FIRST 5 CALAVERAS is pleased to announce funding for the following programs for Fiscal Year 2017 through 2020 and beyond...

Building Healthy Kids, Families, and Communities:

Gardens to Grow In engages children 3-5 years old in research based, garden enhanced nutrition education. Parents and teachers participate in nutrition lessons, learn how to maintain classroom gardens, and how to incorporate social-emotional learning into the program. Lessons include a hands-on garden based activity, a link to the importance of eating healthy foods, and tasting something from a garden or local farm. The construction of and/or the improvement of existing preschool/school garden spaces is an integral part of this program, creating access to healthy foods for children and their families.

Calaveras Children’s Dental Project:

The Calaveras Children’s Dental Project, through Calaveras County Office of Education provides dental services including fluoride treatments, screenings and referrals for children birth through five years old. Children with urgent dental needs receive case management and facilitated access to treatment. Parents are given information on early oral health education.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Calaveras:

The CASA program provided by Nexus Youth and Family Services trains volunteers that advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children 0-5 years old who are dependents of the Court. Each advocate acts as a trusted mentor and assists children in receiving appropriate assessments and services, including preschool or early childcare, ensure a concurrent permanency plan is in place, and improves the overall wellness of the children they serve.

Little Leapers Early Literacy Program:

Enroll your children in this program with the Calaveras County Library to increase early literacy/pre-kindergarten reading skills. Families will engage in reading to their young child 15 minutes a day and learn to “unplug” and maintain quality interactions with technology. Early literacy curriculum and resource kits will be available for use in each County Library branch and local family childcare homes.

Kid’s Farmers Market:

Through The Resource Connection Food Bank, children ages 3-5 years old engage in hands-on learning regarding fruits, vegetables, and healthy nutrition. They prepare a meal with fresh produce and receive the recipe and ingredients to take home to share with their families. Preschool children participate in their own Farmer’s Market and select produce of their choice. Each participant takes home a 20 lb. bag of fresh, in season local vegetables and fruits.

Quality Improvement Stipend Program:

Through The Resource Connection Resource & Referral, provides stipends for early education professional development and increased quality in family childcare homes.

S.A.F.E. Self Preschool Program:

The Resource Connection Prevention Team visits local preschools to educate young children in regards to personal safety. Puppets, stories, songs, and art are used to engage children in lessons such as car and street safety, safe touch, feelings, kindness, assertiveness, stranger danger, household safety, and getting an adult for help and support. Parents learn safety skills and strategies to use with their child.

Raising a Reader Home Visiting:

A Home Visitor from The Resource Connection Early Childhood Programs assists families that do not meet the qualifications for Head Start/Early Head Start and/or those that have other barriers that prevent them from enrolling in local childcare sites in the use of early literacy materials and focused child development resources. In addition to focused curriculum, children receive developmental screenings. Parents receive referrals and resources to access appropriate services for child and family needs.