FUNDS AT WORK:

How First 5 Riverside is making an impact in the community.

Mental Health Needs Addressed

About one in five children are affected by mental disorders, but only about a fifth of them receive the services they need. To ensure that children get the proper interventions needed to succeed in life, the Riverside County Children & Families Commission is launching a $11.7 million Mental Health Initiative. The Riverside County Department of Mental Health and the Family Service Association of Western Riverside County have been selected to start delivering services, including screenings, Feb. 1, 2010. More information will be available in February.

Shots to Keep Children Well

Free, mobile immunization outreach clinics are held throughout Riverside County in efforts to increase the number of children 0-5 who receive age-appropriate immunizations. These shots protect children from many serious illnesses. Take the Shotzy Challenge and learn more through Riverside County's Disease Control branch.

FREE Parent Education Classes

MSJC is offering parenting classes, funded by First 5 Riverside and taught by a leading expert in the field. This 6-week series provides support in the area of discipline and how that relates to preparing children for future happiness & success. See flyer for details.

GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE

Find details on RFPs, applications and other important information on our Funding Opportunities page.

NEWS, UPDATES & INFORMATION:

Healthy Teeth, Happy Children

According to the Surgeon General's Oral Health in America report, children miss more than 51 million hours of school each year due to dental-related health conditions. This is a staggering figure, but is reversible. Find the answers to common questions about child dental health this month-National Children's Dental Health Month. Read details about free dental clinics this month.

Governor's Budget Proposal Threatens Local Children

The latest proposal includes a plan to cut 50 percent of funding that currently supports the development of young children in California. Learn more about its affect on local children.

FREE Small Business Microloan Fair

The Inland Empire SBDC, SoCal Reinvestment CDFI and CDC Small Business Finance are providing individuals with the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a lender to discuss financial options Feb.10, 9 am – Noon at the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center, 1201 Research Park Drive, Suite 100 in Riverside. Call 951-781-2345 to schedule an appointment.

Hard-To-Reach Populations Study

First 5 California recently released “Research to Identify Hard-to-reach Communities.” The study identifies hard-to-reach populations in California and the most effective methods for communicating with them. Key findings:
*More than 356,000 linguistically isolated California households fit the report’s definition of “hard to reach.
*Information technology is an important and rapidly growing resource for ethnic and minority populations in California.
*Despite the increase in the use of modern technology, face-to-face grassroots outreach is still effective.

Supporting early development

What families and communities do to ensure children grow up in nurturing and healthy environments is essential. Learn important tips to support early childhood development.