As we approach the threshold of summer once again, it’s that magical season that seems to speed by with the swiftness of a superhero. Despite the longer days, summer barely lets us glimpse its extraordinary nature, enticing us to squeeze in just one more dive, boat ride, or camping trip before the sun disappears. In the spirit of this energetic season, we are excited to highlight a few local programs, people, and initiatives that embody similar superhero qualities. These examples push boundaries and expand opportunities for the young children and families of Tehama County. Join us in celebrating these fabulous community heroes.
Multilingual Superheroes
This year marks the completion of the inaugural year of Gerber’s Dual Immersion Program, a remarkable achievement born from a community-wide initiative. Driven by data on our English language learners and a commitment to enhancing multilingual literacy and cultural inclusion in Tehama County, the Gerber leadership, staff, and families united to make this vision a reality (CLICK HERE FOR DATA). The outcome has been nothing short of heroic. In this first year, kindergarteners experienced bilingual and culturally rich classrooms, gaining fluency in both English and Spanish. Under the exceptional leadership of Jenny Montoya, the program not only benefits those enrolled but also enriches the entire school community through family-focused multilingual events like ice cream socials and Día de los Niños. These events foster inclusivity and connection, celebrating literacy in all languages and supporting English language development.
Bravo to Jenny, the dedicated staff, and all community supporters! Your super-human efforts to lift multilingualism in Tehama County are inspiring, and we eagerly anticipate your continued success.
If that piqued your interest, don’t miss the “Bilingual is my Superpower Story Hour” hosted by the Tehama County Library and First 5 this summer. This drop-in program is a fantastic opportunity to start or continue your bilingual journey.
Positive Parenting Superheroes
Tehama is celebrating the third year of hosting Positive Parenting Program (PPP) facilitators, providing group and individual support across the county. Driven by the alarmingly high child abuse rates in 2021 (FIGURE HERE), it was evident that local evidence-based prevention strategies needed a significant boost.
This realization sparked an incredible collaboration among school districts like Corning Elementary and Evergreen, Social Services, and nonprofits such as NCCDI and Families First. These organizations dedicated their time, talent, and resources to this cause.
However, the true heroes are those who have committed extra hours beyond their regular workdays to achieve accreditation and refine the program’s implementation for families. These facilitators have expanded the reach of parent education, supporting our community’s parents—our real superheroes. These 18 devoted individuals provide effective strategies, listen to each site’s unique needs and goals, and help parents abandon ineffective methods in favor of new, cycle-breaking approaches (see full list HERE).
We applaud you all as superheroes and eagerly anticipate more Triple P courses being offered throughout the county—in clinics, schools in both the north and south counties, and even churches next year.
Are you interested in becoming a facilitator? Learn how to get certified HERE.
Expect More Tehama Superheroes
Third on our list of summer superheroes is the incredible organization Expect More Tehama! Nearly a decade ago, this grassroots movement took ownership of the summer when they discovered alarming data on the summer slide (learn more HERE). The importance of summer activities grew even more pressing with the rising demand for summer childcare.
Expect More Tehama’s initial static summer guide detailed all local opportunities for engaging children and families, including camps and childcare options. This guide soon expanded to include short trips to local gems like Lassen and Whiskeytown. It has since evolved into a dynamic online document that is regularly updated with new experiences. EMT took on the heroic task of connecting with every community partner to provide families easy access to this information.
Beyond this challenging endeavor, they use the guide’s data to identify areas where they can help promote, foster, and expand opportunities. Over the years, they have co-funded music and tech camps. This year, they are pushing boundaries further by funding high school interns to enhance literacy and math-focused summer programs for kindergarten through 12th-grade children. Motivated by our math and literacy data, this empowering initiative helps cultivate future teachers, fosters a love for staying in Tehama County, and expands local opportunities.
If you are interested in contributing activities to the ever-evolving summer guide, please email Kathy Garcia at kathy@expectmoretehama.com. Click HERE to view and download Expect More Tehama’s 2024 Summer Activity Guide.
Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, these heroic efforts often go unnoticed. As summer begins, it’s the perfect time to recognize and appreciate all the good—the inspiration and growth surrounding us. First 5 extends a heartfelt thank you and deep admiration for these multilingual, parenting, and summer activity superheroes! With or without capes, they are building a community where our children and families can thrive.
New Resources
CYBHI has released a new blog co-authored by First 5 Executive Director Heidi Mendenhall. You can read the full blog here: Creating Safe Spaces in Tehama.
Additional related resources include:
- Positive Parenting, Thriving Kids
- Click HERE to access a series of free videos and print resources offering practical, evidence-based information and skills for tackling common parenting challenges.
- Safe Spaces Online Training
- You can find free online training to assist early care providers, TK-12 educators, and other school personnel in recognizing and responding to trauma and stress in children by clicking HERE.