Kern County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
Kern County Children and Families Commission First 5 Mission Statement:*
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⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F13, F38
Findings and Recommendations 37 findings
F1
causing a loss of funding to both the State and Kern County. Therefore, First 5 Kern will have to continue to readjust the local programs being funded. The result will be less available services for children 0 to 5 years of age. The four Focus Areas of The Strategic Plan meet the State requirements for
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
and Families Commission to reach out and collaborate with First 5 California and other agencies to promote a statewide effort to increase the Tobacco Tax, and/or find other revenues to continue the programs for children 0 to 5 years of age, by January 2, 2024. (Findings 1, 2, and 3) The BOS should encourage First 5 Kern Commission to develop strategies to
F2
children's specific needs. First 5 Kern funded programs must meet Objectives and Result Indicators. The on-going annual evaluations ensure that current needs of children are being addressed. The next five years will be critical for First 5 Kern, due to the fact that funding is on
No recommendations for this finding
F3
the decline and reserves are being reduced to maintain the current programs. The next five-year Strategic Plan will have to address loss of funds, loss of programs, loss of staff, and loss of services to children and families. All children qualify for First 5 Kern's opportunities through most programs,
No recommendations for this finding
F4
regardless of citizenship status or economic family status. This allows First 5 Kern to better serve all children and families. First 5 Kern promotions try to reach the community through newsletters and emails.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
However, the public may still be confused or unaware of First 5 Kern and the programs available. The First 5 Kern logo is required to appear on all funded programs' literature, fliers, newsletters, advertisements, popup events and health fairs. More public relations is needed to keep the public informed. The Grand Jury conducted an unannounced visit to the Technical Advisory
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
promote new programs and projects in the news media to help inform the public of First 5 Kern. This should be an ongoing program beginning no later than December 1, 2023. (Finding 5) The BOS should work with First 5 Kern Commission to review and update The
F6
Committee meeting. The meeting was well organized and the teamwork among attendees was outstanding. Those in attendance were engaged and eagerly volunteered to conduct research into First 5 Kern's Goals, Objectives, and Result Indicators. At the next meeting, the committee will address the results from the team to evaluate the data and make changes to the next Strategic Plan. This will keep The Plan up to date in providing for the needs of children and families.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Strategic Plan on an annual basis, in order to award new grants and opportunities. The Strategic Plan should be updated by December 1, 2023. (Findings 6 and 9) NOTES: The Kern County Board of Supervisors and Kern County Children and Families . Commission should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed . on the Kern County Grand Jury website: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury RESPONSE DEADLINES: REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM:
F7
Due to COVID restrictions, funding reductions, and changes in staff assignments, First 5 Kern staff would benefit from ongoing team building activities. After attending a Children's Mobile Immunization Clinic held by Adventist Health,
No recommendations for this finding
F8
the Grand Jury noted a well-advertised and organized program. Patients were greeted, provided services in private, and cared for with respect. The First 5 Kern logo was visible on the mobile bus. Ply, hoo Photos by the Grand Jury First 5 Kern has collaborated with local agencies to fund over 39 programs, all
No recommendations for this finding
F9
meeting the needs of the children and objectives in The Plan. (See Appendix A) This is definitely a community effort working together. COMMENTS: The Grand Jury would like to thank the staff from First 5 Kern for the cooperation and information given for the preparation of this report.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Nurse Family Partnership Program $ 625,000 o Kern County Public Health Services Department Intensive case management, parental education and support services to high-risk, low-income, first-time mothers and children $ 204,095 Richardson Special Needs Collaborative
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Kern County Superintendent of Schools 0 Case management, behavioral needs screening, referrals, and other support services for children up to age 5 $ 150,000
No recommendations for this finding
F12
Special Start for Exceptional Children Caring Corner 0 Early childhood education, parental support and childcare for medically fragile
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Arvin Union School District 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge $ 140,000
No recommendations for this finding
F15
Buttonwillow Community Resource Center Buttonwillow Union School District 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge $ 565,000
No recommendations for this finding
F16
Differential Response Kern County Network for Children 0 Assists in the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect to reduce the rate of recurrence of child abuse, neglect, and entry into protective custody and foster care $ 239,681
No recommendations for this finding
F17
Domestic Violence Reduction Project Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. Legal services and representation in civil matters to protect children 0 to 5 • $ 144,951
No recommendations for this finding
F18
East Kern Family Resource Center Community Action Partnership of Kern 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge
No recommendations for this finding
F19
Family Caregiver Project $ 88,458
No recommendations for this finding
F20
$ 170,021 Greenfield School Readiness Program Greenfield Union School District Family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and = promotes parental knowledge $ 234,621 Guardianship Caregiver Project
No recommendations for this finding
F21
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. Legal services to grandparents and caregivers seeking guardianship over children birth to 5 $ 160,000 Kern River Valley Family Resource Center - Great Beginning Program
No recommendations for this finding
F22
Kernville Union School District 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge $ 199,882 Lamont Vineland School Readiness Program
No recommendations for this finding
F23
Lamont School District 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge $ 160,000
No recommendations for this finding
F24
McFarland Family Resource Center McFarland Unified School District 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge $ 149,856
No recommendations for this finding
F25
Mountain Communities Family Resource Center Mountain Communities Family Resource Center, Inc. Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, ш and promotes parental knowledge $ 169,166
No recommendations for this finding
F26
Oasis Family Resource Center Community Action Partnership of Kern Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, п and promotes parental knowledge 27. $ 162,377 Shafter Healthy Start Richland School District Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge Southeast Neighborhood Partnership - Family Resource Center $ 161,782
No recommendations for this finding
F27
$ 162,377 Shafter Healthy Start Richland School District Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge Southeast Neighborhood Partnership - Family Resource Center $ 161,782
No recommendations for this finding
F28
Clinica Sierra Vista
No recommendations for this finding
F29
Women's Shelter Network
No recommendations for this finding
F30
Kern High School District 0 Promotes parental knowledge of developmental milestones and behavioral
No recommendations for this finding
F31
Kern County Superintendent of Schools 0 Support for teen parents through parental education classes, promoting literacy, and reading to children $ 165,000
No recommendations for this finding
F32
Delano School Readiness Delano Union School District 0 Family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and . promotes parental knowledge of developmental milestones and norms $ 121,375
No recommendations for this finding
F33
Discovery Depot Child Care Center The Open Door Network 0 Early childcare and education for children ages birth to 5 of homeless families, and parenting education classes $ 126,342 Lost Hills Family Resource Center
No recommendations for this finding
F34
Lost Hills Union School District 0 Educational activities, parental and community education, and case management 8 catering to the needs of each individual family $ 218,542 Neighborhood Place Community Learning Center
No recommendations for this finding
F35
North of the River Recreation and Park District 0 Court-mandated parenting classes, family referrals, and promotes parental knowledge of developmental milestones and norms $ 140,625 Small Steps Child Development Center
No recommendations for this finding
F36
The Open Door Network 0 Early childcare and education of children up to age 5 whose mothers are victims = of domestic violence, through services such as court visits, parental education, counseling, housing, and job placement $ 100,000 South Fork Preschool and Day Care Center
No recommendations for this finding
F37
South Fork Union School District Family support services through case management and promotes parental . knowledge of developmental milestones and norms 11,000 $ Wind in the Willows Preschool
No recommendations for this finding
F39
Wind in the Willows Education Organization
No recommendations for this finding
Comments 36
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CO1Buttonwillow Community Resource Center Buttonwillow Union School District 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge $ 565,000
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CO2Arvin Union School District 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge $ 140,000
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CO3Special Start for Exceptional Children Caring Corner 0 Early childhood education, parental support and childcare for medically fragile
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CO4Nurse Family Partnership Program $ 625,000 o Kern County Public Health Services Department Intensive case management, parental education and support services to high-risk, low-income, first-time mothers and children $ 204,095 Richardson Special Needs Collaborative
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CO5Kern County Superintendent of Schools 0 Case management, behavioral needs screening, referrals, and other support services for children up to age 5 $ 150,000
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CO6Differential Response Kern County Network for Children 0 Assists in the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect to reduce the rate of recurrence of child abuse, neglect, and entry into protective custody and foster care $ 239,681
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CO7Domestic Violence Reduction Project Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. 0 Legal services and representation in civil matters to protect children 0 to 5 • $ 144,951
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CO8East Kern Family Resource Center Community Action Partnership of Kern 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge
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CO9Family Caregiver Project $ 88,458
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CO10$ 170,021 Greenfield School Readiness Program Greenfield Union School District Family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and = promotes parental knowledge $ 234,621 Guardianship Caregiver Project
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CO11Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. 0 Legal services to grandparents and caregivers seeking guardianship over children birth to 5 $ 160,000 Kern River Valley Family Resource Center - Great Beginning Program
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CO12Kernville Union School District 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge $ 199,882 Lamont Vineland School Readiness Program
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CO13Lamont School District 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge $ 160,000
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CO14McFarland Family Resource Center McFarland Unified School District 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge $ 149,856
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CO15Mountain Communities Family Resource Center Mountain Communities Family Resource Center, Inc. 0 Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, ш and promotes parental knowledge $ 169,166
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CO16Oasis Family Resource Center Community Action Partnership of Kern Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, п and promotes parental knowledge 27. $ 162,377 Shafter Healthy Start Richland School District Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge Southeast Neighborhood Partnership - Family Resource Center $ 161,782
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CO17$ 162,377 Shafter Healthy Start Richland School District Direct family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and promotes parental knowledge Southeast Neighborhood Partnership - Family Resource Center $ 161,782
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CO18Clinica Sierra Vista
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CO19Women's Shelter Network
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CO20Kern High School District 0 Promotes parental knowledge of developmental milestones and behavioral
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CO21Kern County Superintendent of Schools 0 Support for teen parents through parental education classes, promoting literacy, and reading to children $ 165,000
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CO22Delano School Readiness Delano Union School District 0 Family support services: case management, parenting classes, referrals, and . promotes parental knowledge of developmental milestones and norms $ 121,375
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CO23Discovery Depot Child Care Center The Open Door Network 0 Early childcare and education for children ages birth to 5 of homeless families, and parenting education classes $ 126,342 Lost Hills Family Resource Center
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CO24Lost Hills Union School District 0 Educational activities, parental and community education, and case management 8 catering to the needs of each individual family $ 218,542 Neighborhood Place Community Learning Center
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CO25North of the River Recreation and Park District 0 Court-mandated parenting classes, family referrals, and promotes parental knowledge of developmental milestones and norms $ 140,625 Small Steps Child Development Center
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CO26The Open Door Network 0 Early childcare and education of children up to age 5 whose mothers are victims = of domestic violence, through services such as court visits, parental education, counseling, housing, and job placement $ 100,000 South Fork Preschool and Day Care Center
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CO27South Fork Union School District Family support services through case management and promotes parental . knowledge of developmental milestones and norms 11,000 $ Wind in the Willows Preschool
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CO28Wind in the Willows Education Organization
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CO29Constitution that appeared in the 1998 California General Election. The official name of this amendment is "The Children and Families First Act." This amendment put a $0.50 tax on cigarettes, and even up to $1 on other tobacco products such as chewing tobacco and cigars. The revenue from this tax would go to funding early childhood education in California. The tax went into effect January 1, 1999. Prop 56: The California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act 2. (Proposition 56), passed by the voters in November 2016, increases the excise tax rate on cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, effective April 1, 2017, and other tobacco products, effective July 1, 2017. The excise tax increased by $2 from 87 cents to $2.87 per pack of 20 cigarettes on distributors selling cigarettes in California with an equivalent excise tax rate increase on other tobacco products. In accordance with Assembly Bill 120 (Chapter 22, Statutes of 2017) the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) shall develop the structure of the supplemental payments. Kern County Children and Families Commission: Established by the Kern County Board
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CO30Children's Mobile Immunization Program
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CO31of Supervisors Ordinance G-6565 on December 15, 1998; Revised by Ordinance G-6587, enacted on March 30, 1999, under the provisions of the California Children & Families First Act of 1998 (Proposition 10); name of the Commission changed to Children and Families Commission by Ordinance G-6629 enacted on September 14, 1999. First 5 California: distributes funds to local communities through the state's 58 individual
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CO32counties, all of which have created their own local First 5 county commissions. Eighty percent of the annual revenues are allocated to the 58 county commissions, while the remaining 20 percent fund the state's overall guiding programs and administrative costs. The amount of funding provided to each First 5 county commission is based upon the area's birth rate. Funds are used to address the local needs of communities statewide.
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CO33Community Action Partnership of Kern - CAPK: administers more than a dozen programs aimed at meeting children, families, and individuals at their point of need, for those who have had difficulty engaging the "American Dream." They care about the entire community and are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. Help Me Grow: provides reliable and accurate screenings for the developmental and
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CO34social-emotional milestones and norms for children between birth and age 6. The Improved and Maximized Program so All Children Thrive - IMPACT: a
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CO35comprehensive effort to enhance the quality of early learning and care, and support the workforce, with a focus on addressing the needs of the whole child, including health, behavioral health, child development, and family strengthening. APPENDIX A FEBRUARY 2023 FIRST 5 KERN FUNDED PROGRAMS $ 121,020 Black Infant Health
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CO36Medically Vulnerable Infant Program $ 260,805 Clinica Sierra Vista 0 Home-based medical case management for vulnerable infants and children .
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Kern County
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* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.