First 5 Ventura County invests in services that promote high Quality Early Learning as early as possible (0-3 years), especially for children who are most at risk. A few examples of our Quality Early Learning investments include the NfLs, childcare services, and QCVC.
From our inception almost 25 years ago, the First 5 Ventura County Neighborhoods for Learning (NfLs) have been a cornerstone in the community, providing early childhood education, health, and family support services. Recognized throughout the state and country, this model was founded upon the voices and insights of local leaders throughout the county to provide the services that are most needed in each community.
The impact of parents may never be greater than during the earliest years of life. A child’s brain develops faster from prenatal to age three than at any other later period in life, building the foundation for a child’s future learning, behavior, and health. Parents and other caregivers play a lead role in their child’s healthy development, but often they are stretched for time and resources. First 5 Ventura County’s Neighborhoods for Learning provide parents with the support they want to meet their families’ needs.
Parent and Child Together (PACT) Classes
Led by a trained teacher, these classes:
The goal of PACT classes is to ensure that families have the knowledge, confidence, and support they need to give their children a strong foundation for success in school and life.
Child Health and Development Services
NfL staff connect parents to a variety of health screenings and needed support services to ensure parents and other caregivers have the help they need to keep their children thriving.
Access to Services
If a need is identified, referrals are offered to services provided by local community-based organizations and agencies. Care Coordination is provided by NfL staff to help families connect to and utilize services, such as:
The Quality Counts Ventura County (QCVC) quality rating and improvement system is helping preschools and family childcare sites assess and share information on how they’re doing. The QCVC looks at facilities, programs, staff qualifications, and child development to come up with a rating number of 1-5 for participating sites.
In addition to providing parents a way to easily assess quality, QCVC helps providers improve their rating by offering resources and training tailored to their needs.
The QCVC program is administered by the Ventura County Office of Education with funding from First 5 California and the California Department of Education.
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