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November 2024 F5M Newsletter

Highlights from the First 5 Mendocino Team

Anderson Valley Health Center’s Annual Fall Harvest Celebration

Along with other health supporting organizations around the county, Karla and Alex tabled the Anderson Valley Health Center’s Fall Harvest Celebration sharing information on First 5 and partner programs including the Imagination Library, Home Visiting, Doulas, family supports and more. Karla connected with families circling the fair while Alex practiced her Spanish skills with monolingual Spanish speaking families and connected with partner organizations attending the event.

Community Birth Partnership Initiative

Collaborations with the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) began last spring. Holly Smith is the lead.

Mendocino County has been identified by CMQCC as a prospective rural community to partner with for their 2025 cohort. This prospect is a shared interest opportunity for Adventist Health Ukiah Valley's Labor and Delivery department and the collaboration would be further enriched by the expertise of CBPI.

First 5 Mendocino invited hospital representatives and local midwives to a preliminary meeting with Holly on November 6th where she presented on the work, background, goals, and project outline. The link to view the recording is available. The passcode is Bx$Zspc3.

Child Abuse Prevention Counsel Convening

Townley Saye and Alex Rounds attended the CAPC Convening which highlighted work being done in the Bay Area and northern counties to prevent child abuse and neglect with a focus on linking families to resources.

As state initiatives elevate the movement to reduce overreporting of child abuse by improving community support referrals, CAPC highlighted the efforts being made in Los Angeles through partnership building, community narratives, and implementation with educators. Child maltreatment reports are often biased against families of color and unnecessarily punitive. CAPC called for updated training for educators that is anti-racist and focuses on support not surveillance. First 5's across the state were identified as essential community supports.

First 5 California Commission Meeting

First 5 County Commissions represented small and large counties at the Oct. 30, 2024 First 5 California Commission meeting. Concerns were voiced related to recommended changes in the Small Population County Funding Augmentation (SPCFA), public campaign collaborations, and ongoing stabilization concerns.

Townley Saye, Alex Rounds (in-person), and Jenna Flesch (virtually) represented First 5 Mendocino. Saye and other ED's spoke in support of the SPCFA, emphasizing how the augmentation provided certain equitable safety nets in rural communities that did not have the same access to resources as larger county First 5's. EDs stressed the importance of local voice and consultation with counties around programmatic and grant changes to meet the needs of the diverse communities of California. Flesch spoke on the support of the $25 million stabilization request made by the First 5 Association to ensure critical resources remained intact in fragile rural communities.

Attending the meeting in person created space for First 5 counties and the First 5 Association to connect and collaborate.

Please click here to visit the First 5 California Commission YouTube channel.

Doula Rack Cards

New rack cards are out for distribution supporting families to connect with pregnancy, labor, and postpartum support.

Forest Bathing & Nature Mindfulness Walk

First 5 Mendocino hosted two Forest Bathing walks the first two Fridays of November. The first one was with the School Counselors with Ukiah Unified School District at Low Gap Park and the second one was with First 5 Staff at the Mill Creek Dams Park.

Forest bathing, known as shinrin-yoku in Japanese, is the practice of immersing oneself in a forest environment to enhance well-being. It involves slow, mindful walks through nature, where individuals engage their senses to absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. This practice encourages a deep connection with the natural world, promoting relaxation and mindfulness without the need for strenuous activity.

The benefits of forest bathing are both physical and mental. Research indicates that spending time in forested areas can significantly reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, and improve overall mood. Participants often report feelings of rejuvenation and a decrease in anxiety. The practice has been linked to enhanced immune function and increased energy levels, making it a holistic approach to health and wellness. Additionally, forest bathing fosters a sense of community and connection, as it can be enjoyed alone or with others, enhancing social bonds and emotional support. Forest bathing is a simple yet powerful way to improve health and well-being by reconnecting with nature.

Why We Invest In Trauma-Informed Trainings

In recent years, the conversation around trauma-informed practices has gained significant momentum across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and social services. As stakeholders in our community, it is essential to understand why we dedicate considerable energy and time to trauma-informed trainings.

Check out our blog post to learn more!

See our Facebook post here!

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