Kit for New Parents: San Diego Welcome Baby Program

The Regional Perinatal System (RPS) has been chosen to distribute the Kit for New Parents in San Diego County. The Kit is a statewide project of First 5 California (the California Children and Families Commission).

Packaged in a compact, colorful box, the Kit contains a wealth of information and resources for new parents, including:

• An educational DVD with parenting advice from child development experts and celebrities on the Early Years, Child Care, Safety, Health and Nutrition, Discipline, and Early Literacy
• Easy-to-read parenting books like “Advice for New Parents” and “What To Do When Your Child Gets Sick.”
• A Parent's Guide to link parents to information and services in their communities through phone numbers and web site addresses
• Baby’s First Book! “Puppy and Friends” is a storybook for parents and children to enjoy together.
• Brochures on topics ranging from oral health to obesity prevention
• Poison control magnet and brochure
• Information on obtaining Healthy Families low-cost medical care
• A developmental growth chart
• A local resource guide
• Magnet with emergency phone numbers
• "First 5" Magnetic Clip

In 2000, the Center for Community Wellness at the University of California at Berkeley conducted a pilot test on the Kit for New Parents in five counties across the state. The purpose of this pilot evaluation was to test: 1) initial use and satisfaction with the Kit among parents; 2) impact of the Kit on their learning and behavior; and 3) the relative effectiveness of distributing the Kit at a prenatal visit, at a delivery hospital or at home following birth.

The pilot distribution was a tremendous success. Parents appreciated, used and made many positive changes because of the Kit. These results strongly suggested that Kits should be distributed to all new parents statewide – especially during the prenatal period – and to parents of young children. Special attention is needed to include fathers and to improve the effectiveness of distributions in hospitals.

The full report of the pilot evaluation can be found on the California Children and Families Commission Website.

To view the evaluation report from San Diego County click on the link below.

San Diego County's Evaluation Report

The Kit will be provided at no charge to all new parents in San Diego County – over 40,000 families per year. It is available in English and Spanish at this time.

A new Kit will be launched this winter, which will include DVDs and a new book entitled "What to do when your Child is sick". Soon, the Kit will also be available in several Asian languages.

The new adapted items are now available with the Kit for New Parents. One of the new items is a local resource guide. Click on the link below to view it.

• A quick guide to local resources - ENGLISH
• A quick guide to local resources - SPANISH

Distribution in San Diego County

RPS Welcome Baby Program will work in partnership with agencies and service providers to distribute the Kits throughout the county, reaching new parents through such venues as:

• Hospitals
• Community clinics
• Physicians' offices
• Home visiting programs
• WIC programs
• Public health and safety programs
• Childbirth education and parenting classes
• Childcare agencies
• Family Resource Centers

In addition, parents can order a Kit directly from the State:

• English: 800-KIDS-025 (800-543-7025)
• Spanish: 800-5-0-NINOS (800-506-4667)
  

The following agencies are distributing Kits to their clients or using the Kits in their work with pregnant families or those with young children. If you are interested in becoming a partner, click on the New Partner Form and submit your information.

First 5 California & First 5 San Diego

First 5 California or The California Children and Families Commission was established by the California Children and Families Act (Proposition 10), passed by voters in November 1998. This statewide ballot initiative increased the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products. The revenue is used to provide health, child development, and parent support programs to promote the well-being of children from the prenatal period to age five.

First 5 San Diego was established to implement Prop. 10 on a local level. The Commission's vision is that all children in San Diego County will enter school ready to reach their greatest potential in school and life.

• First 5 San Diego Website
• First 5 California (The California Children and Families Commission) Website
• First 5 California Kit for New Parents Website

For further information, contact:

Amy Chatten, Program Coordinator
Lizette Lozano , Evaluation Coordinator
Cynthia Martin, Office Manager
Arinda Gonzalez, Community Outreach
Carlette Moore, Community Outreach
Anabel Soto, Trainings Coordinator