Report from Executive Director

December 18, 2014

  1. Update on Administrative Operations
  • Configuration of Fiscal Module in Persimmony Software System currently underway.
  • Implementation targeted for January 2015, coinciding with the submission of Quarter 2 invoices/expenditure reports.
  • Set-up and testing will occur in December, with five funded partners having volunteered to help test the system and provide essential user feedback.
  • Through this fiscal module, invoices can be submitted electronically which will streamline fiscal reporting, document submission and payment processes.
  1. Update on Commission Initiatives
  • Neighborhoods for Learning
  • Rio NfL
  • New Lending Library at the Nyeland Center offers parents the opportunity to borrow bags full of books along with learning materials.
  • Staff review the contents with parents, explaining how to use the materials and how each activity promotes healthy development.
  • Lending Library will continue at various sites including El Rio, Riverpark and Rio Real.
  • NfL services are now being offered at an additional location, the Paseo Santa Clara apartment building in Riverpark, operated by the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC).
  • CEDC staff sought out the Rio NfL to bring services to the building, recruiting residents, facilitating the completion of registration packets and providing a space for the class.
  • NfL staff started a weekly Play and Learn class on Friday mornings, which is already well attended, and will be starting an infant massage class at the site in January.
  • NfL provided comprehensive Preschool Programs Update to Rio School Board in October 2014. (see attached)
  • Pleasant Valley NfL
  • NfL’s 5th Annual Children’s Multicultural BookFest had over 600 attendees, with a welcome from Supervisor Kathy Long and School Board Trustee Bob Rust.
  • Volunteers distributed more than 300 books to children and families.
  • Event included 6 children’s authors.
  • Moorpark/Simi Valley NfL
  • Moorpark FRC held its annual Halloween event, with over 200 children attending in costume to Trick or Treat at agencies in the Moorpark Human Services Center,for no-sugar treats.
  • Prizes were donated by the local Target.
  • Annual Harvest Festival for families at the Simi Valley FRC (Family Resource Center) offered children developmentally appropriate activities with a harvest theme, concluding with a story time presented by the FRC staff.
  • Countywide Strategies
  • Preschool - BA Attainment Project
  • F5VC staff have worked closely with VCOE and the Higher Education Advisory Panel (made up of representatives from Ventura County's higher education institutions) to identify barriers students face when completing an AA or BA degree and programmatic approaches to reduce these barriers.
  • Higher education partners are searching for sources of funds within their institutions to leverage any efforts pursued.
  • First 5 California has partnered with the University of Washington to pilot two upper level early childhood education courses that utilize an observation and coaching model of academic instruction.
  • Participation in the pilot includes training in the CLASS assessment tool and access to University of Washington advisors.
  • Courses would be offered in the summer or fall of 2015, providing an opportunity for a local higher education partner to offer an innovative teaching method that mirrors in an academic setting the type of coaching currently occurring at QRIS sites.
  • Cal State University Channel Islands has expressed interest in working with First 5 to implement the courses.
  • Local funding would be available through RTT funds that have been allocated to address issues related to BA attainment.
  • Triple P - Level 2 Seminars and Level 3 Brief Parenting Interventions
  • With Triple P training and implementation support from VCBH subcontractors, City Impact and Interface, NfL staff continue to expand offerings of Triple P Level 2 and 3, collectively having served 469 participants in FY 2013-14.
  • Strengthening Families Leadership Groupcontinues to meet to pilot the broad expansion of Triple P Level 2 Seminars in three target communities in Oxnard.
  • Help Me Grow/2-1-1 Pilot
  • Working in partnership with the Help Me Grow Collaborative, 2-1-1 is piloting a centralized call function for early identification and referral of children exhibiting developmental concerns.
  • Since the pilot began in November, 2-1-1 staff have spoken to 275 callers about developmental concerns.
  • 40 of these callers (15%) have been referred for services to either Early Start (children under 3) or their local NfL (children 3 – 5).
  • Communications, Education and Development
  • Literacy Campaign
  • Through F5VC’s expanded early literacy campaign, local libraries have been encouraging families to sign up for a library card with F5VC {Talk, Read, Sing} book-bag incentives.
  • In the first six months of the full-year campaign, libraries have distributed nearly 800 bags.
  • Initially introduced in the Ventura County Library System, effort has now expanded to include Camarillo and Oxnard libraries.
  • Barnes and Noble stores are once again collecting books for F5VC kids.
  • Pacific View Mall Partnership
  • Strong F5VC presence through display ads in the mall, with educational messaging around Breastfeeding (the mall is BFF), Healthy Eating and Early Literacy. (see attached)
  • F5VC staff joined the Pacific View Farmer’s Market on December 17,2014, to connect with families and distribute educational materials and F5VC information.
  • F5VC staff are exploring ways to expand outreach through this venue at other sites.
  • Parent Leadership: Building Sustainability
  • A parent from the Hueneme NfL who participated in our most recent parent leadership training, is enthusiastically preparing to head to Sacramento in early January for further training so that she can help other parents become more effective leaders in their communities.
  • NfL parent will be joined by Diana Arellano, F5VC Community Education Coordinator, and Kirsti Smith from Strategies for a two-day intensive “train the trainer” session, funded by the statewide Parent Services Project.
  • Through F5VC’s partnership with EC-LINC, an overview of this work has been shared nationally to inspire other communities. (see attached)
  1. County, Regional and National Updates
  • White House Summit on Early Education
  • At the White House Summit on Early Educationheld in early December, elected officials, advocates, business leaders and philanthropists discussed plans for expanding access to high-quality early learning programs.
  • President Obama also launched new campaign, “Invest in US”, challenging policymakers, public and private partners to build a better nation through high-quality early childhood education.
  • Dozens of corporations, foundations and individuals have already agreed to dedicate a greater ongoing percentage of their philanthropy to expanding high quality early childhood programs and researchas a strategy for achieving better education, health,social and economic outcomes.
  • Commitments currentlytotal morethan $333 million.
  • Federal Funding
  • Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership Grants
  • Child Development Resources of Ventura County, Inc. (CDR)is on the preliminary list for an $800,000 federal Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant, expanding the number of high-needs infants and toddlers served in Ventura County.
  • CDR plans to serve 50 additional children in partnership with Family Child Care providers, and an additional 12 children in a new Infant/Toddler center.
  • Preschool Expansion Grants
  • California was unfortunately not among the 18 States selected for the highly competitive Preschool Expansion funding. (see attached media)
  • CA Department of Education noted their disappointment but expressed their appreciation for the team-work, creative thinking and commitment demonstrated through the grant development process.
  • Countywide Prenatal Convening - Hosted by First 5 Ventura County
  • On December 1, First 5 brought together approximately 25 professionals from organizations concerned with prenatal health and the continuum of care.
  • Goal was to look at best practices, resources and gaps that impact pregnancy outcomes in Ventura County to move toward a seamless continuum of care for mothers, infants and young children.
  • Engaged participants shared ongoing efforts throughout the county and talked about huge need that remains.
  • Participants felt existing prenatal efforts need to be more connected and less siloed.
  • Following the successful convening, VCPH presented the opportunity to combine efforts with their existing MCAH Action collaborative tofurther deepen the collaborative foundation.
  • Unique Student Identifiers for Preschoolers
  • Led by the Ventura County Office of Education, in collaboration with the Rio School District, Child Development Resources, Inc. and First 5 Ventura County, a pilot project is under development to assign unique identifiers to children enrolled in preschool in the Rio School District.
  • Project team is looking at the current enrollment processes, evaluating opportunities for shared data and developing procedures that can be replicated in other school districts.
  • P-20 Council – VC STEM
  • CSU Channel Islands has received a $75,000 grant from the AMGEN Foundation to develop a Ventura County Regional STEM Network (VC STEM).
  • While originally proposed as a K-12 model, the application was re-written to encompass PreK-12, following input from community partners.
  • Project will be run under the auspices of the P-20 Council.
  1. Upcoming Events
  • Ventura County Together Monthly Meeting, January 5, 2015, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., VCCF Non-Profit Center, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo
  • First 5 CA: 2015 Child Health, Education and Care Summit: Building Powerful Partnerships, February 10 – 12, 2015, Sacramento (see attached)
  • First 5 Committees
  • Administration/Finance Committee, January 9, 2015, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., F5VC offices

PROVIDER ANECDOTES

Regional Health Educators – Ventura County Public Health

During the month of September, I received a voice message from a physician from the Las Islas Medical Clinic. This physician called regarding a child who I had completed an ASQ for during the month of August. He said that the child’s mother had shared with him the ASQ screening and that he was very worried about this child, because he showed delays in all the domains. He wanted to follow up with me regarding my plan of action.

I contacted this physician and I explained to him that I had referred the child to the Early Start Program for an assessment and I was waiting for the results of the assessment. He asked me to let him know the results of the assessment. I contacted the service coordinator at Early Start and she informed me that the child had been approved for speech and early intervention services. She faxed a copy of the plan to the physician at Las Islas.

When I followed up with the physician, he had just received a copy of the plan and was very thankful that our program was helping this family to connect with services, and that wecompleted the ASQ for this child.

Triple P – Ventura County Behavioral Health

During the Triple P intake, the four year old client displayed difficulty playing with other children.The therapist’s first impression was that he had a language delay, both expressive and receptive. Additionally, he made little eye contact, his mood was flat and he showed minimal expression. Client’s mother shared her concern that her son could be autistic. During treatment, client started preschool and his mother has consistently engaged in quality time with him; i.e., engaging in fun activities, asking him questions.

During the last session, the client looked the therapist in the eye and even though his language is still difficult to understand, he talked and made complete sentences. Mother displayed her ability to encourage her child’s development and she now understands the importance of connecting with her child.

Many of the client’s behaviors that had appeared as a cognitive disorder seemed to be the result of a lack of stimulation. Anyone who met the client at the beginning of treatment would probably have the impression that he had a serious developmental delay. However, after being exposed to other children, along with his mother’s consistent participation in Triple P services and her willingness to help her child, he has drastically improved.

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