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Connecting families with community supports to increase the health and well-being of children in Calaveras.

First 5 Calaveras serves as the lead agency for “Strengthening Calaveras Families” which consists of First 5 Calaveras, Prevent Child Abuse Calaveras, and programs funded under the Behavioral Health Services: Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63)

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Parental Resilience: “I have courage during stressful times or in a crisis.”                                   

Social Connections: “I have friends and at least one person who supports my parenting.” 

Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development: “Parenting is part natural and part learned.” 

Concrete Support in Times of Need: “My family can get help when we need it.”

Nurturing and Attachment: “My children feel loved, believe they matter and can get along with others.”

Strengthening Families through the Five Protective Factors

Evidence supports that these Five Protective Factors are present in strong families:

  • Nurturing & Attachment
    Developing a bond of strong, warm feelings with my child
     
  • Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
    Understanding how children grow and develop and applying effective, nonviolent discipline techniques appropriate to my child’s age and level of development.  
     
  • Parental Resilience
    Gaining an awareness of my own challenges in parenting and learning ways to handle everyday stressors and recover from an occasional crisis.
     
  • Social Connections
    Feeling encouraged and supported in facing the daily challenges of raising a family.
     
  • Concrete Supports
    Learning about community resources such as child care, health care, education, counseling, housing, or food that help me ensure the health and well-being of my child. Being a parent is one of the most difficult jobs there is, but raising healthy, well-functioning children is one of the greatest contributions a parent can make to society. Parenting is a learned process which results from a combination of having a positive role model for parenting, strong support in the learning process, and access to accurate, helpful information.

 

Parent Education, Support, and Workshops

FREE Parent Education classes are offered on various topics to support Calaveras parents and guardians in raising children 0 to 17 years.

Funded by MHSA Prop 63

We invite you to join our online community where we will be discussing topics related to kids’ and parents’ well-being facilitated by guest speakers with versatile specialties; sharing ideas of how to cope with challenges; and, most importantly, fostering new social connections while getting to know you.

No classes currently scheduled. Please check back later!

No-Cost Parent Counseling

Are you uninsured or have other insurance barriers?

Calaveras parents or guardians with children 0-17 years old may be eligible for NO COST Parent Counseling.

To learn more contact: Karen Pekarcik, LMFT at (209) 256 4689

This program is provided by Sierra Child and Family Services with funding from Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) - Prop 63.

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Dual Language Learner Family Engagement - Participación familiar de los estudiantes de dos idiomas

Nueva oportunidad de participación familiar para familias que aprenden en dos idiomas

¡Primeras 5 Calaveras ahora está inscribiendo familias!

New Family Engagement Opportunity for Dual Language Learner Families

First 5 Calaveras is now enrolling families!

This program is available to Calaveras County parents, caregivers, friends and neighbors with
children ages 0 to 5 years old in supporting their children's home language.     

COVID-19 Supports for Parents

Visit our Parenting Resources Page for COVID-19 Supports plus At-Home Learning Resources

5 Protective Factors

Training for Professionals

Training for Early Childhood Educators, Teachers, Supervisors, Therapists, Social Workers, and other community professionals.

Professional Training

*NEW* Dual Language Learner Provider Training - Desarrollo profesional para estudiantes de dos idiomas

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

In 2018, First 5 Calaveras in Partnership with Calaveras County Office of Education and Calaveras Trauma Consortia held "Building A Trauma Sensitive School Community" Workshop with Steve Graner, NME Project Director from The ChildTrauma Academy. The Neurosequential Model in Education was developed by Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. and the ChildTrauma Academy to educate school staff about developmental trauma and how to apply that knowledge in interactions with children whose development has been compromised by adverse childhood experience.

NEW* Neurosequential Network COVID-19 Stress, Distress, & Trauma Video Series with Dr. Bruce Perry

First 5 Trainings for Professionals

Early Care and Education Get-Togethers – A Professional Learning Community offering monthly Zoom meetings – both AM and PM sessions available

Mindful Schools

In 2015, First 5 Calaveras in Partnership with Calaveras Unified School District piloted The Mindful School Program for educators and students at West Point Elementary School. The purpose was to offer a neuroscience research based approach to support teacher and student wellness.  In partnership with “Mindful Schools” in Oakland, CA educators completed two 6 week online courses that supported a personal practice followed by a curriculum course for implementation in the classroom.

Currently, West Point Elementary, Mokelumne Hill Elementary, Copperopolis and Mark Twain Elementary (lower grades) are implementing the practice at their respective schools.

What is Mindfulness?

Research and Neuroscience

Watch and hear from elementary school students learning to use mindfulness to navigate complex feelings in this short video created by Mindful Schools graduate & filmmaker, Julie Bayer Salzman

Just Breathe Video Snapshot

Strategies TA Learning Exchange

Strategies TA supports and inspires cross-sector networks throughout California to advance community-driven action to strengthen children and families, centered in equity and inclusion.

August 2021 Sessions:

August 17th - Child Abuse Planning in Rural Communities Learning Exchange: Number Story

August 24th - Working Upstream: The Power of Prevention

Mindful Schools WPE

Online Training and Webinars for Early Childhood Educators

California Early Childhood Online

California Early Childhood Online - This website hosts online training in the following areas:

  • Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) (20 hrs.)
  • CSEFEL (Center for Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning) Teaching Pyramid (3 hrs.)
  • California Early Learning Foundations and Curriculum Framework (45 hrs.)       
  • 3 R’s of Early Childhood Relationships, Resilience, Readiness (6 hrs.)
  • Healthy and Active Preschoolers (10 hrs.)
  • Implementing the Protective Factors Framework (14 hours)

You must register for this website and retain your password. Training is free and counts for professional development.

Strengthening Families Protective Families Framework

Children’s Trust Fund Alliance - This online Training and self-assessment focuses on family engagement and supporting parents. Each course includes required lessons with videos, an end-of-course quiz, portfolio assignments, an individual action plan assignment, and a certificate of course completion. The online training is free of charge and funded through the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention.

California Early Childhood Educator Competency Series

California Early Childhood Educator Competency Series (WestEd) is a self-paced, online, professional development tool from the California Department of Education to help early childhood educators learn about the Early Childhood Educator Competencies. The Series includes an introductory video and twelve 15- to 20-minute videos, one for each Competency Context. Through interviews and examples, each video guides the viewer through the professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions of the Early Childhood Educator Competencies.

Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns

Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns provides tools and best practices to help you work with families to monitor the development of every child in your care, share your concerns with families in a positive way, and help families get connected to services and support that can make a real difference.  The 1-hour training is FREE, available online, and is approved for continuing education credit.  Take the training today and help make a difference in the lives of all the children in your care!

Kaplan/Quorum Courses

Professional Development to Go (PD2GO) packs

WestEd’s Early Education Effective Exchange developed Professional Development to Go (PD2GO) packs (English and Spanish), a collection of professional development experiences designed in individual, easy-to-use 15-minute "packs" focusing on continuous quality improvement in early learning programs. The 15-minute packs are supported by a suite of comprehensive resources designed to extend learning, help participants "dig deeper" into the topic, and build their skill capacity. PD2GO packs are organized in three comprehensive learning strands: Systems Thinking, Evidence and Effectiveness, and Intentional Interactions in Teaching. They also are organized by themes: Family Engagement, Dual Language Learners, and Supporting Individualization. Each pack includes an animated Powerpoint presentation, Facilitator Guide, and Handouts. They were designed for use in small groups by center directors and family child care providers with their staff.

Early Childhood Investigations

Early Childhood Investigations is an ongoing series of conference-quality free webinars for early childhood educators. The series is produced by Fran S. Simon, M.Ed., Chief Engagement Officer of Engagement Strategies, LLC.  These engaging webinars are presented by many of the thought-leaders and experts in the field of early care and education. The webinars explore critical topics that offer new ideas and insights to early childhood professionals, especially administrators. Please note: most webinars are scheduled on Eastern Time so adjust the start time!

California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN)

California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) is brought to you by the California Department of Education, Early Education and Support Division in collaboration with the Center for Child and Family Studies at WestEd and the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA). CPIN provides high quality professional development for preschool administrators and teachers highlighting current research-based information, resources, and effective instructional practices which are focused on preparing children to flourish in early childhood and succeed in elementary school and beyond.

Second Step Early Learning Program

Second Step Early Learning Program

Help your littlest learners harness their potential by teaching them to listen, control their behavior, and get along with others. Students enter kindergarten set up for success with the self-regulation and social-emotional skills taught in the research-based Second Step Program. Due to the fact that Second Step Early Learning Program does not provide completion certifications you will need to complete a “Professional Development Summary Template”. 

Family Child Care Specific Training

California Early Childhood Online ( CECO)

Gee Whiz Education Great free activities and trainings

Business Practices in Family Child Care • 5 modules/7.5 hours total • Available in English and Spanish

Module 1: An Introduction to Best Business Practices in Family Child Care

Module 2: Family Child Care Business Plan (Part 1–Program Planning) 2

Module 3: Family Child Care Business Plan (Part 2–Liability) 2

Module 4: Family Child Care Business Plan (Part 3 Finances and Record Keeping) 2 hours

Module 5: Sustainability in Family Child Care 2

Additional Online Trainings and Resources

Pro Solutions Training – Numerous online trainings

High Scope – Online Training, curriculum planning and more

Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System - Online trainings- focus on school age, after school and summer

Connect4Learning - Online trainings and preschool curriculum information

Achieve OnDemand - Online training and information – Home Visitor Specific

Child Care Aware -  Does not offer trainings, but has a lot of great information and resources

Conscious Discipline – FREE online trainings for 60 days (during “shelter in place”) – lots of great resources and trainings

Teaching For Change - free anti-bias and diversity curriculum and articles

Teaching Tolerance - This is a great FREE online resource that has anti-bias frameworks, curriculum, articles, magazines and SO much more.

EarlyEdU Alliance

The EarlyEdU Alliance® transforms early childhood teacher preparation by closing the opportunity gap through a collaboration of early childhood experts and stakeholders working to provide high-quality college degree programs that are accessible, affordable, relevant, and effective for current and prospective early learning professionals.

For a short time, the EarlyEdU Media Library is accessible to all! Follow this link to register for an account.

Center for Optimal Brain Integration

Center for Optimal Brain Integration trains, coaches and consults on trauma-responsive practices and strategies.

Classroom Accommodations for Kids with Sensory Issues

Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training

Neurosequential Network COVID-19 Stress, Distress, & Trauma Series - Dr. Bruce Perry

Dual Language Learner Professional Development - Desarrollo profesional para estudiantes de dos idiomas

2021 Webinars and Workshops for Child Care Providers

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