All children deserve the best start in life. In the first 5 years of a child's life, critical connections are made in the brain that impact lifelong learning.
How we nurture and support our children today will impact their success in school and in life.
First 5 Santa Barbara County Children and Families Commission works in partnership with individuals and organizations throughout the county, to support the health, early learning and well-being of children pre-natal through age 5 and their families.
Childhood Poverty in Southern California
In Southern California, one out of every five kids lives in poverty - and the rate is increasing. In 2009, there were about 120,000 more children in the region living in poverty than in 2007 - or enough to fill three ballparks. The youngest kids, those 5 and younger, are greatly impacted by poverty with long-lasting and wide-ranging problems, such as increased likelihood of suffering from childhood obesity, being abused or neglected and having dental problems due to lack of care, troubles in school and asthma. In addition, pregnant women are less likely to get prenatal care.
To highlight these issues, the First 5 Association of California and a coalition of Southern California First 5 commissions, including First 5 Santa Barbara, launched a website to help members of the public and policy makers alike understand the impact poverty has on young children. Poverty in Southern California: The Impact on Young Children was created in conjunction with the Advancement Project's Healthy City and the kidsdata.org website from the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. It features interactive maps that rate each zip code based on need and highlights how the First 5s are responding to the growing challenge of childhood poverty.
"Families with young children are often among the hardest hit during economic downturns. As unemployment persists for many parents, millions of children across California and the nation are more likely to experience the effects of poverty - homelessness, poor health, lower academic performance - that can arise when families find it difficult to make ends meet," the website explains. "For some of these families, statewide budget cuts that further reduce services and access to safety net programs may remove the options of last resort."
The website uses current, local data to investigate the short-term and long-range impact of the recession on children and families and where the greatest needs are.
Everyone is encouraged to use the website to inform their own work, and share it with others.
Visit Poverty in Southern California: The Impact on Young Children Potter the Otter Loves to Drink Water
Potter loves water and wants you and your family to love water too!
Did you know that cutting back on sugar-sweetened beverages can help your family stay healthy? Drinking water instead of sugary beverages can help prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes in both children and adults.
This season, take the ReThink Your Drink Pledge and spread the message about the health benefits of water, and follow Potter the Otter's adventure as he spreads the word to his friends!
Click Here to order your FREE copy of Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water
Visit the newly redesigned and kid friendly Potter website at www.potterloveswater.com
Drink water for thrist and you should know Water is healthy it helps you grow!
Kindergarten Student Entrance Profile (KSEP)
The transition into kindergarten is important because it sets the foundation for future academic achievement. Identifying a child’s readiness at school entry and intervening appropriately facilitates positive academic outcomes. The Kindergarten Student Entrance Profile (KSEP) was developed and evaluated over six years as part of a school, community, and university action research collaboration involving the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, First 5 of Santa Barbara County, and the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California Santa Barbara. Read More
Looking for Children's Health Insurance?
Many parents do not have health insurance available through their employer and their children may qualify for the subsidized state health insurance programs of Medi-Cal, Healthy Families or Healthy Kids. Public health insurance products such as Medi-Cal/Healthy Families/Healthy Kids are comprehensive insurance plans. They cover medical-related costs as well as offer a vision and dental plan Click here for more information.
Open Enrollment for Quality Counts General Membership
The Quality Counts Program which was designed to support center-based programs and their staff to achieve program quality improvement is now accepting enrollment forms for General Membership. Programs enrolled in General Membership benefit from various services and materials. Read More