First 5 San Diego Programs

Healthcare Access Initiative (HCA)

The Healthcare Access Initiative enrolls eligible children ages 0 through 5 and pregnant women in health insurance programs – Healthy Families, Medi-Cal and AIM – and assists families in maintaining their insurance and appropriately utilizing medical care. The focus is on serving the challenging and hard to reach population – the 8.7% of eligible children who remain uninsured.

Numbers Served: 13,366 families with young children were assisted with enrollment; 7,836 children were enrolled in insurance; 3,352 pregnant women were enrolled in insurance.

Outcomes: Compared to their counterparts, children served through this HCA are: more likely to have a medical home (99.2%)*, have doctor visits (94.6%)*, visit the dentist (32.8%) AND are less likely to use emergency rooms (7.0%)
Expenditure Amount: $3,040,340

*Percentages taken from matched 6-12 month follow-up data.  Data from matched 12-18 month follow-up also exists but is not presented in this passage.

Healthy Development Services (HDS)

Healthy Development Services is a countywide comprehensive program whose primary goal is the early identification and treatment of health and developmental delays that can negatively affect a child’s ability to learn. HDS is a region-based network of providers focusing on: newborns medical home visits for all first time parents; ongoing home visits for at-risk families with newborns focusing on nutrition, breast feeding, bonding and attachment, maternal depression and parenting practices; screening children for speech and language, hearing, vision, developmental and behavioral issues: providing connection of children with mild to moderate delays to services so they enter school ready to succeed; and education and support to families with children who have delays or special needs.

Numbers Served: In fiscal year 07-08, over one in seven children ages 0 through 5, and their families, in San Diego County were served across the network. In fiscal year 07-08, HDS provided: 13,442 newborn medical home visits, 8,087 at-risk home visits, 16,032 developmental screening, 8,926 speech and language screenings, 8,705 hearing screenings, 8,697 vision screenings, 2,860 behavioral screenings, 3,188 parent support sessions and 25,439 screenings for pregnant women addressing tobacco use and exposure.

Outcomes: The HDS network is designed so families can navigate the system and connect to needed services. Of children screened 64.2% of those children identified as needing an assessment received one; 73.4% if those identified as needing treatment, received it. Over 1 in 7children ages 0 to 5 years in San Diego County were served through HDS services (an increase of 4,000 children from previous fiscal year).  These children are now receiving help early, before they enter school with significant delays that impact learning.
Annual Expenditure Amount: $11,331,241

Oral Health (OHI)

The Oral Health Initiative addresses a widespread, yet traditionally under funded public health need. OHI funds oral health services and education within a network of 15 community clinics and four other programs including: San Diego County Office of Education, SMILES program, Rady Children’s Hospital/ Anderson Dental Center, Share the Care/ Health and Human Services Agency and technical advisors. This comprehensive, countywide program includes screenings and examinations, fluoride sealant and varnishes, routine treatment and high level care (root canals, etc.) for young children and screening, exams and routine treatment for pregnant women.

Numbers Served: 13,092 children and 1,935 pregnant women received screenings; 11,525 children and 1,808 pregnant women received exams; 8,987children and 2,665 pregnant women received care coordination.

Outcomes: Of the children examined, 27.3% had obvious decay and 2.9% had urgent dentals needs. Of the pregnant women examined, 35.2% had obvius decay and 6.7% had urgent dental needs. 576 children received treatment at Rady Children’s Hospital for major dental services, generally requiring anesthesia. Care coordination increased substantially, so that children with high needs received seamless care as they moved through the system.

Expenditure Amount: $1,539,767

Early Learning

School Readiness

The School Readiness programs – located in school districts in Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido , National City, Oceanside, San Diego, San Ysidro and Vista – are quality programs that take a whole child approach to early learning, fostering children’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.

Numbers Served: 5,052 children (including 663 children with disabilities or other special needs) and their parents participated in early childcare and education activities.  6,642 parents and caregivers participated in parenting and family support services.

Outcomes: Children in the SR program improved in each of five developmental areas: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving and social-emotional. Parents participating in parenting classes demonstrated increases in knowledge, confidence, parenting ability and connection with their children.
Expenditure Amount: $5,932,192

Preschool for All Demonstration Project (PFA)

Preschool for All is a five year project that provides free preschool to 4-year olds in designated low API areas – Escondido, Lemon Grove, National City, San Ysidro, South Bay and Valley Center. PFA is designed to examine the efficacy of Master Plan to increase access to high-quality preschool in San Diego County so that children can acquire the skills they need to be successful when they enter kindergarten.

Numbers Served: 2,113 children received preschool services (516 fully funded slots and 1,404 existing preschool slots for quality enhancement)

Outcomes: Children improved in each of four developmental areas – personal & social competence, effective learning, motor skills, and safety and health. 142 quality preschool sessions were held in a variety of settings: faith based, state preschool, family care and private preschools.
Expenditure Amount: $4,991,454

Comprehensive Approaches to Raising Educational Standards (CARES)

The CARES program provided education stipends to 534 early care and education professionals who completed college classes, to help improve the quality of local early care.
Expenditure Amount: $1,929,113

Supporting Families

First 5 for Parents

The First 5 for Parents program seeks to strengthen parents’ knowledge and encourage behavioral change. The program focuses on developing more effective parenting skills, promoting children’s early learning and early literacy development and fostering healthier behaviors with proper nutrition and exercise.

Numbers Served: 17,234 children and 4,662 parent and caregivers.

Outcomes: First 5 for Parents, launched in March of 2006, reached full stride in FY 07-08.  5,332 parenting classes were held that utilize evidence based or proven curricula, a sharp increase in comparison to the 2,055 classes held in the previous year.  6,038 home visits occurred (vs. 2,367 in FY 06-07) and 1,122 workshops were conducted (vs. 638 in FY 06-07).
Expenditure Amount: $3,089,577

The Kit for New Parents

Babies don’t come with instruction manuals; however the 65,207 Kits for New Parents that were distributed in FY 07-08, gave parents DVD’s, books and other resources with information and tips on parenting and children’s development.
Expenditure Amount: $585,903

Supporting Community

211 San Diego

First 5 San Diego has been the primary financial support for 211 San Diego since 2003. 211 performed vital services during the 2007 wildfires, answering 120,000 urgent calls from the public and keeping emergency lines from being overloaded. On a daily basis, 211 provides families with information on human and health services – answering over 162,857 calls to families with young children in FY 07-08.
Expenditure Amount: $902,999