Summer usually marks a fun and lighthearted part of the year but it is now bringing the somber reality of our current state budget crisis. This newsletter hopes to shed some light on the budget situation's effects on Monterey County families and offer some resources on this important and ever changing topic. We'll also explore family literacy, an approach that brings families closer together and yields long-term benefits. A First 5 Monterey County study found that children whose parents read to them at least once a week entered kindergarten more prepared and ready to learn. Those who were read to more often had even higher gains. By supporting programs that build literacy skills and increase access to books, First 5 Monterey County is investing in an affordable and effective way for families to lay the foundation for school and lifelong success.

First 5's throughout the state of California moved into summer with our funding intact thanks to Californians who voted to defeat Proposition 1D last May. This preserved the only dedicated source of local funding for young children and their families. However, the economic crisis continues, and we know that now, more than ever, we must reach out to those who are feeling increased financial pressure during the economic downturn. Although we can't solve this crisis alone, First 5 Monterey County funding priorities have always focused on low-income families and we will continue to develop strategies that support those most in need throughout these tough times. By maintaining our focus on prevention and early intervention, we remain committed to helping families with young children establish the foundation that will sustain them throughout life.

Sincerely,

Francine Rodd
Executive Director

In light of California’s biggest fiscal crisis in history, the economy is weighing on the minds and pocketbooks of many families. Locally, county organizations have noted significant increases over the last two years in applications and on-going cases for food stamps, CalWORKs, and General Assistance, indicating that families in Monterey County need help to make ends meet. Coupled with a downturn and layoffs in the tourism industry and a sagging housing market that saw 1 of every 13 households in foreclosure last year, local nonprofits and county agencies are struggling to meet increased demands on shrinking budgets. Perhaps one of the saddest examples of these troubled times were calls received by First 5 Monterey County from mothers unable to afford infant formula for their babies.

In January 2009, First 5 Monterey County provided $100,000 to the Community Foundation for Monterey County. This money is earmarked for grants to local nonprofits experiencing a higher demand for services while making ends meet with less funding. With this assistance, local agencies can better respond to meeting basic needs for families with young children including shelter, housing, and transportation. To date, grants have been made to food banks in Salinas and South County, Shelter Outreach Plus, and the Salvation Army. Finally, mothers needing infant formula were connected to agencies providing food cards to help them make this vitally important purchase.

Although the funding to the Community Foundation only scratches the surface, First 5 Monterey County was pleased to respond to the local and immediate needs of families in our community. As the budget situation becomes more clear, we will continue to work with local funders and organizations to lessen the impact on children and families.

The links below provide up-to-date information on the approved state budget and legislative issues impacting California children and families.

…for official information on the 2009-10 California Budget.

…for the Child Development Policy Institute.

…for the California Family Resource Association.

Using an approach that includes book donations, building parent literacy, and supporting parents as their child’s first teacher, First 5 Monterey County is working to make a difference in the lives of children and families in our region.

BOOK DONATIONS
Through donations at community events, parent workshops, and other outreach activities, First 5 Monterey County provided over 5,000 books to children last year. First 5 Monterey County has also donated reading corners to CHISPA (Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association) and Housing Authority sites to ensure families in low-income housing have access to books and a comfortable place to read.

STRENGTHENING PARENT LITERACY
By offering programs such as Plaza Comunitaria (see “Funded Partner Profile” below), First 5 Monterey County helps parents feel better equipped to support their children’s learning and meet their families’ basic needs.

First 5 Monterey County also provides funding to the Literacy Campaign for Monterey County, a multimillion dollar effort coordinated by the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Through grants to community-based literacy programs, this wide-reaching effort targets adults aged 18-35 with the goal of developing the literacy skills needed for fuller lives, greater job opportunities, and successful families. First 5 Monterey County funding is used to reach parents with children ages 0-5.

SUPPORTING PARENTS AS THEIR CHILD’S FIRST TEACHER
First 5 Monterey County’s funded partners work with parents to enhance literacy at home by providing information on how to read to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Oral story telling is also promoted as a way to build early literacy.

Studies have demonstrated that initiatives such as these do make a difference (4). Increasing access to books, supporting parents, and building a strong community around literacy are vital to achieving First 5 Monterey County's vision that "all children reach their full potential in a family and community that values and respects childhood."

Plaza Comunitaria is an innovative family literacy program funded partially through First 5 Monterey County’s Early Learning Opportunities Initiative. It offers parents a range of courses in Spanish, from beginning literacy to ninth-grade-level math and science, at the Alisal Healthy Start Family Resource Center (Alisal FRC). By enhancing parents’ education in their first language, the program lays the groundwork for new-language acquisition. Parents can also earn an educational certificate from Mexico, the equivalent to a high school diploma. After finishing Plaza Comunitaria, participants have completed GED exams and enrolled in English as a Second Language programs.

So far, Ignacio and Angelina have also completed Cuentos de Mi Familia, a ten-week workshop series that helps families with children ages 0-5 establish reading routines at home. At each Cuentos de Mi Familia workshop, they received a free bilingual children’s book and learned about activities related to the story that they could do at home with their family.

Although work, family, and class can be difficult to juggle, Ignacio and Angelina support one another’s educational pursuits by taking turns attending class or tending to other business. Ignacio has passed all three final exams for primary school and is moving toward intermediate level studies. Angelina has made strong progress as well, passing the final written exam of primary school and continuing to study reading and arithmetic. Most importantly, Ignacio and Angelina report feeling better prepared to support their children in school and meet their family’s basic needs.

The Alisal FRC was the first organization to offer the Plaza Comunitaria program in Monterey County. This research-based program has also been implemented by other agencies, including the Soledad Adult School and will be launched soon at the King City Family Resource Center.

*Please note, for confidentiality purposes, names in the story above have been changed.

“Our research shows there is a clear need for a trusted resource that parents can turn to for answers to many of their early child-rearing questions,” said Kris Perry, Executive Director of First 5 California. “We developed the site to help fill this need and provide families with a free place to go for everything related to children 0 to 5.”

First 5 California is spreading the message about this new parenting site with billboard, radio, and online advertisements across the state.

…to visit First 5 California’s parenting site.