First 5 Siskiyou highlights Imagination Library, early-literacy programs; board accepts proclamation

The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from the First 5 Siskiyou Children & Families Commission on early-childhood literacy programs and partnerships and voted to accept a proclamation recognizing the commission’s work.

First 5 Executive Director Erin Potts told the board the commission’s literacy vision is to “support parents of children birth to 5 in nurturing healthy development, love of learning, and enabling the children to get kindergarten ready to learn.” She described several initiatives the commission runs or supports, including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Reach Out and Read partnerships with clinics, Anytime Story Time with the Siskiyou County Library and kindergarten readiness training with the Siskiyou County Office of Education.

Potts said the Imagination Library mails a free book monthly to each registered child in the child’s name through age 5. The commission estimates the current per-child book cost at about $31 per year; parents do not pay that fee. First 5 partners with local organizations, including Delta Kappa Gamma and the Siskiyou County Library, to fund and expand registrations. Potts said the commission recently registered about 1,169 new children to the program.

Potts also reported program activity since July 1: 28 parenting education classes that served 282 parents and 119 children; 45 play groups with 365 parents and 343 children; and 11 family events that attracted 303 parents and 539 children. Combined, she said, those activities represented 86 family-support sessions with roughly 950 parents and about 1,100 children participating across the county.

Reading results were described as positive in a summary of an Imagination Library parent survey. Potts quoted one parent: “My daughter is always excited to go to the mailbox because she’s eager to receive her book … I love that my daughter has been able to be exposed to literacy since birth.”

After the presentation, a supervisor moved to accept the proclamation honoring the commission; the board seconded the motion and voted unanimously to approve it.

First 5 staff asked residents interested in volunteering to read during the countywide “Read Across” event to respond by Oct. 30; the presentation noted the event honors Dr. Steven Perlman and is coordinated with the Siskiyou County Library.