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Welcome to the Spring edition of Milestones!
We kicked off the season by facilitating a proclamation that brought attention to the needs of children. At our request, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors recently declared the second week of April as “The Week of the Young Child” in San Bernardino County and we are incredibly proud. Additionally, I was in Sacramento with Asm. Reyes supporting AB 2982’s Prenatal-to-3 system agenda, and just last week was honored to receive the Dr. Albert Karnig Award at the Making Hope Happen gala event.
Our 25th anniversary is front and center this year and our new brand campaign brought awareness of the organization through traditional and digital advertising in April and May. You’ll want to check out our very first social media series “LuCretia in the Neighborhood” which we are excited to debut soon.
As the temperatures heat up, we’re ready to share information and resources through our Kid Safe Summer campaign designed to bring awareness about water, heat and sun safety, and how to keep our little ones safe when on the move. Finally, let me use this opportunity to introduce you to Peiyong Yang, who works in our fiscal department.
Sincerely,
Karen Scott
First 5 San Bernardino Executive Director
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 San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors received artwork created by children from First 5 San Bernardino Assistant Director Cindy Faulkner (third from left) commemorating the Week of the Young Child.
First 5 San Bernardino Facilitates "Week of the Young Child" in San Bernardino County
Focusing public attention on the needs of young children and their families, First 5 San Bernardino solidified The Week of the Young Child in San Bernardino County through 2029 when the Board of Supervisors adopted First 5 San Bernardino’s resolution on April 9 proclaiming the second week of April as The Week of the Young Child in San Bernardino County. To commemorate the day, paper doll artwork created by local children was presented to each Supervisor by First 5 San Bernardino Assistant Director Cindy Faulkner.
Thanks to San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., and his office for co-sponsoring the proclamation submission. Baca, Jr. also serves as a Commissioner for First 5 San Bernardino.
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(left to right) Karen Scott, California Asm. Eloise Gomez Reyes and Courtney Armstrong in Sacramento supporting AB-2982 Prenatal-to-3 working group.
Advocating for Children at the State Level
On April 10, First 5 Executive Director Karen Scott joined Assembly Member Eloise Gomez Reyes and First 5 California’s Director of Government Affairs Courtney Armstrong at the California State Capitol. These powerful women were crucial in moving AB 2982 forward which establishes a workgroup to address the needs of infants, toddlers and their families.
The bill, which passed out of committee with bipartisan support, is now being referred to Appropriations Committee.
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25 Years of Stronger Starts and Better Lives
First 5 San Bernardino is celebrating 25 years of serving young children and families in San Bernardino County! For a quarter century we have provided resources and support to parents of children under 5 so every child can have a stronger start and better life.
In celebration of this major milestone, First 5 San Bernardino introduces a new campaign featuring endearing monster and alien illustrations letting us all know that “even monsters/aliens care about the first 5 years.” The campaign showcases new partnerships, advertising, social media giveaways and more!
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"LuCretia in the Neighborhood" Reels Get Real with Parents and Caregivers
For 19 years, our always smiling Community Engagement Specialist LuCretia Dowdy has traveled the county talking to parents and caregivers. She does this at over 50 events per year. Now she is inviting families to join her online!
“LuCretia in the Neighborhood” is a new video series on our social media pages that will find LuCretia getting real with San Bernardino County families, getting their take on what it’s like to raise children in 2024. Fans of Reels will occasionally see segments on @first5sanbernardino on Instagram and Facebook from her visits to the many community events and happenings around the county.
With its casual “person on the street” style, LuCretia in the Neighborhood hopes to get funny, wholesome and educational, and maybe provide a few laughs along the way!
Keep a look out for these mini episodes, launching on Instagram and Facebook @first5sanbernardino this month! If you want to catch LuCretia in the Neighborhood, follow along to find out which event First 5 San Bernardino will be at next.
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 Executive Director Karen Scott accepted the Dr. Albert Karnig Award from the Making Hope Happen Foundation honoring her commitment to serving very young children.
Executive Director Honored with Dr. Karnig Award
At the Making Hope Happen Foundation Gala held in San Bernardino on May 9, Executive Director Karen Scott was presented with the prestigious Dr. Albert Karnig Award which recognizes individuals exhibiting a commitment to serving very young children and their families.
The work of the Making Hope Happen Foundation is driven by the support and vision of leaders in the community. In his retirement, the late Dr. Albert Karnig, who served as president of CSUSB from 1997 to 2012, sought to eliminate gaps in achievement experienced by low-income children. To that end, the Karnig Infant-Toddler Success (KITS) program was launched which bears his name.
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Let's All Make Sure Our County Families Have a Kid Safe Summer! |
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Hot temperatures, fun in the water and more time on-the-go present a set of dangers for kids that aren’t as common in other seasons. First 5 San Bernardino has brought back its Kid Safe Summer campaign to help remind parents and caregivers how to keep babies and young children safe in the summer months.
From May to July, First 5 San Bernardino is sharing important reminders, helpful tips, tools and resources to help our families know how to keep kids safe, healthy and happy when school is out.
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Employee Spotlight
Peiyong Yang
Section Manager - Fiscal Accountant III
Meet Peiyong Yang, accountant III and fiscal department section manager, who joined the organization in January 2023. With an array of accounting experience, she had been looking to join a company that supported kids, and then she found First 5 San Bernardino. “It’s a perfect fit,” Peiyong said. “I’m so proud to have a job where I get to serve young children and their families.”
Peiyong holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, and two master’s degrees in administration and accounting from Chongqing University and the University of Riverside, respectively.
We appreciate Peiyong’s contribution to the First 5 San Bernardino team!
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About First 5 San Bernardino
The Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino County (First 5 San Bernardino) was created in December 1998, in order to realize the benefits of Proposition 10 (California Children and Families Act) for the County's youngest residents and their families. The act created a program for the purpose of promoting, supporting and improving the early development of children from the prenatal stage to five years of age, under the guidance of the Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino, and in collaboration with the community and agencies providing services to children.
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