First Five Commission of Siskiyou
County uses tobacco tax money for programs that benefit children 0-five years of age. http://www.first5siskiyou.org/ I am a Commissioner appointed by the Board of
Supervisors. First Five has helped to establish and support the nine Family and Community Resource
Centers (FRCs/CRCs) in Happy Camp, Scott Valley, Yreka, Montague/Shasta Valley, Weed, Mt. Shasta,
Dunsmuir, McCloud and Tulelake. (At this time, we have been unable to find the volunteer
leadership in Butte Valley to sustain an FRC.)
FRCs have become a popular place where families with kids of all ages
can find out about various programs and services available to them, get help in enrolling,
take parenting, business and recreational classes, network with others and receive
services. Now that some of our FRCs have matured, they are also beginning to provide adult
and Senior services, such as Senior nutrition and crisis/mental health outreach and
referral.
Recently, two FRCs gave presentations to the Commission highlighting
some of their programs.
The Tulelake/Newell FRC (T/NFRC) is supported by both the Modoc County
and Siskiyou First Five Commissions. It just relocated to the Tulelake Honker. For
families, T/NFRC provides parenting education, Family Fun Nights, playgroups, Mailbox
Buddies (60 children,) assistance in enrolling in Healthy Families Insurance, child car
seat and helmet programs, family law, family literacy and a lending library. Parenting
classes are provided in both English and Spanish. Translation Services are also provided.
In addition, the Honker is the local Senior nutrition site and assists in distributing
information on family nutrition through the SCNAC (Sierra Cascade Nutrition and Activity
Consortium – Michelle Harris) program as well. T/NFRC also assists with commodity
distribution. http://www.first5siskiyou.org/tulelake.html
The Scott Valley FRC (SVFRC or Scott Valley FOCUS) is located in Fort
Jones a few doors down from Scott Valley bank. SVFRC offers parenting classes, infant
massage, playgroups, Family Fun Nights, Mailbox Buddies (120 children,) WIC story time and
book giveaway, car seat installation and giveaway, bike helmet giveaway, parent kits, and
the SCNAC family nutrition program. In addition, there are teen music nights and concerts,
a computer lab with open access, Healthy Families and EDD online application assistance,
monthly dance and Tai-Chi classes, and a newsletter. Community building activities include
the annual Swap Meet and Carnival in Greenview, Fort Jones Friends of the Library, Parent
Conference and Elders Conference. Recently, SVFRC also took over management of the Senior
Nutrition program at the Valley Oaks Senior Clubhouse in Greenview. http://www.first5siskiyou.org/scottvalley.html
I encourage you to drop in your nearest FRC/CRC and check it out. If
you don’t need resources or service referral, you may want to volunteer of your time
and talents to make a real difference in someone else’s life. |
