CURRENT GRANTS
In addition to the below grants, FIRST 5 Mendocino also funds additional initiatives like Healthy Kids Mendocino, Raise & Shine, Pediatric Dental Initiative and more.
Family Resource Centers
Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency
$175,000 ($20,000 for each FRC except Arbor on Main which receives $15,000)
Mendocino County has ten Family Resource Centers. They’re friendly places where families go for help with everything from getting health insurance and food stamps for their family to parenting classes and finding emergency housing and transportation.
This grant helps each Family Resource Center offer research-based services that are proven to make a difference for families. The grant will also help the Centers save money by working together. When it comes to functions such as fundraising, and staff training, there is indeed strength in numbers.
Local Family Resource Centers:
Click here to find a Family Resource Center near you.
Breastfeeding Awareness and Support
Countywide
$100,000 over 3 years
Breast is best! According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding helps prevent infectious diseases in infants such as ear infections, diarrhea, urinary tract problems and even asthma. Unfortunately, some moms lack the confidence and support needed to breastfeed their baby.
With this grant more resources will be available to mothers through home visits and peer support. By working with doctors to increase referrals, more moms will be aware of available services. To meet the demands of increasing support, additional health care providers are now certified through the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants.
For more information about Breast Start call the free hotline at 1-855-855-MILK (6455) or check out www.breaststart.org
2-1-1
Countywide
$15,000 annually
Do you need help? Don’t know where to turn? 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember phone number that connects people in need with important community services. This free, confidential, 24-hour multilingual service also serves as a vital link for individuals seeking to volunteer, provide resources and assist during times of crisis.
2-1-1 will also help alleviate costly nonemergency mistake calls to 9-1-1. Never again waste time trying to find resources, simply dial 2-1-1 or go online.
To access 2-1-1 services via online go to www.211mendocino.org.
Imagination Library and School Readiness
Countywide
$300,000
Thanks to this program more children will have enough books at home with no cost to their families. FIRST 5 Mendocino is pleased to sponsor the program in partnership with the Community Foundation of Mendocino County.
Children who sign up will receive a free hardcover book in the mail every month until they turn 5. The first book is “The Little Engine That Could” (Dolly Parton’s favorite) and the rest are tailored to the child’s age. For the story about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program click here.
Smaller Grants
Laytonville Healthy Start for the New Springs Preschool in Laytonville, CA
$1,500
To provide a hot lunch program to their growing classroom. The money will be used to relive some of the financial stress on the families who participate in the parent cooperative program that provides schooling for children 2-5 year olds in Laytonville.
For more information call Laytonville Healthy Start at (707) 984-8089
Leggett Valley Unified School District, Leggett, CA
$2,500
To replace a playground structure at the Leggett Valley School and Leggett Valley State Preschool that must be removed and replaced because of wood rot. This is the only play area in the Leggett Valley and the primary play piece for the 0-5 age group.
For more information visit www.leggett.k12.ca.us or call (707) 925-6230
North Coast Opportunities (NCO) Head Start Child Development Program, Countywide
$5,000
To create a Positive Behavior Support program that will be implemented in Head Starts and Early Head Starts. This will bring new behavior support training to all Head Start and Early Head Start staff around our county.
For more information about NCO Head Start visit www.ncoinc.org/programs/hscdp/index2.html or call
(707) 462-3403
North Coast Opportunities (NCO) Rural Communities Child Care, Countywide
$5,000
To implement Food for Thought workshops, Rethink Your Drink and SPARK curriculum throughout the county and train 50 child care providers in nutritional knowledge and increase their access to healthy foods.
For more information about NCO Rural Communities Child Care visit www.ncoinc.org/programs/rccc/index.htm or call (707) 462-1954
Round Valley Indian Health Center, Inc., Covelo, CA
$3,075
To facilitate a local Child Passenger Safety Certification Program that will certify 10 people to administer the car seat program in Round Valley, which is a community that currently has no certified individuals to train, inspect or distribute child passenger car seats.
For more information about car seat services in Covelo, CA visit www.rvindianhealth.com or call (707) 983-6181
Willits Community Services, Inc. for the, Round Valley Food Pantry in Covelo, CA
$750
To help bring food resources to community members of Round Valley who need emergency help. The food pantry began serving the community in January 2011 and serves Covelo once a month on the 2nd Thursday of each month from the Round Valley Community Room.
For more information call Food For All at 707-472-2753
Action Network, Gualala, CA
$6,000
To provide a licensed midwife to the South Coast of Mendocino County to provide breastfeeding support locally for the first six months of life.
For more information about Action Network call (707) 884-5413
Willits Daily Bread, Willits, CA
$4,000
To help provide the evening meal program at the Willits Daily Bread.
For more information about Willits Daily Bread call (707) 459-4710
Round Valley Library, Covelo, CA
$3,000
To enter library books into the County computer system, Horizon, so that more books than ever are available in Round Valley.
For more information about Round Valley Library call (707) 983-6736
Potter Valley Family Resource Center, Potter Valley, CA
$8,000
To help provide their summer Child Care Enrichment program that serves 40 plus children from Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with high quality child care.
For more information on the Potter Valley FRC call (707) 743-1789
Willits Community Services & Food Bank, Willits, CA
$4,500
To help pay for their food expenses which serves families and children of Willits on a regular basis.
For more information on the Willits Food Bank call (707) 459-3333
