Ana Camacho (right) addresses the Gridley Rotary Club with the assistance of Jessica Maldonado on April 17.

 

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – First 5 Butte County Children and Families Commission opened its Gridley center last August at Esperanza House, 630 Washington St. (in the old Gridley Herald building). Representatives Rosaura Reyes, Ana Camacho and Jessica Maldonado addressed the Gridley Rotary Club on April 17 about the opening of the new location.

The “First 5” designation refers to research showing that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years of life. Therefore, a child’s physical, emotional and intellectual environments have a profound impact on brain development during this time.

Services are provided by North Valley Catholic Social Services (NVCSS) covering six counties: Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Trinity, Shasta and Siskiyou.

The mission of the organization is “inspiring hope and transforming lives,” with a vision of “a world where every person thrives with dignity, connection and opportunity.”

Brightly colored rooms for playgroups are located in the First 5’s Center, at its Esperanza House.

Core service categories focus on raising the next generation, mental health and wellness, healthy living, housing, disaster services and advocacy and community empowerment.

The First 5 Center at Esperanza House is part of the Raising the next generation category.

The Gridley Center offers playgroups for babies zero to one years old, and children ages three to five, dual language reading groups, bilingual cultural classes for ages two to four, Little Artist art classes for ages three to five and parenting support for pregnant moms and caregivers. Seniors can attend a sewing and crocheting group.

In addition, diapers, formula and a food pantry are all available at the center.

Catalyst Domestic Violence Services will be joining the Gridley First 5 center soon as a partner according to Camacho.

Reyes indicated that CalFresh visits the center once a month providing nutritional guidance.

Immigration legal service representatives visit the center monthly to assist with work permits, green card and Visa applications or renewals, and naturalizations, Reyes said.

Another resource partner is a culturally based outreach program called “Promotores,” funded by Butte County Behavioral Health. These community-based healthcare workers serve Latino and Hmong families in Chico Gridley and Biggs, helping to bridge the gap between individuals and health care. The aim of the program is to reduce stigma, build trust, and promote wellness among ethnic groups.

First 5’s food pantry at Esperanza House serves all children, their families and caregivers.

Hours for the Gridley First 5 Center/Esperanza House are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Similar programs are offered at First 5 Family Center Foundations in Oroville, at 2185 Baldwin Ave. For more information, call 530-230-3996.

Broader programs for housing, counseling, healthy living, Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting (TAPP) for parents under age 21, advocacy, disaster assistance including a mobile food bank, are all available through the North Valley Catholic Social Services office at 10 Independence Circle in Chico. To learn more, call 530-345-1600.

Mental health and employment services are offered at the Iversen Wellness and Recovery Center in Chico, at 492 Rio Lindo Ave. Some individuals who have gone through the program are now working as counselors helping others in the program, Camacho said. Mental health counselling is available for children aged 13 and younger, with no fees as long as they have Medi-Cal coverage. Get more information by calling at 530-879-3311.

All services are free to anyone involved in raising children. More information available online at nvcss.org.