Community Happenings

One week from today: As part of Month of the Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month... a community convening on strengthening families in San Luis Obispo County! Join our partners with the Center for Family Strengthening and Cuesta College to discuss child abuse prevention efforts and view the documentary "The Raising of America," which highlights the importance of investing in early-childhood initiatives. Pre-registration is required, so check out the flyer for more details!

Talk.Read.Sing. Tuesday for the Win! A great start to the morning with the First 5 Express at SLO Library's Story Time-- we'll do it again tomorrow and Thursday (4/17 & 4/18) at Arroyo Grande's (Library)! Hope to see you there at 10am!

Mark-it-down Monday: First 5 California's Talk.Read.Sing. Express is coming to town this week! And we're super excited this interactive, bilingual traveling exhibit will be part of story hour(s) at the SLO Library Tuesday (4/16) and the Arroyo Grande Library Wednesday and Thursday (4/17 & 4/18)! Bring the little ones for some brain-building fun and goodie bags to take home! Click on the flyers for more details.🎉😀 County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries ShareSLO Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc. United Way of San Luis Obispo County Parents Helping Parents of SLO Kennedy Club Fitness Family Care Network, Inc.Center for Family Strengthening San Luis Obispo County YMCA San Luis Obispo County Office of Education County of San Luis Obispo Government #talkreadsing #earlyliteracy First 5 California First 5 Association of California

Downtown is the destination TOMORROW, APRIL 13th! Get your family fun on once again at SLO's annual Children's Day in the Plaza! More than 70 community resource agencies, vendors and exhibitors will be on site-- with a bevy of booths, activities, giveaways and treats! Look for us right across from the Mission and pick up a fun prize! 🎉😀

Flu shots. Dental Check-ups. Vision Screenings. Child Safety IDs. Face Painting. ALL FREE tomorrow, Friday April 12th at the Coastal Family Resource Fair! Learn about community supports-- and programs for kids. Spanish speaking assistance available. Come find the First 5 booth and leave with some goodies!😊

https://ksby.com/community/2019/04/05/joy-playground-in-atascadero-now-open-for-all-kids-to-enjoy

Weekend Watch: Fun for all families! Three awesome, family-fun events in two different parts of our county! Tomorrow, Saturday, April 6th, 2019! Atascadero Children's Day in the Park from 11am-3pm & Nipomo Kids' Day from 11am-2pm! Then Sunday, April 7th-- Oceano Day of the Child from 1-3pm! We are proud sponsors/participants of all! Check out the flyers for more details and find other upcoming community happenings on our website at https://www.first5slo.org/community-happenings.phpcommunity

Thankful Thursday: Excitement and appreciation for a first for our county! 🎉 Joy Playground, an all-inclusive playground for both children and adults with special needs--- holds its grand opening tomorrow, Friday, April 5th at 4pm in Atascadero! Show your support for this awesome new addition to our community! Check out the FB event page for more! https://www.facebook.com/ParentsForJoyAtascadero/

Smiles for miles on this news! 😁😁😁 https://ksby.com/news/local-news/2019/04/02/slo-county-public-health-launches-dental-program-for-children

Tuesday's Takeaway: In San Luis Obispo County, 70% of working families do not have access to licensed child care. 😕 Join us May 29th for an important opportunity to examine existing child care challenges, and launch concrete action planning to mobilize innovative solutions within our community. Click on the link below to register! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wheres-the-care-tackling-our-local-child-care-challenge-tickets-57148560884 First 5 California First 5 Association of California #childcarechallenge Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc. San Luis Obispo County-Ymca San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce United Way of San Luis Obispo County County of San Luis Obispo Government The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County ShareSLO Center for Family Strengthening Family Care Network, Inc. Parents Helping Parents of SLO Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition Dignity Health California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) Cuesta College San Luis Obispo County Office of Education County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries

April Awesome Sauce!: This Hands-on Hero truly reflects the spirit of Month of the Child & Child Abuse Prevention Month. Meet Jean Tolman-- a beautiful, bright light for young children who are working through traumatic experiences. Representing Stand Strong, formerly the Women's Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo. Jean, thank you for all you do to help ensure that some of our most vulnerable population can "Be and feel safe everywhere we go"... #4 on our local Children's Bill of Rights. First 5 California First 5 Association of California https://youtu.be/vUjy79viovg

Weekend Watch: FREE Family Day at the PAC! Fun for the whole family, starting at 2pm this Sunday, March 31st! Activities and entertainment featuring: face painting, arts & crafts, Movement Arts Collective, Ballet Theatre SLO, Opera SLO and Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation. More information at https://pacslo.org/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=familyday19&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=

Working parents we need your help! We have partnered with San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce in the creation of a survey to better understand how child care challenges impact working parents. If you are a working parent anywhere in SLO County, please take this short survey. Please share with other working parents. If you can post on your social media we would greatly appreciate it! The deadline for the survey is April 3, 2019. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2XFMPN7 Thank you! #childcare #slocounty #parents #children #WheresTheCare #share #survey SLO New Times San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Parent Connection of San Luis Obispo County - sloparents.org Parent Participation ~ San Luis Coastal Parents Helping Parents of SLO Parent Participation Program- Lucia Mar Go Mommy by Kennedy Supporting Father Involvement for San Luis Obispo County- Capslo Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc. San Luis Obispo County Office of Education SLO Tribune Pregnancy and Parenting Support of San Luis Obispo County Sierra Vista Birth Center Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition United Way of San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo County YMCA Trust Automation CalPoly SLO SLO CAL

Thursday’s Thought: “Where’s the Care?” Join us for a community conversation to help mobilize action on a critical issue that affects all of us! First 5 California First 5 Association of California The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County Community Action Partnership San Luis Obispo County-YmcaShareSLO San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce County of San Luis Obispo Government San Luis Obispo County Office of Education https://www.newtimesslo.com/sanluisobispo/wheres-the-care-local-families-confront-high-costs-limited-options-for-child-care/Content?oid=8118857

It's about to happen. April! And it's all about our Kids! Join us in honoring children and families throughout Month-of-the-Child & Child Abuse Prevention Month, as proclaimed this morning by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. Get ready for some family fun! We'll be posting regularly to keep you updated--- but check out our website for all of the happenings! #first5slo #first5CA First 5 California First 5 Association of California Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc. County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries United Way of San Luis Obispo County Parents Helping Parents of SLO Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition Center for Family Strengthening San Luis Obispo County YMCA Kennedy Club Fitness The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo County Office of Education ShareSLO San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce County of San Luis Obispo Government https://www.first5slo.org/community-happenings.php

Attention all champions for young children and families! We invite you to join us this Tuesday, March 26th at 9am when the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors issues a Proclamation for April: Month of the Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month. (Gov't Center BOS Chambers: 1055 Monterey Street) We'll be posting regularly throughout April-- but feel free to also visit our website for the list of events taking place over the next few weeks! https://www.first5slo.org/community-happenings.php

Thinking Cap Thursday: Is Jason losing his mind? Or is he just building it? 🤔🧠😆 Let's find out together, tomorrow morning at 7:30am on Instagram Live! Talk..Read.Sing. Time Friday is a great way to start the weekend-- so come shake out the sillies and give that brain a boost through story and song! We hope you'll join us for 15 minutes of family fun! 📚🎼💞 IG handle @first5slocounty https://instagram.com/first5slocounty?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1rwt2chos2iut #talkreadsing #slocounty #first5slo #shareslo #earlylearning First 5 CaliforniaFirst 5 Association of California Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc. Hug-A-Bug Music County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries County of San Luis Obispo Government ShareSLO San Luis Obispo County Office of Education

Advocacy in Action! As we approach April Month of the Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month, First 5'ers and partners are taking the opportunity to catch up with each member of our County Board of Supervisors-- discussing current challenges and opportunities in early childhood in our local communities! Pictured L to R: First 5 Health Access Trainer Becca Carsel, County of SLO Public Oral Health Program's Paulina Flores Jimenez, Supervisor Adam Hill, First 5 SLO County's Jason Wells.

Monday's Message: Time to Sign Up! Open enrollment has begun for CAPSLO Head Start and Early Head Start next school year. Check out the flyers for all the details-- and please share them with any families who might need to know! (There's also a # for families to call if they can't go to one of the open enrollment nights.)

Weekend Watch: A little Luck of the Irish with your lovebugs! 🍀 Our friends at the Paso Robles Children's Museum are hosting a St. Patrick's Day celebration this Sunday, March 17th, from 11am-4pm! Special crafts including green slime-- plus holiday snacks & punch! (while supplies last). Search for the leprechaun and dig for gold! ($5.00 admission if you're wearing green or become a Museum member and get into all of their events for free!) Be sure to check out their Facebook event page! https://www.facebook.com/events/563514954134318/

April is fast approaching-- and it's All About Our Children & Families!!! We hope you'll help us celebrate along with all of our partners and friends who are dedicated to improving the lives of little ones. Join us for a number of community events taking place across the county over the next few weeks! More posts and updates to come... but we invite you to check out our website for a sneak peak of happenings! https://www.first5slo.org/community-happenings.php

Want to join the First 5 team? We're Hiring! Please check out the link below to learn more about our new part-time Special Projects Administrator position. https://www.indeedjobs.com/first-5-san-luis-obispo-county/_hl/en_US?cpref=JXWAtnzf3XWjLOi4YeVNLuV7xMD8uRK8uONNjkyaxu4

Mark-It-Down Monday: one-stop shopping for families and children later this week! WHEN: Thursday, March 14th from 4-6pm WHAT: Family Resource Fair WHERE: Cambria - Santa Lucia Middle School Info on services and resources from agencies all across the county will be there! Includes FREE health screenings, flu shots, dental checks, a clothes closet, and dialogue with an on-site immigration lawyer. Find the First 5 booth and enjoy some free prizes!

COOKIE(S). 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪 Now that we have your attention 😂... join us for a sweet treat tomorrow on Talk.Read.Sing.Time Friday! Jason is reading one of his FAVORITE books, ya'll. We hope you're hungry for some family fun time... when you can be anything but quiet as a mouse! Story, song and silliness. Join us at 7:30am tomorrow on Instagram Live! 🤪 📚🎼💞 IG handle @first5slocounty https://instagram.com/first5slocounty?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1rwt2chos2iut #talkreadsing #slocounty #first5slo #shareslo #earlylearning

What's Up Wednesday? Family fun-- in full bloom at the Children's Museum of SLO this month! From magical water blossoms to smashed petal art... get your rainy day flower power on! Check out times and activities at: https://www.slocm.org/programs?view=calendar&month=03-2019