Page 18 - Demo

Antelope Valley Best Start
Funded by First 5 Los Angeles, Best Start Lancaster (BSL) focuses on increasing parent participation in their child’s education. The program recruits and trains Community Information Ambassadors (CIAs) to gather, share, and connect parents to information and resources about school readiness, early childhood education, and child care. Best Start Palmdale (BSP) is an advocacy training plan designed for Parent Navigators employed by Antelope Valley Partners for Health. Parents learn how to convey their messages to policymakers regarding issues important to parents. including early childhood education and subsidized child care in the Antelope Valley. Parent Navigators also participate in advocacy activities, connect with local legislators, and organize a forum that brings awareness to these issues.
Home Visiting
Parents enrolled in the Home Visiting program are guided by staff trained in the Parents As Teachers (PAT) curriculum. The program’s mission is to provide parents with support, encouragement, and the information to help their child develop optimally in their early years of life. This year, 246 families received information tailored to their child’s development through on-on-one meetings with certified parent educators. Parents also learned about ways to support and encourage growth, and information regarding health and wellness screenings. Monthly Group Connection meetings helped 68 families engage with other parents. To be part of the program, families are referred by Welcome Baby, an initiative funded by First 5 LA, and must reside within the Best Start community boundaries.
Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN)
FCCHEN offers ongoing professional development and supportive technical assistance to a small group of licensed child care providers in the local community. These home based environments combine the standards of a first-rate child care center with the personal touch and familiarity of a home. Support and networking are benefits child care providers gain from access to professional development trainings with other child care professionals in the area. Child assessment trainings guide a provider as they develop a plan for each child in their care. Participation in this program also includes monthly resource van visits with new educational opportunities, information, and child care payments on behalf of eligible families who are enrolled.
17 Family & Community Engagement | Antelope Valley