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First 5 Kern Commissioners Lucinda Wasson (Chair) and Susan Lerude, Executive Director Roland Maier and Communications and Media Specialist Christine Lollar represented First 5 Kern and families in Kern County at the Capitol, May 2, 2018. The entourage met with elected officials: Assemblymembers Salas and Fong and Congressman Vidak; and support staff for

Elected Officials and First 5 Kern

California News

The 2018 California Children’s Report Card indicates:

  • There are enough licensed child care spaces for only 25% of children
  • 40% of all 3-and 4-year-olds attend preschool
  • Low-income children have a higher rate, over 55%, of chronic absence from school
  • More than 400,000 infants are born preterm, making them susceptible to health/learning difficulties
  • Due to poor access to healthcare, more kids end up in the ER for chronic health conditions
  • Mental illness is the number one reason kids are hospitalized
  • Only 50% of children receive recommended annual dental visits
  • Only 2% of schools have school-based health centers
  • More than 20% of kids are food insecure
  • More than one in 100 children are confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect