To submit comments, or to suggest items for this newsletter or First5LA.org, contact Katie Kurutz, public affairs officer, at kkurutz@first5la.org or (213) 482-5902.
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Click events below to view full listings.
What's in Your Baby's Bottle?
August 19, 2009
starting at 10am
La Feria Deja Huella... Edúcate
August 22, 2009
from 12:00pm - 5:00pm
The Getty's Garden Concerts for Kids: Trout Fishing in America
August 22-23, 2009
from 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Baby Cues: Helping Parents Raise Calmer and Healthier Infants
September 11, 2009
from 9:00am - 4:00pm
The Getty Center's Family Festival
September 12, 2009
from 10:00am - 6:00pm
Infant Mental Health Through the Lens of Speech and Language Therapy
September 25, 2009
from 8:30am - 4:30pm
Call for Papers to Present at the 6th Annual California Conference on Children and Traumatic Grief
September 28, 2009
Trauma, Resiliency and Recovery in Infancy and Early Childhood
October 1, 2009
from 8:00am - 4:30pm
Wendy Greuel's 6th Annual Child Health and Safety Fair
October 3, 2009
from 10:00am - 2:00pm
CAYEC: Training the Early Childhood Trainer Conference
October 9-10, 2009
all day
Valley Trauma Center Annual Children's Safety Fair
October 10, 2009
from 11:00am - 2:00pm
Developing Self-Care Skills in Toddlers & Pre-School Aged Children with Special Needs
October 10, 2009
from 9:00am - 12:00pm
Universal Preschool Conference and Education Expo
October 16 - 17, 2009
from 8:00am - 1:00pm
Learn to Play: Supporting Sensory & Emotional Development in Toddlers with Autism
October 23, 2009
from 8:30am - 3:30pm
Pediatric Feeding: Foundation for Effective Evaluation & Intervention
November 13-14, 2009
from 8:00am - 4:00pm
Hacia Una Vida Digna y Sana: Promotora and Community Health Worker Conference
December 4-5, 2009
all day
Tuning into Music: For the Child With Special Needs
February 6, 2009
from 9:00am - 12:00pm
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A New Direction: First 5 LA's Strategic Plan
First 5 LA's Board of Commissioners has adopted a new strategic plan that will guide its investments through 2015. Learn more about our "place-based" approach. More »
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First 5 LA Fiscal Year 2009-2015 Strategic Plan: Frequently Asked Questions
As First 5 LA implements a new strategic plan, we have available a Frequently Asked Questions sheet for those interested in what to anticipate. More »
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Now Accepting Applications
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First 5 LA's Social Enterprise Academy
Does your organization want
to create an earned income strategy? First 5 LA is now accepting applications
for our Social Enterprise Academy. Applications are due August
24, so click here to find out how to apply. More »
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Current Legislation on Home Visitation Programs
Home visitation, a strategy for engaging families with young children, is receiving significant attention from legislators. Learn more about how First 5 LA is implementing this strategy. More »
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Thousands Seek Medical Care in Inglewood
As debates rage about healthcare with town hall meetings exposing mass fear about possible reform, a recent event in Los Angeles starkly illustrated the failure of our current healthcare system. Last week several thousand Angelinos flocked to a former sports arena in Inglewood seeking free medical care offered by volunteer physicians, dentists and other medical practitioners. An incredible offering was hosted by the volunteer organization Remote Area Medical Foundation (RAM), and First 5 LA helped promote the event, knowing that quality health care is at a premium in this state when it comes to the uninsured.
The massive turnout demonstrates the numbers of uninsured people in L.A. County who have immediate and unmet healthcare needs, and the lengths people will go to receive care. Some camped out almost a day in advance to be first in line to be seen by a doctor. RAM typically offers care only in remote areas that lack any kind of medical infrastructure, but Los Angeles is the first urban area where they have provided this service. So far, it has been the largest event of its kind in the country.
The RAM event, held Aug. 11 through Aug. 18, offered vision, dental and medical care to anyone regardless of income level or status. According to the New York Times, in just one day 1,448 services were offered to over 600 patients, including 95 tooth extractions, 470 fillings, 140 pairs of eyeglasses, 96 Pap smears and 93 tuberculosis tests. It is estimated that thousands more will have been served by the time the week-long mobile clinic ends.
I urge our readers to heed the symbolic message in RAM's visit to urban Los Angeles County. A largely silent but desperate faction of our community needs help. And as additional cuts come down from Sacramento, this faction will may grow and begin to include more and more children. It is abominable to have thousands of ailing adults line up for hours to receive medical treatment, and would be unconscionable for children. Act on your knowledge and get involved in local debates that seek solutions to the healthcare crisis.
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