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Welcome to the Summer edition of Milestones!
Dear friends of First 5 San Bernardino,
The summer season brought success and momentum with it this year. We're delivering the latest edition of Milestones straight to your inbox, full of news, remembrances and reflections to give you the latest on what we're doing to support our county's children 0-5 years old.
Be the first to know about our recent survey results, which showed an increase of residents who are aware of and favor our organization, an accomplishment we are tremendously proud of!
Pause with us to remember Dr. Marti Baum. A champion of children and good friend of First 5 San Bernardino, she will be remembered for her unwavering advocacy for children’s health, her powerful voice for equity and her lifelong dedication to a standard of service that will continue to inspire generations to come.
Read on to learn about our partnership with several county agencies that made the mobile medical clinic come to life, offering free health services to children in the cities of Victorville and Rialto. Then, brush up on your Kid Safe Summer knowledge to dive into the incredible work our team has done spreading the word about summer safety. Be sure to watch the recap video linked in the story below.
In partner news, read up on a major milestone we reached with the El Sol Neighborhood Education Center and let us introduce you to a new partner spotlight series called Partners in Purpose. Our partners make First 5 San Bernardino who we are today, so we want to highlight the faces that help us build healthy families. We're kicking it off by showcasing the great work done by Jeffry Tunnell at the Mom & Dad Project.
And finally, it's my pleasure to introduce you to Alicia Chavez, our supervising accountant. Thank you for sharing in our mission to help children thrive.
Until next time, soak up the rest of your summer safely and with joy.
Sincerely,
Karen Scott
First 5 San Bernardino Executive Director
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In 2022, we conducted our first countywide survey to understand how residents perceived our work and the overall perception of resources and services for families with young children in San Bernardino County. This year, we repeated the survey using the same approach – randomized phone interviews – to see how awareness and perceptions have changed over time.
The results are encouraging. In three years, there is greater awareness of F5SB, plus higher favorability, campaign recall and impact.
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Remembering Dr. Marti Baum
With heartfelt sympathy, we remember Dr. Marti Baum, a dedicated pediatrician, educator and advocate whose life’s work impacted children and families of the Inland Empire and beyond.
Earlier this year, First 5 San Bernardino proudly recognized Dr. Baum with a Local Champion Award in honor of her extraordinary collaborative spirit, her dedication to advancing early childhood health, and her tireless work to expand developmental screenings, early intervention and system supports that help children succeed in school and in life.
Dr. Baum will be remembered for her unwavering advocacy for children’s health, her powerful voice for equity and her lifelong dedication to a standard of service that will continue to inspire generations to come.
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Kid Safe Summer Campaign Keeps San Bernardino County Families Safe All Season Long
First 5 San Bernardino brought back Kid Safe Summer for the third year in a row to help families stay informed and prepared during the warmest - and often most dangerous - months of the year. You may have seen our water, sun and on-the-move safety messages in the news, on a billboard or scrolling social media. The campaign not only gave practical tips for summer safety, but it also connected families to low cost and/or free resources.
As part of the campaign, First 5 San Bernardino teamed up with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital to host a signature event just in time for families’ Fourth of July celebrations. It was a reminder to parents and caregivers about how they can keep their children safe around water, under the sun and on the move throughout the summer holiday and beyond. The event resulted in media coverage in NBC LA, The San Bernardino Sun and Spectrum News LA.
 A signature Kid Safe Summer highlight reel was produced with experts highlighting essential safety practices in a fun and accessible way. Watch the video on YouTube here.
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Did you know?
Led by Community Engagement Specialist LuCretia Dowdy, First 5 San Bernardino is out in the community every month providing information and resources to families.
At a recent July event, over 1,000 backpacks stuffed with 10,000 school supplies and promotional items were provided at the San Bernardino City Unified School District Back to School Extravaganza event held at San Bernardino Valley College.
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 Smiles, cheers and a sense of accomplishment filled the room as El Sol Neighborhood Education Center’s first class of Home Visitor Apprentices walked across the stage to receive their certificates. The graduation ceremony celebrated the apprentices’ achievements and the growing impact of El Sol’s Home Visitation Institute, made possible through the visionary support of First 5 San Bernardino.
What began in 2007 as a single grant for a postpartum education and referral program has grown into one of First 5 San Bernardino’s most impactful partnerships. From the start, El Sol and First 5 San Bernardino shared a vision: empower families through culturally responsive, community-based support.
The partnership reached a milestone in 2023 with the creation of El Sol’s Home Visitation Institute, funded by First 5 San Bernardino. This innovative program trains local parents, caregivers and community leaders to become skilled Home Visitors. Apprentices complete 32 units of coursework and receive hands-on training that includes delivering essential services and connecting parents to critical resources.
Congratulations to El Sol’s graduating class who are now trusted advocates in their neighborhoods!
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Where Good Dads Become Great Dads: Jeffry Tunnell of The Mom & Dad Project
As an organization rooted in partnerships and collaboration, we are excited to launch our new series: Partners in Purpose. Each spotlight will highlight the dedicated team members at our partner organizations who help strengthen our mission of building brighter beginnings for San Bernardino County’s youngest children.
Serving San Bernardino County’s mountain communities, The Mom & Dad Project is a dedicated Family Resource Center offering free parenting education and resources to help local families thrive.
Jeffry Tunnell plays an important role as the Father Engagement Coordinator and Nurturing Families Program Manager. Jeffry leads the Nurturing Fathers Program, a 13-week course that equips dads and male role models with the skills, mindset and confidence to become the best parents they can be. Since 2014, hundreds of fathers have completed the program under Jeffery’s guidance and are all aligned with the group’s motto: “Where Good Dads Become Great Dads.”
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Employee Spotlight
Alicia Chavez
Supervising Accountant
First 5 San Bernardino is lucky to have Alicia Chavez on board! With more than 30 years of public sector experience, Alicia has a wealth of knowledge, a heart for service and a passion for helping children thrive. She’s led fiscal teams, managed big budgets and improved processes, always with an eye on supporting the next generation of leaders.
Alicia Chavez past experience includes eight years with the County of Orange and 23 years with the County of Riverside. After retiring from the County of Riverside, her passion for making a positive impact in the community inspired her to continue serving in local government. She is motivated by the belief that today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders and values the opportunity to build connections and understand the unique challenges of the communities being served.
Thank you, Alicia, for your contributions to our mission.
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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 5 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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