AVSRC School Readiness Program
The purpose of this grant is to promote the idea of school readiness by creating centers and programs that offer an array of services, including early care and education, health and social services, parenting education and support. The Antelope Valley encompasses 2,232 square miles of largely rural desert area, with few resources available to families with children in 0-5 age range. There is no medical facility for low income families, transportation is very limited, the high school drop out rate is the highest in LA County, while the teen pregnancy rate is the second highest. The Antelope Valley also has the second highest rate of child abuse in the state. The target communities are characterized by large growing Hispanic population; over 66% of children in the Antelope Valley live in poverty. This program is located in SPA 1. The major program activities include: two community-based Family Resource Centers (FRCs) that will operate two days per week offering three-hour morning or afternoon sessions providing early education activities in licensed childcare centers, parent-child enrichment activities and school readiness workshops, all enrolled children will receive screening and ongoing developmental assessment and will be referred and linked to early intervention programs and families will also receive home-based services that may include case management service to address health and social service needs, home-based and transportation service will be provided as appropriate to the needs of the child and the child's family, and School Transition services will be offered for families, teachers and childcare providers.
