Message from Karen Scott

This time of year brings vital attention to the subject of mental health and serves as a reminder that women's mental health during pregnancy must be taken seriously. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Inland Empire Maternal Mental Health (IEMMH) meeting, which is a community-based collaborative focusing on mental health and working together to help mothers and families in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

First 5 San Bernardino’s Maternal Health Network has also partnered with local subject matter experts at IEMMH and California Baptist University (CBU) to create an educational bundle that addresses this important issue. (Message continued in Story Continues tab below.)

Resources

• IEMH: https://www.maternalhealthnetworksb.com/mental-health 
• MOM organization: https://www.2020mom.org/maternal-suicide-awareness-2022
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/

In a first for First 5 San Bernardino (F5SB), a research study based on one of the organization’s initiatives was recently published highlighting the importance parenting education programs play in preventing child abuse and neglect.

Featured in the Journal of Public Child Welfare’s June 15, 2022, edition, the paper titled “Strengths-based case management” provides evidence of the impact of implementing the Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP) combined with structured case management using a tool known as the Family Development Matrix (FDM); a product of Matrix Outcome Model Inc.

[Pictured left to right] Executive Director Karen Scott; Principal Researcher Ignacio Navarro, PhD,; Deputy Director Systems and Impact Scott McGrath; Section Manager, Evaluation and Impact Wendy Lee, PsyD; Evaluation Staff Analysts II Peter Tawadros and Ray Salamat.

[Pictured left to right] Jim Scott and F5SB Executive Director Karen Scott deliver the library collection of Dr. Margaret Hill to Leslie Tepe, regional manager, SBC Libraries. 

The library collection of Dr. Margaret Hill, former First 5 San Bernardino Commissioner and education icon who passed away last year, has been donated to the San Bernardino County Library system.

Dr. Hill, a treasured community member, educator and passionate advocate for learning and literacy, had quite a collection of books, explained Executive Director of First 5 San Bernardino Karen Scott.

As an expert in the field of education, Dr. Hill was frequently interviewed by journalists seeking her opinions including her thoughts on how students, parents and teachers could address educational challenges. “Dr. Hill urged students to read more to help build their vocabularies and comprehension,” Scott recounted. “Margaret always emphasized that reading together with your kids is critically important to positive child development and educational success.

Recently two important conferences reflecting F5SB’s investment areas of systems and education were held, one furthering the importance of early education for young children, and the other focusing on the perinatal disparities within Black and African American women with an emphasis on how to provide culturally safe care.

The 13th Annual Preschool Services Conference, hosted by San Bernardino County’s Preschool Services Department (PSD), was held in Ontario on August 25. In the conference exhibit area, F5SB provided 3,240 Potter the Otter books to preschool professionals attending the conference. “The teachers were so appreciative, it was wonderful,” said LuCretia Dowdy, F5SB’s community engagement specialist. Other supplies provided included 1,000 F5SB ‘hand pens,’ tissues and oral health wipes, Dowdy added.

Ronnie Robinson, section manager systems and communication, reads to an attendee at F5SB's Play Zone held at the Perinatal Equity Initiative's Community Day.

$1.5 Million Available for "Innovation Funding"

The Merceides Logans Community Innovation Initiative has launched, providing an opportunity for local organizations to obtain funding for new and existing programs that benefit young children and their families.  

Named after a beloved staff member who recently lost her battle with cancer, the Merceides Logans Community Innovation Initiative is a $1.5 million fund designated to foster a progressive yet simplified approach for community organizations to obtain resources and work together.  

First 5 San Bernardino AmeriCorps: Join the Team!

First 5 San Bernardino is looking to add to its 2022-2023 AmeriCorps team! Team members will work with children ages 2-5 in San Bernardino County to increase social-emotional, literacy and mathematic skills to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.  

In addition to the opportunity to begin working in early childhood education and development, First 5 AmeriCorps members will positively impact the San Bernardino County community for years to come. They provide 1:1 support to economically disadvantaged children, assisting with developing learning skills to set them up for lifelong success.  

For more information, contact Traci Homan at (909) 386-7706. 

About First 5 San Bernardino

The Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino County (First 5 San Bernardino) was created in December 1998, in order to realize the benefits of Proposition 10 (California Children and Families Act) for the County's youngest residents and their families. The act created a program for the purpose of promoting, supporting and improving the early development of children from the prenatal stage to five years of age, under the guidance of the Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino, and in collaboration with the community and agencies providing services to children.