Community Happenings

What's Up?! Wednesday: Progress on our County's new, all-inclusive playground! We're JOYful for the grand opening, expected to happen in April! ☺️ (Also, Sarah Sullivan, one of the dedicated and amazing forces behind it, was one of our Hands-on Heroes winners last! 💗) https://ksby.com/community/2019/02/12/main-pieces-placed-at-new-all-inclusive-playground-in-atascaderohttps://ksby.com/community/2019/02/12/main-pieces-placed-at-new-all-inclusive-playground-in-atascadero

JOIN THE FIRST 5 FAMILY! Are you or do you know a medical professional who wants to help build community supports for kids? Consider applying to become a First 5 Commissioner! The Children and Families Commission of San Luis Obispo County (First 5 San Luis Obispo County) is seeking a Medical Representative. More info below! Plus a link to where you can download the fillable application! https://www.first5slo.org/importance.php

Mark-It-Down Monday: craft & cuddle time with your little cupids this week, February 12-18th. Create Love Bugs at the Children's Museum-- by gluing pompoms, wiggly eyes and some bling onto a wooden stick! Art that's all heart! 💗 https://www.slocm.org/

What happens when you combine a love for literacy with Children's Dental Health Month? You get an extra fun edition of Talk.Read.Sing. Time Friday! Tomorrow morning... 7:30am on Instagram Live! So sink your teeth into some songs and stories with us! Get silly. Get smiley. Get your friends and join us: 🤪 📚🎼💞 IG handle @first5slocounty https://instagram.com/first5slocounty?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1rwt2chos2iut #talkreadsing #slocounty #first5slo #shareslo #earlylearning First 5 California County of San Luis Obispo Government San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department Hug-A-Bug Music

WANTED: families and caregivers with little ones still in comfy PJs, eating morning nibbles and ready to be silly and start off the weekend right with Talk.Read.Sing. Time on Instagram Live! (Truth: everyone is welcome!-- even the most serious of adults who can't form complete sentences yet without more coffee.) TUNE IN TOMORROW AT 7:30am SHARP for fun stories, some songs and a whole lot of Friday fun packed into a few minutes of brain-boosting togetherness! 🤪 📚🎼💞 IG handle @first5slocounty https://instagram.com/first5slocounty?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1rwt2chos2iut #talkreadsing #slocounty #first5slo #shareslo #earlylearning

New video! Make sure you watch until the end for the group hug ☺️ February is the month of love and we've got nothing but mad love for this amazing lady! 💗Meet Deanna Smaw, our newest Hands-on Hero!, representing the WIC Program of the SLO County Public Health Department. She's spent years empowering new mamas and daddies by providing them with breastfeeding support, nutrition guidance and health education. Congratulations, Deanna and the entire team at WIC! Thank you for all that you do to improve the lives of our young children and families ☺️ https://youtu.be/gfhoxXaTQxU

What's Up? Wednesday: A Workplace Wellness Forum One week from today! February 13th, from 9 to 10:30 AM at the Health Agency Annex Red Room. Hosted by HEAL-SLO! Join local leaders, including our own First 5 SLO County Executive Director Wendy Wendt, for a dialogue on local and national data.... discover new policies and best practices and learn how employers of all sizes can create a culture of health to boost productivity and enhance well-being. You can RSVP at this link: https://www.healslo.com/february-2019-quarterly-meeting/

Saving smiles, one child at a time.😀 February is Children's Dental Health Month!, as proclaimed this morning by our local Board of Supervisors. Dental decay is the #1 childhood illness, but it's also preventable! Thanks to all of our community partners who invest time and money in early intervention screenings and treatment for our little ones!

Monday's Message: Children’s Data Network and First 5 Association of California launched a new tool to ensure California’s babies get the services they need! The #CAStrongStart Index uses information collected at birth to understand the conditions under which babies are born in a given region so we can allocate services where they’re needed most. Learn more by visiting strongstartindex.org. ☺️

We agree with all of our fellow First 5s across the state, that this is exciting news for further elevation of important early-childhood needs! ☺️ #strongfamilies #healthykids #earlyintervention #traumainformed https://www.gov.ca.gov/2019/01/21/governor-newsom-announces-two-national-experts-in-child-development-will-be-key-leaders-in-administrations-efforts-to-help-the-youngest-californians/

Tuesday's Triumph: Twenty Years of Giving Children the Best Start in Life! Many milestones achieved-- many yet to attain! But working together, both locally and across the state, we can continue to build strong systems of support for our kids and families in those critical early years! Thank you to all of our partners, supporters and friends for your dedication and determination in helping to serve some of the most vulnerable among us.

Weekends are better when you get the wiggles out! Join us tomorrow morning at 7:30am for Talk.Read.Sing. Time Friday! on Instagram Live. Song, story and a lot of silly!🤪 📚🎼💞 IG handle @first5slocounty https://instagram.com/first5slocounty?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1rwt2chos2iut #talkreadsing #slocounty #first5slo #shareslo #earlylearning

Thursday's Thought: helping parents manage the stress being felt by our families and children during uncertain times. TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY, we hope you'll attend this "Supporting Immigrant Families" Forum, focusing on proposed policy changes-- the mental health impact-- and local resources/services. Thursday, January 31st 9am-11am... check out the flyer to register!

What's Up? Wednesday: Drama & Imaginative Play for babies and children from 6 months to 7 years old! We're excited to help sponsor a fun opportunity for families at the Oceano Library! Right in line with Talk.Read.Sing.! Check out the dates and times for Pyjama Drama-- below!😃

Friday's Newsflash in the Fight for Stronger Families: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/caifornia-gavin-newsom-family-parental-leave_us_5c377614e4b045f67689e0e0

What's Up? Wednesday: how about a totally cool opportunity at the Paso Robles Children's Museum tomorrow?! A FREE interactive, all-ages drumming clinic! Thursday, January 10th from 3:15-4pm. Join Ed and Maira as they teach basic rhythm principles and help everyone practice their new skills! (If you will be playing at the Museum prior to the event regular admission rates will apply.) http://www.pasokids.org/

Tuesday's Takeaway: "If our children succeed, we all succeed." 😍🙌 - Rob Reiner, chair of the campaign to approve Prop 10 (1998), which created the First 5 Network in California. #20yearsworkingforkids #First5ItChangesEverything #strongfamilies #ourkidsourfuture http://capitolweekly.net/first-five-helping-children-succeed/

A win for new moms and babies!, this clip featuring some of our friends and partners at the Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition. 💗😊https://ksby.com/news/local-news/2019/01/07/new-ca-law-requires-employers-to-accommodate-breast-feeding-mothers-with-special-room

“School-ready kids deserve quality early learning, strong and well-supported families, and access to early screening services.” - Kim Belshé, Executive Director of First 5 LA https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-may-2018-gov-elect-gavin-newsom-will-propose-1546395091-htmlstory.html

New Year, New Inspiration from the quiet, compassionate heroes helping to make sure our children and families are healthy and strong! Meet the face of January 2019, Sam Crouse, who is consistently there for some of our most vulnerable community members as they await permanent housing. 💗 https://youtu.be/T40ChUMBJdo

Here's a merry good way to start your weekend! Tune in tomorrow morning for our weekly Talk.Read.Sing. Time on Instagram Live! Fridays at 7:30am! Two short stories, songs and interactive fun for little ones and families. Ho-ho-hope you can join us! 😊📚🎼💞 IG handle @first5slocounty https://instagram.com/first5slocounty?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1rwt2chos2iut #talkreadsing First 5 California #slocounty #first5slo #shareslo #earlylearning County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries

Thoughtful & Thankful Thursday: ALL OF THIS. 💞 https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/four-reasons-thank-child-care-provider-holiday-season

What a year! And this is only a tiny snapshot of the smiles, solidarity and special moments we've shared. From our First 5 family to yours-- thank you for all that you do to help give children the best possible start in life! We look forward to a 2019 filled with more milestones and memories!!!💗