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First Five Ventura County briefs Fillmore council on early-childhood services, screenings and fatherhood outreach
Summary
First Five Ventura County described county investments and local programs in Fillmore, including a Neighborhoods for Learning resource center at Sesby Elementary, bilingual PACK classes, developmental screenings and a centralized Help Me Grow referral service; staff estimated county investments of about $223 million to date.
Sharon Elmos Darp, director of early childhood programs for First Five Ventura County, presented to the Fillmore City Council on June 9 and highlighted local services for families with children from birth through age five.
Elmos Darp said First Five Ventura County was created by Proposition 10 and has invested more than $223 million in county programs since inception. In Fillmore, the agency operates a Neighborhoods for Learning resource center at Sesby Elementary (Sesby) through a partnership with Fillmore Unified School District. Services at the Sesby site include bilingual parent'child PACK classes for ages 0'5, developmental screenings (ASQ-2 and ASQ-3), maternal depression screening, referrals to community resources, playgroups, story time, STEAM activities and family-support services.
She described Help Me Grow as a centralized access point (telephone and web-based) that can screen children, provide tips and, when appropriate, make closed-loop referrals and handhold families through services. Elmos Darp said Help Me Grow also provides training and outreach to pediatricians and early-education providers.
Council members asked how families can connect to First Five. Elmos Darp said entry pathways include word-of-mouth, the First Five website with an enrollment form and phone numbers, outreach at festivals and kiosks, and QR-code materials promoted in partnership with the school district. She added that PACK classes are bilingual (English/Spanish) and run for 14 weeks.
On funding, Elmos Darp acknowledged the primary revenue source is the Proposition 10 tobacco-tax allocation and said revenues have declined as smoking rates fall. She said First Five commissions are pursuing state-level advocacy and other funding streams, including partnerships with managed-care plans and county departments, to sustain direct-service models.
The council thanked Elmos Darp for the presentation and asked staff to share contact information and program materials with city communications so residents can learn how to enroll.
Next steps: City staff will post contact information and First Five will continue outreach and upcoming events, including a Fatherhood Summit advertised in the presentation.
