families in the region. 45 community partners representing school districts, healthcare providers, early childhood education and care professionals, community-based organizations, and County departments/agencies came together to engage one another on the work that still needs to be done to better serve and center Black and African American families in East County.
Highlights included:
- Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston, Supervisor of District 5, offered opening remarks explaining her passion behind this mission and how it has informed her work both personally and professionally.
- Ana Kaye, Social Services Program Analyst – Family First Prevention Services Act (FFSPA) for Contra Costa County Children and Family Services, and Antoinette Harris, Clinical Associate Director of Pacific Clinics, delivered presentations about the County Prevention Plan and the Antioch C.A.R.E.S. program.
- Kendra Carr and Peter Kim provided context on the background and purpose of the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice. They were accompanied by Dr. Kerby Lynch, the Director of Research and Facilitation for Ceres Policy Research, who oversaw the African American Holistic Wellness Hub Feasibility Study and shared the key takeaways from the study.
- Attendees participated in table discussions to offer insight through prompts to better understand opportunities for partnership and additional areas where young Black and African American children can be supported in their development. Click here or below to view an infographic that captures the main themes that arose from the discussions and access to the more detailed notes.
Inspired by the contributions throughout the day, we intend to build on the momentum created and use this event as a stepping stone to strengthen system and network connectivity. Specifically, we want to use it as a catalyst to further promote capacity-building opportunities, resources, and establish partnerships that improve various health equity and educational outcomes. These include literacy rates, pre- and post-maternity support networks, resiliency and co-regulation strategies, and other disparities linked to the safe and stable livelihoods of Black families and their children aged 0-5.
Coming up next:
Save the date for a Family Event on April 12
On Saturday, April 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Marina Community Center in Pittsburg, we will host an interactive resource fair that will guide participants through the ‘womb to classroom’ journey with resource connections. East County Black and African American families will be able to interact and engage with providers and community partners—hopefully with some of you—with valuable resources, services, and programs available for each stage of development from pregnancy to Kindergarten.
Saturday, April 12
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Marina Community Center in Pittsburg
Click here to SAVE THE DATE and sign-up to receive additional information once we finalize logistics for the event.
If you are interested in participating as a resource-table, please let us know on the form above.
If you are interested in learning more or being involved in our Ready Kids East County work, please contact Jessica Keener, Program Coordinator, at jkeener@first5coco.org.