FIRST 5’s Role in Children’s Health

Status on Children’s Health SymposiumMay 4, 2011

Jolene SmithExecutive Director

Vision and Mission

Vision:FIRST 5 Santa Clara County will be a catalyst for ensuring that

the developmental needs of children prenatal through age 5 are a priority in all sectors of the community.

Mission: FIRST 5 Santa Clara County supports the healthy development of

children prenatal through age 5 and enriches the lives of their families and communities.

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Circles of Influence

3Source: Ecological Systems Model adapted from: Bronfenbrenner, U. (1989)

Public Investment Mismatch in Early Years

4Source: Brain Growth and Public Investment, A Mismatch (Children Now) 2010

Who FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Serves

FIRST 5 serves a diverse, isolated, and needy population.

oLow-income families – many living in poverty 34% earn less than $10,000 60% earn less than $20,000 82% earn less than $30,000

o48% of parents have less than a high school education

o54% of children (ages 3-5) attend preschool

o55% parents never participate in community activities

o63% of children show risks of developmental delay

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Normal Brain Development vs Impoverished Brain

6Source: The Brain scan comparison was adapted from the Special Edition of Newsweek, Spring/Summer 1997.

Who FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Serves

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Countywide Service Delivery Model

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FIRST 5’s FY 2011/2012 Community Investments

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FIRST 5’s Health Initiatives

1. Children’s Health Initiative ($3.7 Million)

2. Oral Health Initiative ($1.3 Million)

3. The Learning Together Initiative ($3.6 Million)

4. Obesity/Diabetes Prevention ($1.0 Million)

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Children’s Health Initiative

While most of the children FIRST 5 serves qualify for Medi-Cal, FIRST 5 funds the premiums of:

1,787

Healthy Kids children birth through age 5

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Oral Health Initiative

FluoridationoFIRST 5 committed $1 Million and partnered with The Health Trust to fluoridate Santa Clara County’s drinking water

Dental serviceso595 children received dental care in Gilroy clinic

Dental CentersoNew Dental Center expected to open in Sunnyvale in Summer 2011 and expected to serve 6,000 children annually.

oPartnered with The Health Trust to expand their Tropicana dental center that serves 10,000 children annually.

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Learning Together Initiative (LTI) - Purpose

The purpose of the Learning Together Initiative (LTI) is to provide prevention, early intervention, and information to parents and community members to prepare children to be healthy and ready to enter and succeed in school. The information presented to families include:

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Health

•The importance of preventive health care and wellness•The importance of dental visits, immunizations, regular well baby checks•Referrals for developmental screening of children•Facilitation of health insurance enrollment/maintenance•Connections to a primary health care provider

School Readiness

•Transitional kindergarten classes•Kindergarten Readiness Handbook•School Readiness parent workshops

Early Literacy / Oral Language Development

•The importance of reading•SEEDS of Early Literacy•Reading Together

Learning Together Initiative (LTI) - Components

LTI operates through two component programs:

1. Community Worker Program

2. Family Resource Center (FRC) ProgramIn partnership with the City of San Jose and the Packard Foundation

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Community Worker Program

A network of 12 agencies across Santa Clara County mobilize:

34 Full-Time

Community Workers

76

Associate/Volunteer Community Workers

110 Community

Workers

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17 Family Resource Center Sites

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Family Resource Center (FRC) ProgramFRC’s are community hubs

•Community-based, family friendly, and have flexible hours to accommodate families

•Provide an array of information and resources

•Serve as a “home base” for Community Workers connected to the communities they serve.

•Provide free family workshops including :

1.Arts Enrichment2.SEEDS of Early Literacy3.Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors)4.Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)

In only 6 months, FRC’s served 4,911 parents and 2,888 children

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LTI Increases Parents’ Skills and Knowledge

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California Budget Impact to FIRST 5

State approved a $950 Million shift from First 5 County Commissions to the State general fund to help balance the State’s budget deficit.

oRedirects 50% local FIRST 5’s reserves to the State

oImpact to FIRST 5 Santa Clara County: $39 Million

oAnticipated FIRST 5 service cuts: 18% in FY 11/12

oCuts to programs that directly serve children will be minimized

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Contact

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Jolene SmithExecutive Director

4000 Moorpark Avenue, #200San Jose, CA 95117(408) 260-3700www.first5kids.org

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