First 5 Ventura County (F5VC) is pleased to announce its new strategic partnership with Interface Children & Family Services, to provide essential programs and services for Ventura County’s nearly 60,000 children prenatal – 5 and their families. Families seeking resources and more information may visit www.first5ventura.org
“Since our inception nearly 20 years ago, First 5 Ventura County Neighborhoods for Learning (NfLs) have been a cornerstone in the community, providing early childhood education, health and family support services.” said First 5 Ventura County Executive Director Petra Puls. “We are excited to partner with Interface Children & Family Services to ensure that families have the support they need to give their young children prenatal to age 5 a strong foundation for success in school and life.”
Interface Children & Family Services was selected through a comprehensive review process to implement F5VC’s redesigned place-based Neighborhood for Learning (NfL) initiative. The expanded partnership with Interface Children & Family Services allows F5VC to continue making a positive impact on the lives of Ventura County children and families through valuable programs, resources and community partnerships that support early childhood development.
Interface will be responsible for providing Parent and Child Together Classes and Family Support Services such as case management and Triple P Parent Education, throughout Ventura County. Interface plans to partner with the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) to address the needs of Mixtec families and New Dawn for the Triple P Positive Parenting Program. “We’re delighted to have First 5 Ventura’s confidence to implement the redesigned place-based NfL model. We’re looking forward to the partnership – we share an intense passion for improving futures for young families and their little ones. We are honored to partner with NfL’s, to learn from their trusted and successful histories in their local communities, and to do our part to bring everyone together for the critical work of strengthening young children and families,” said Interface Executive Director Erik Sternad.
First 5’s primary revenue source is from California’s Proposition 10 tobacco tax, which is distributed to county First 5 Commissions to fund early childhood programs. In light of revenues continuing to decrease annually with Californians smoking less, the F5VC Commission has carefully contemplated how to best utilize its limited funds. The redesigned Neighborhoods for Learning initiative gives F5VC the ability to implement a cost-efficient model that meets the needs of the local community and relies on sustainable investments and innovative partnerships. “We recognize that we must work differently moving forward to achieve maximum impact with limited dollars,” said Puls.
