Report from Executive Director
December 18, 2014
I. Update on Administrative Operations
 Configuration of Fiscal Module in Persimmony Software System currently underway.
o Implementation targeted for January 2015, coinciding with the submission of Quarter 2
invoices/expenditure reports.
 Set-up and testing will occur in December, with five funded partners having
volunteered to help test the system and provide essential user feedback.
o Through this fiscal module, invoices can be submitted electronically which will streamline
fiscal reporting, document submission and payment processes.
II. Update on Commission Initiatives
 Neighborhoods for Learning
o Rio NfL
 New Lending Library at the Nyeland Center offers parents the opportunity to
borrow bags full of books along with learning materials.
 Staff review the contents with parents, explaining how to use the materials
and how each activity promotes healthy development.
 Lending Library will continue at various sites including El Rio, Riverpark
and Rio Real.
 NfL services are now being offered at an additional location, the Paseo Santa
Clara apartment building in Riverpark, operated by the Cabrillo Economic
Development Corporation (CEDC).
 CEDC staff sought out the Rio NfL to bring services to the building,
recruiting residents, facilitating the completion of registration packets and
providing a space for the class.
o NfL staff started a weekly Play and Learn class on Friday mornings,
which is already well attended, and will be starting an infant
massage class at the site in January.
 NfL provided comprehensive Preschool Programs Update to Rio School Board in
October 2014. (see attached)
o Pleasant Valley NfL
 NfL’s 5th Annual Children’s Multicultural BookFest had over 600 attendees, with
a welcome from Supervisor Kathy Long and School Board Trustee Bob Rust.
 Volunteers distributed more than 300 books to children and families.
 Event included 6 children’s authors.
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o Moorpark/Simi Valley NfL
 Moorpark FRC held its annual Halloween event, with over 200 children attending
in costume to Trick or Treat at agencies in the Moorpark Human Services Center,
for no-sugar treats.
 Prizes were donated by the local Target.
 Annual Harvest Festival for families at the Simi Valley FRC (Family Resource
Center) offered children developmentally appropriate activities with a harvest
theme, concluding with a story time presented by the FRC staff.

Countywide Strategies
o Preschool - BA Attainment Project
 F5VC staff have worked closely with VCOE and the Higher Education Advisory
Panel (made up of representatives from Ventura County's higher education
institutions) to identify barriers students face when completing an AA or BA
degree and programmatic approaches to reduce these barriers.
 Higher education partners are searching for sources of funds within their
institutions to leverage any efforts pursued.
 First 5 California has partnered with the University of Washington to pilot two
upper level early childhood education courses that utilize an observation and
coaching model of academic instruction.
 Participation in the pilot includes training in the CLASS assessment tool
and access to University of Washington advisors.
 Courses would be offered in the summer or fall of 2015, providing an
opportunity for a local higher education partner to offer an innovative
teaching method that mirrors in an academic setting the type of coaching
currently occurring at QRIS sites.
o Cal State University Channel Islands has expressed interest in
working with First 5 to implement the courses.
 Local funding would be available through RTT funds that have been
allocated to address issues related to BA attainment.
o Triple P - Level 2 Seminars and Level 3 Brief Parenting Interventions
 With Triple P training and implementation support from VCBH subcontractors, City
Impact and Interface, NfL staff continue to expand offerings of Triple P Level 2
and 3, collectively having served 469 participants in FY 2013-14.
 Strengthening Families Leadership Group continues to meet to pilot the broad
expansion of Triple P Level 2 Seminars in three target communities in Oxnard.
o Help Me Grow/2-1-1 Pilot
 Working in partnership with the Help Me Grow Collaborative, 2-1-1 is piloting a
centralized call function for early identification and referral of children exhibiting
developmental concerns.
 Since the pilot began in November, 2-1-1 staff have spoken to 275 callers
about developmental concerns.
o 40 of these callers (15%) have been referred for services to either
Early Start (children under 3) or their local NfL (children 3 – 5).
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
Communications, Education and Development
o Literacy Campaign
 Through F5VC’s expanded early literacy campaign, local libraries have been
encouraging families to sign up for a library card with F5VC {Talk, Read, Sing}
book-bag incentives.
 In the first six months of the full-year campaign, libraries have distributed
nearly 800 bags.
 Initially introduced in the Ventura County Library System, effort has now
expanded to include Camarillo and Oxnard libraries.
 Barnes and Noble stores are once again collecting books for F5VC kids.
o Pacific View Mall Partnership
 Strong F5VC presence through display ads in the mall, with educational
messaging around Breastfeeding (the mall is BFF), Healthy Eating and Early
Literacy. (see attached)
 F5VC staff joined the Pacific View Farmer’s Market on December 17, 2014, to
connect with families and distribute educational materials and F5VC information.
 F5VC staff are exploring ways to expand outreach through this venue at
other sites.
o Parent Leadership: Building Sustainability
 A parent from the Hueneme NfL who participated in our most recent parent
leadership training, is enthusiastically preparing to head to Sacramento in early
January for further training so that she can help other parents become more
effective leaders in their communities.
 NfL parent will be joined by Diana Arellano, F5VC Community Education
Coordinator, and Kirsti Smith from Strategies for a two-day intensive “train
the trainer” session, funded by the statewide Parent Services Project.
 Through F5VC’s partnership with EC-LINC, an overview of this work has been
shared nationally to inspire other communities. (see attached)
III. County, Regional and National Updates
 White House Summit on Early Education
o At the White House Summit on Early Education held in early December, elected officials,
advocates, business leaders and philanthropists discussed plans for expanding access
to high-quality early learning programs.
o President Obama also launched new campaign, “Invest in US”, challenging policymakers,
public and private partners to build a better nation through high-quality early childhood
education.
 Dozens of corporations, foundations and individuals have already agreed to
dedicate a greater ongoing percentage of their philanthropy to expanding high
quality early childhood programs and research as a strategy for achieving better
education, health, social and economic outcomes.
 Commitments currently total more than $333 million.
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
Federal Funding
o Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership Grants
 Child Development Resources of Ventura County, Inc. (CDR) is on the preliminary
list for an $800,000 federal Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant,
expanding the number of high-needs infants and toddlers served in Ventura
County.
 CDR plans to serve 50 additional children in partnership with Family Child
Care providers, and an additional 12 children in a new Infant/Toddler
center.
o Preschool Expansion Grants
 California was unfortunately not among the 18 States selected for the highly
competitive Preschool Expansion funding. (see attached media)
 CA Department of Education noted their disappointment but expressed their
appreciation for the team-work, creative thinking and commitment demonstrated
through the grant development process.

Countywide Prenatal Convening - Hosted by First 5 Ventura County
o On December 1, First 5 brought together approximately 25 professionals from
organizations concerned with prenatal health and the continuum of care.
 Goal was to look at best practices, resources and gaps that impact pregnancy
outcomes in Ventura County to move toward a seamless continuum of care for
mothers, infants and young children.
 Engaged participants shared ongoing efforts throughout the county and talked
about huge need that remains.
 Participants felt existing prenatal efforts need to be more connected and
less siloed.
o Following the successful convening, VCPH presented the opportunity to combine efforts
with their existing MCAH Action collaborative to further deepen the collaborative
foundation.

Unique Student Identifiers for Preschoolers
o Led by the Ventura County Office of Education, in collaboration with the Rio School
District, Child Development Resources, Inc. and First 5 Ventura County, a pilot project is
under development to assign unique identifiers to children enrolled in preschool in the
Rio School District.
 Project team is looking at the current enrollment processes, evaluating
opportunities for shared data and developing procedures that can be replicated
in other school districts.

P-20 Council – VC STEM
o CSU Channel Islands has received a $75,000 grant from the AMGEN Foundation to
develop a Ventura County Regional STEM Network (VC STEM).
 While originally proposed as a K-12 model, the application was re-written to
encompass PreK-12, following input from community partners.
o Project will be run under the auspices of the P-20 Council.
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IV. Upcoming Events

Ventura County Together Monthly Meeting, January 5, 2015, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., VCCF NonProfit Center, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo

First 5 CA: 2015 Child Health, Education and Care Summit: Building Powerful Partnerships,
February 10 – 12, 2015, Sacramento (see attached)

First 5 Committees
o Administration/Finance Committee, January 9, 2015, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., F5VC offices
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PROVIDER ANECDOTES
Regional Health Educators – Ventura County Public Health
During the month of September, I received a voice message from a physician from the Las Islas
Medical Clinic. This physician called regarding a child who I had completed an ASQ for during the
month of August. He said that the child’s mother had shared with him the ASQ screening and that
he was very worried about this child, because he showed delays in all the domains. He wanted to
follow up with me regarding my plan of action.
I contacted this physician and I explained to him that I had referred the child to the Early Start
Program for an assessment and I was waiting for the results of the assessment. He asked me to let
him know the results of the assessment. I contacted the service coordinator at Early Start and she
informed me that the child had been approved for speech and early intervention services. She
faxed a copy of the plan to the physician at Las Islas.
When I followed up with the physician, he had just received a copy of the plan and was very
thankful that our program was helping this family to connect with services, and that we completed
the ASQ for this child.
Triple P – Ventura County Behavioral Health
During the Triple P intake, the four year old client displayed difficulty playing with other children.
The therapist’s first impression was that he had a language delay, both expressive and receptive.
Additionally, he made little eye contact, his mood was flat and he showed minimal expression.
Client’s mother shared her concern that her son could be autistic. During treatment, client started
preschool and his mother has consistently engaged in quality time with him; i.e., engaging in fun
activities, asking him questions.
During the last session, the client looked the therapist in the eye and even though his language is
still difficult to understand, he talked and made complete sentences. Mother displayed her ability
to encourage her child’s development and she now understands the importance of connecting with
her child.
Many of the client’s behaviors that had appeared as a cognitive disorder seemed to be the result of
a lack of stimulation. Anyone who met the client at the beginning of treatment would probably have
the impression that he had a serious developmental delay. However, after being exposed to other
children, along with his mother’s consistent participation in Triple P services and her willingness to
help her child, he has drastically improved.
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