Profile: Rev Brings Healing Approach to Domestic Violence Fight

By Sunita Sohrabji | Ethnic Media Services

Combating domestic violence requires a healing-centered approach which doesn’t always remove an abuser from the household nor criminalizes him, said Dr. Aleese Moore-Orbih, incoming director of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV).

“I have never come across a woman who did not want to help her abusive partner. Leaving an abusive relationship is an old paradigm. Women of color want to stay with their partners and want agencies to help the abusive partner break out of their cycle of violence,” said Moore-Orbih, in an interview with Ethnic Media Services. “For me, the call has been to help people see one another, with all their shortcomings, and still love them.”

Moore-Orbih will officially joined the CPEDV team April 19.

The Partnership founded nearly 40 years ago, represents over 1,000 survivors, advocates, organizations and allied individuals across California. The organization has successfully advocated for over 200 pieces of legislation on behalf of domestic violence victims and their children, and it brings a racial justice focus to the issue.

Moore-Orbih, a United Church of Christ pastor, whose career has focused on racial justice and violence against women, hopes to bring a new paradigm to the role, focusing on the intersectionality of factors that can contribute to an abusive relationship, including race and ethnicity, socioeconomic class, gender and sexual orientation, age, ability, and immigrant identity. The Partnership noted in a press release that she “will raise the visibility of the Partnership’s anti-oppression work, move the public discourse, and support policy and community advocacy toward more effective prevention and intervention solutions.”

“People of color already live in an environment that is hostile towards them. Their survival mechanisms are seen as criminal and violent,” said Moore-Orbih, noting the generational trauma of slavery and Jim Crow laws, the continuous murders of young Black men without cause, poor economic conditions, and housing insecurity.

“It is a system that has traditionally tried to kill people of color, who are brought up with generations of disempowerment. When things are out of control most of the time, you attempt to control it, sometimes with violence,” she said.

For Black and Brown men, masculinity is determined by power. “They have spent a lifetime trying to prove their power to their communities, and their partners,” she said, noting that Black men have traditionally been underemployed while Black women are often over-employed. Women have had to do the delicate dance of bringing in the family’s income, raising their children, and pleasing their man.

“For a woman of color, domestic violence may be fourth or fifth on the list of things they have to deal with,” she said. “I can handle him, but this is all the stuff I cannot handle.”

COVID has added an extra layer of pressure for both survivors and their abusers. “Women doing the cha cha cha all these years are quickly learning the flamenco,” said Moore-Orbih. “But this is nothing new. Our communities have been doing the survival dance for decades.”

Domestic violence has spiked alarmingly as victims are trapped at home with their abusers amid lockdown orders during the COVID pandemic. The New England Journal of Medicine reported last year that one out of every four women in the U.S. and one in 10 men are currently facing abuse from a spouse or intimate partner. At the same time, traditional safety nets have largely been shut down. Domestic violence hotlines have seen a drop in calls as many victims cannot find safe spaces from which to make calls.

Shelters are closed or operating at full capacity, and thereby cannot take on new clients. Black and Brown victims of domestic violence are less likely to call police because of a mistrust of law enforcement or language barriers.

“When COVID broke, we were all struggling trying to figure out how to provide services,” said Moore-Orbih, adding that the number of people sent to hotels tripled, as survivors had to quarantine for 14 days before they could be sent to a shelter.

“COVID became another layer of pressure for people who were already drowning in anxiety, fear, ad trauma. If a person is trying to save you, you can’t see that,” she said.

Getting a woman out of her home and into a shelter to build self-esteem and self-reliance is just one small piece, said the reverend. “She is not healed.”

Similarly, Moore-Orbih does not support criminalizing perpetrators who must also be healed via the same holistic approach.

An integrative holistic approach must be brought to both survivor and perpetrator, said Moore-Orbih. “If we are looking to make people whole again, we must address the psyche, the physical ailments, forced immigration, and slavery.”

Sen. Padilla on Reparations: “We Can Walk and Chew Gum”

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

California’s newest and first Latino Democratic Senator, Alex Padilla, says he supports reparations for Black American descendants of enslaved African people. He made the statement during an online news briefing with members of California’s ethnic press organized by Ethnic Media Services.

“It’s the morally right thing to do,” said Padilla. “For me, it’s not a difficult conversation.”

Padilla said reparations would go a long way to “address institutional injustices.”

For nearly two centuries now, Black American descendants of enslaved Africans have been making the case to an unbudging U.S. government for reparations. Advocates say payments would compensate for centuries of unpaid labor and an opportunity for the federal government to make good on its promise to provide 40 acres and a mule to each formerly enslaved Black person after the Civil War.

A shift in the national consciousness last year — some attribute to organizing around Black economic and political empowerment led in part by the American Descendants of Slaves Movement and the national reckoning on race that began last summer after the killing of George Floyd — has ushered in a political environment in the United States where many legislators are much more open than they have been in the past to reparations.

“We have to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time,” Padilla said. “We should be able to negotiate and advance and infrastructure package, and immigration reform and protect the rights of voters, and work on environmental protection, and address historical injustices like this.”

Earlier this month, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee voted to approve forming a committee to study the idea of providing reparations to African Americans.

Padilla is a veteran politician who’s worked his way up the political ladder, previously serving as a Los Angeles city councilman, as a state senator and as secretary of State before he was nominated in January to replace outgoing Sen. Kamala Harris.

Padilla said that he has been senator for less than 100 days, but he’s packed a lot into that short period. During his first couple of months, he participated in President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial, and voted to approve the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 intended to help Americans devastated economically by the coronavirus pandemic.

In the Senate, he is pushing and supporting a number of bills on a range of issues, including proposals focused on immigration reform (providing a pathway to citizenship for essential workers) and hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, grew up in the Pacoima, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. His father worked for 40 years as a short-order cook and his late mother cleaned houses. Both parents were local activists who fought against violence in their community. Padilla said they were the inspiration for his political career.

“Through their hard work, we had a modest upbringing to put it mildly,” said Padilla. “We grew up with the values of service to others, and hard work, but we also saw our parents get very involved in the community.”

Reimagining School Safety in San Bernardino

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Friday April 30th, 2021, student leaders with Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC) and Inland Empire Prism Collective (IEPC) will host a youth-led conversation with San Bernardino Unified School District board members around access to mental health resources on their school campuses. The meeting starts at 5 p.m. via Zoom at: https://bit.ly/3mUluhK.

Now more than ever, students need support for their mental health needs. Covid 19 has proven to increase anxiety and depression in adults and children due to the mandatory social distancing, stay at home orders, and home circumstances youth have no control over. Youth leaders have been vocal advocates for properly equipped mental wellness centers to aid students in need within SBCUSD. Prior to Covid 19, students have been pressuring district leadership to allocate more funding to mental health resources because of the fear of mass shootings at schools across the nation. Over the past year, youth have also experienced trauma at large rates. From Covid 19 to police brutality, it is evident that students need these resources available to them to effectively handle the emotional impacts that these crises have had on them.

Many students within SBCUSD come from low income and marginalized backgrounds where access to mental health resources is often beyond their reach. By pushing forth this conversation, youth leaders are continuing to pave the way for the implementation of mental wellness centers by holding school board members accountable to allocating money towards the creation of these programs on all high school campuses and continuation schools within the district.

“As youth, we experience many forms of oppression that directly affect our mental health. Having mental wellness resources, such as therapists, available to us at our schools is a necessity for many of us that needs to be implemented as soon as possible.” – Scarlett Juarez, ICUC and IEPC Youth Leader

Glendora High School Senior Admitted into 18 Universities: Including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale

By Carl Dameron

Being accepted by just one major university is a life-changing event for many high school students.  Monique Vobecky is in a very different position.

Monique Vobecky a 17-year-old senior at Glendora High School, recently received her 18th acceptance letter, this one from another Ivy League University.  Many of the universities offered her full scholarships.

“This completed 18-for-18 high profile universities that accepted her as a freshman for the 2021 school year,” said her mother, Bianca Vobecky.

Monique is an excellent student with a 4.67 grade-point average, as well as an athlete and philanthropist.

“This is unreal!” said Monique, who is 17.  “I cannot believe all the letters said, ‘accepted.’”

Monique plans to make the most of this fantastic opportunity.

“I want the world to see that Black Girls are capable of amazing things.  We must be recognized and accepted for who we are and the talents, skills and passion we bring to the world…no matter how different we are… doctor, scientist, artist, musicians, or even a young poet like Amanda Gorman!”

How did Monique become such a sought-after student?

“She earned it,” said her father, Pete Vobecky.

Monique fell in love with sports and started playing soccer at an early age.  She’s been a captain on the Glendora High soccer team where she excelled as the 2017-18 “Defensive player of the year,” and she was selected MVP of the Soccer team for the 2019-2020 school year.

In 2018, Monique, then 14, created the Little Sunshine Foundation.  Her start-up was selected by the Glendora Chamber of Commerce as the ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ in 2019.

The Little Sunshine Foundation’s mission is to provide underserved youths with the necessary resources to improve their quality of life through tutoring, increased access to sporting gear, civic engagement and leadership.

Monique said she started the foundation because she believes “that every child deserves a little sunshine!”

Her parents said Monique gets to decide which university she’ll attend since she is the one who put in all the work.  Although Obama did go to Harvard, one noted.

“We don’t know all the reasons why all the universities accepted her.  What we know is that my daughter, a Black teenager from Glendora, California, put in the work to excel academically and take time to shine light in the lives of so many others,” said her mother, Bianca.

Her father, Pete, said, “Maybe it is time for Monique to be given an opportunity to have the light shine brightly on her for a while.”

Monique said she wants to major in medicine and become a doctor “to heal people and help them lead longer, happier lives.”

Pressed to name the lucky university she’s chosen, Monique said she doesn’t know yet.  She said she’ll let friends, family and the universities know when she decides.

The universities accepting Monique include:

  1. Harvard University
  2. Stanford University
  3. UC Berkeley
  4. UCLA
  5. Cornell
  6. Yale University
  7. Princeton University
  8. Cornell University
  9. Duke University
  10. Johns Hopkins University
  11. University of Southern California
  12. Northwestern University
  13. Brown University
  14. UC San Diego
  15. UC Santa Barbara
  16. UC Irvine
  17. Cal Poly SLO
  18. Cal State Long Beach

Love For Rap Music Deeply Rooted In Young Miller Tha Don

Young Miller Tha Don tasted music success early. As a teenager, he was part of Romeo’s Rich Boyz group. Romeo, the son of Master P and cousin of Young Miller Tha Don, formed the group that produced the hit “You Can’t Shine Like Me.”

Master P’s influence took Young Miller Tha Don from New Orleans to California, where he’s working to keep the legacy going. After taking a break in 2020 due to COVID-19 (including losing his father to the coronavirus), Young Miller Tha Don is ready to provide his fans with the sound they have grown accustomed to. But his new sounds are different, as he has removed all profanity from his music in order to appeal to a wider audience.

Using the experiences gained by being in a musical family and learning the rap game from every aspect, he feels now is the time to strike. He will be releasing a new single, “Easy Flow,” in the coming weeks and plans to drop the visuals shortly afterward. He’s also planning to have a full album by the end of the year.

During a recent conversation with Zenger News, Young Miller Tha Don expands on why he took a break from music, explains why he expunged explicit language from his verses and talks about Master P’s influence on his career.

Percy Crawford interviewed Young Miller Tha Don for Zenger News.


Percy Crawford interviewed Young Miller Tha Don for Zenger News. (Heidi Malone/Zenger)

Zenger: It looks like you’re getting back to the music. What kept you away?

Young Miller Tha Don: Definitely getting back to the music. It was COVID-19-related, including losing my dad in April of last year from COVID, so that kind of put a stop to everything. I just wanted chill out and get my mind right. Now I’m ready to get back into it.

Zenger: How did the success that you enjoyed at a very young age being with the Rich Boyz impact your career and your approach?

Young Miller Tha Don: I use it as fuel to move forward. Everything I soaked up being around my relatives; you know they are pioneers in the game, so I’m just using that as fuel to keep going. Everybody looks at me as the boss, so I gotta keep it going and show them how to get it going.

Zenger: You come from a musical family, Master P is your uncle, Romeo is your cousin. Obviously we know the Miller family well. What experiences did you gain being around them and entering their field?

Young Miller Tha Don: I got a lot of experience on the business side, the studio side, the video production side, photo shoots, clothing … you name it. I learned a lot and everything that I learned at a young age, I’m applying that to what I’m doing now.

Zenger: What took you from New Orleans to California?

Young Miller Tha Don: In 2000, I had moved with [Master] P to Houston, and he was telling my mom [that] the next year he was going to move to Cali because that’s where all his business was at, and he didn’t wanna just keep flying back and forth from Cali to Texas. So in 2001 we moved to Beverly Hills, and I’ve been there ever since. It was a humbling experience coming from New Orleans and moving to Beverly Hills. That’s why some of my people call me “The Real Fresh Prince” — instead of Bel-Air, I’m the “Fresh Prince of Beverly Hills.”

Zenger: Was it difficult to adjust?

Young Miller Tha Don: I kind of struggled going into it. Because you know in New Orleans, we like to crack jokes. I was doing that with the kids, they were sensitive and crying and all this. I just had to learn their culture. It was a great experience because some of those kids I was going to school with, their parents were big dogs, doing big things. I went to school with Nicholas Cage’s son and James Worthy’s daughters. I went to school with a lot of people’s kids, and just started building relationships with them. I still have relationships with some of those kids today.

Young Miller Tha Don moved from New Orleans to Beverly Hills two decades ago. (Photo courtesy Robby) 

Zenger: Given the fact that you have been in the industry for so long, you have witnessed the transitions in music from tapes, to CDs to streaming. What has that adjustment been like for you?

Young Miller Tha Don: P always told me, if you’re a hustler, you can adapt to any environment. I just had to figure it all out and get the streaming going. I do good with my streaming, so I just had to map it out, market stuff and plan. Get with my team and just treat the internet like the streets now. They used to have the street teams go out; now you have to go out and do that on the internet.

Zenger: Who were some of your musical influences growing up?

Young Miller Tha Don: I was heavy on Jay-Z, B.I.G. Pac, Nas, of course my family, Fat Joe, Big Pun. I listened to a lot of that.

Zenger: A lot of East Coast influence.

Young Miller Tha Don: Yeah, I definitely listened to a hell of a lot of that music growing up, bro.

Zenger: What can we expect from you musically?

Young Miller Tha Don: My vibe right now, I stopped cussing in my music, but I’m still talking that talk. I’m just challenging myself not to cuss and use more words, so my music can be played anywhere. But I’m bringing that good party music. I like to make records for the ladies, the R&B music, hip-hop records. That’s kind of my lane that I’m staying in.

Zenger: What prompted you taking profanity out of your lyrics? Was it just a matter of the radio being able to play it freely or something else as well?

Young Miller Tha Don: It was a combination of things. One day I was playing my music for these people and a little kid said the word that I said, and I was like, “Oh nah!” And then another reason, when you listen to music on the radio for those that still listen to the radio, I don’t want my voice to be distorted for every cuss word or to have entire blurred out lines. I just challenged myself not to cuss, and I’ve been doing that for like two years now, and it’s been working for me.

Zenger: That’s a major change and adjustment to pull off at this stage of your career, so the fact that it’s working for you says a lot about you as an artist. That’s big time.

Young Miller Tha Don: Yeah man, and a lot of people book me for that. I get a lot of gigs because of that, because some people don’t want to hear all of that. We are in a very sensitive era. So, calling women out and stuff like that don’t necessarily fly like that anymore. So, I’m just glad I made that change and people still vibin’ with it. And I’m not saying the ‘N’ word because I’m trying to break that barrier too.

Zenger: When can we expect a single from you?

Young Miller Tha Don: Man, I’m getting ready to drop my single, “Easy Flow,” and a video right behind it very soon, and then the follow-up will be right behind that. I’m just about to start dropping work consistently every month or every other month. Just drop a song, a video, and then I’m going to put out a full body of work around November.

Young Miller Tha Don plans to soon release a new single. ( Photo courtesy Robby) 

Zenger: Sounds the key for you right now is to live in the studio.

Young Miller Tha Don: I feel like, if you make a crazy record and everybody is vibin’ to it, that should be your motivation to go back in the studio and make an even crazier record. So that’s how I do it. I just made a crazy record. Everybody on my team is feeling it and other people in the industry who I sent it to, they feel like this is going to be that one. But to answer your question, staying in the studio is key because you have to keep the music going. You can’t run out of product when it comes to that music. You gotta keep dropping consistently. Give the people what they want. Music is different now. There are rappers born every day now. You have to keep being hot and winning.

Zenger: We lost a great one earlier this month with the death of DMX. Before I let you go, I wanted to give you the opportunity to speak on “The Dog.”

Young Miller Tha Don: That’s who I forgot to mention when you asked me earlier who I listened to. Definitely was a DMX fan. What he meant to the game was a lot. His unique style, his raw gutta flow — and he had the capability to jump from rapping to acting. We took a major loss. God bless X and his entire family, friends and fans. X would want everybody to keep his same energy going.

Zenger: I appreciate the time, is there anything else you want to add?

Young Miller The Don: World Fusion LLC is my label and DMG is my partner label. I want all the artists to keep going hard out there and keep pushing because eventually I’m going to want to sign some of them. That’s what me and my family are about, giving back and giving opportunities to the people that want to do it.

(Edited by Matthew B. Hall and Judith Isacoff)



The post Love For Rap Music Deeply Rooted In Young Miller Tha Don appeared first on Zenger News.

Dameron Communications Selected as PR firm for RDCIO Carousel Mall Project

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Dameron Communications has been retained by the RDCIO partnership of Renaissance Downtowns USA and ICO Real Estate Group to serve as the public relations firm for the development and reuse of The City of San Bernardino’s 48.2-acre Carousel District site in the heart of downtown San Bernardino. 

The development is expected to serve as a catalyst for Downtown San Bernardino by building upon the pre-existing foot traffic brought in by the Regal Cinema and California Theatre.  

“We are very excited to work on this epic project.  This bold development will launch San Bernardino into a prosperous 21st century,” said Carl Dameron, principal of the 30-year-old San Bernardino agency, Dameron Communications. 

“The plan includes housing for all and business opportunities for all,” said Don Monti, Renaissance Downtowns President and CEO.  

On March 3, 2021, the San Bernardino City Council selected RDICO to redevelop the Carousel Mall. The RCICO plan is the best way to launch San Bernardino’s short term, mid-term and long-term growth, said Dameron.

For more information on RDICO and San Bernardino’s new Downtown Development, go to www.SanBernardinoDowntown.com.

Board of Supervisors appoints Thomas Sone as Public Defender

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed interim Public Defender Thomas Sone to serve as the county’s new Public Defender.

“We are very fortunate to have someone with Tom’s credentials, experience, and dedication on our team,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman.

Sone has served as interim Public Defender since December and previously served as Assistant Public Defender. He joined the Public Defender’s Office in 2001 after briefly working for a private law firm in Los Angeles. Sone began with the County as a Deputy Public Defender I and worked his way up to the position of Lead Deputy Public Defender V before being named Chief Deputy Public Defender in 2013 and Assistant Public Defender in 2018.

Along the way, Sone litigated serious and complex felony cases, trained and mentored newer attorneys, assigned cases, participated in community programs, and collaborated with various agencies to develop programs that better deliver services to our community.

“The Public Defender’s Office and this county hold a very special place in my heart,” Sone said. “For the past 20 years within the department, I’ve grown not just professionally but also as a person. Both the leadership of this department as well as this county have shaped who I’ve become. I am humbled and honored by the appointment.”

Sone is the county’s first Asian American and Pacific Islander Public Defender. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego, School of Law and holds two Bachelor’s degrees from Washington State University. He is also a graduate of the San Bernardino County Management and Leadership Academy.

The Public Defender provides legal representation to criminal or civil commitment defendants who cannot afford to hire an attorney. The office represents adults and juveniles charged with misdemeanor or felony crimes, and persons facing involuntary civil commitment for mental disorders or commitment under the Sexually Violent Predator statute.

In addition to attorneys, the San Bernardino County Public Defender employs investigators to fully investigate cases handled by the department. The Department also has a staff of social workers and support staff to provide the best representation for clients.

Using a holistic approach, the Public Defender seeks to increase client opportunities for achieving self-sufficiency. In addition to providing legal defense, the office also seeks to arrange client access to social service programs and assistance with receiving alcohol and drug rehabilitation services and counseling for mental health issues.

Jason Henderson Is A Warrior Of Hope, Insisting ‘Love Reaches Out’

WASHINGTON — As a 20-year physical therapist in Washington, D.C., Dr. Jason Henderson has worked with many disabled people.

But there is another reason why shaking Henderson’s hand feels like squeezing a brick. In a Southeast Washington church, twice a week, Henderson becomes the Sensei for a group of young men.

There, he uses martial arts to help them cope with autism.

“Love reaches out. My love reaches out!” sang Henderson during a recent demonstration he held with some of his students. “I play that song because it is featured in my new film about how martial arts can benefit kids with autism. And how important it is for me, as the CEO of a health-care company, to give back to the community.”

Henderson teaches martial arts to help his students cope with autism. (Courtesy of Jason Henderson)

Henderson’s documentary, “I AM A Martial Autist,” was previewed on Oscar night in a virtual event.

Henderson is president of Ergo Solutions, located in the capital, but much of his work is devoted to the young men who have lost their lives to gun violence. His techniques give them nonviolent alternatives to conflicts.

“It is important for our community to reach out and share love,” Henderson said. “Every beautiful black child in here deserves our love. So when we see kids being diagnosed, called dumb, called stupid, call retarded, the community has to change the way we see our babies.”

“Martial arts accepts you for who you are,” and that has been a blessing for six of Henderson’s students. They snapped to attention at their sensei’s commands as he took them through their martial-arts warm-up routine.

Born in Philadelphia, Henderson graduated from high school and was admitted to Florida A&M, where he earned his degree in physical therapy. He earned a doctorate in PT from Alabama State and then an MBA from the University of Maryland University College.

“When I got out of high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to be, where I wanted to go, so I headed South,” said Henderson. “While many big schools accepted me, I got a track scholarship to Florida A&M.

Jason Henderson earned a doctorate in PT which he uses to develop his martial arts programs. (Courtesy of Jason Henderson)

“My focus is to continue to fight health disparities through my practice and to develop this martial program for children and young adults in person and at home with our online program, which was developed during the pandemic.”

In addition to his medical and martial programs, Henderson has published a book, “A complete 180,” about business executives putting their companies back on track after disappointments.

“In my life, I had to restructure my health-care company. There is no difference between what I had to do and parent who has autism,” Henderson said. “There are times in life you have to redirect things. Sometimes, we get off course, and God is there to redirect us.”

(Edited by Fern Siegel and Alex Willemyns)



The post Jason Henderson Is A Warrior Of Hope, Insisting ‘Love Reaches Out’ appeared first on Zenger News.

Operation Student Recovery Scheduled for April 27

The San Bernardino City Unified School District’s (SBCUSD) Positive Youth Development department is organizing another Operation Student Recovery (OSR) on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 9 a.m. to noon, the third operation of the 2020–2021 school year.

OSR takes a proactive approach to reversing attendance issues, with administrators personally visiting the homes of truant students to invite them back to school and offer assistance in overcoming whatever barriers are preventing good attendance.

Past events have helped students, and their families, address the problems that prevented good school attendance. During the February 23 OSR 1000 event, more than 165 volunteers wearing personal protective equipment assisted 102 homeless students, 14 foster youth, 234 English learners, and 360 African-American students. A total of 40 students received immediate technical assistance. Other students received medical and mental health referrals, and some families received food assistance.

For more information about the April 27 OSR event or past OSR efforts, contact Positive Youth Development at (909) 880-6812.

Free First 5 California Kit Remains Essential to New Parents, Especially Now

Kit Enters Digital Age with Online Version of Resource-Packed California Parent Guide

SACRAMENTO, CA—- In 2001, First 5 California debuted its informative and resource-packed Kit for New Parents to millions of families and caregivers throughout the state. However, many parents of young children, especially families from under-resourced neighborhoods, are not aware of this free and valuable tool.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of children under the age of 5 who face barriers of literacy, poverty    or disability experience difficulty accessing valuable information and resources that are essential during this time,” said First 5 California Executive Director Camille Maben. “The Kit for New Parents fills that gap by delivering essential parenting resources right to their doors.”

The Kit contains everything from practical advice and parenting tips to child development and finding childcare information. It also includes information about health and safety best practices during the current global pandemic. The Kit’s contents include:

  • California Parent Guide
  • What to Do When Your Child Gets Sick book
  • Numbers Touch and Feel children’s board book
  • California Poison Control brochure and magnet
  • Colorful, reusable First 5 California “Talk. Read. Sing.” tote bag

First 5 California developed the Kit as an innovative evidence-based approach to reach new families with information about parenting practices and community resources. Over the years, it has evolved with technology and the needs of parents and is continuously updated to include information relevant to today’s families and childcare providers. For example, the California Parent Guide is now available online at parentguide.first5california.com for parents to access with their smartphones and mobile devices.

Parents and organizations can receive the physical Kit by visiting First 5 California’s ordering page at https://apps.ccfc.ca.gov/First5ParentingKits or by contacting their local First 5 county commission.

To date, First 5 California has distributed more than 5 million Kits for New Parents, including approximately 145,000 in 2020. To learn more about First 5 California, visit ccfc.ca.gov.