KidsFirst is dedicated to helping parents with difficult life circumstances before problems become overwhelming and a child is hurt.
- Coaches parents experiencing parenting or family challenges
- Enrolls children in low/no-cost health insurance
- Treats children who are victims of abuse or trauma
- Educates the community about how to keep children safe
- Provides information about the services available when difficulties arise
“Children thrive when their parents do well. Parents do best when they have the resources they need to be successful,” notes DeAnne Thornton, KidsFirst’s Executive Director. “Our goal is to help parents cope and resolve stressful situations that can lead to harming a child."
We invest in programs with proven results:
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Coaching parents & children. Our Family Resource Centers are a neighborhood "hubs" offering a wide range of information, education and services for children, parents, caregivers, including relative (kin) caregivers. Our services include counseling, parent training and support, health insurance enrollment assistance, and referrals to community resources. The Centers’ served over 5,500 citizens last year.
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Educating the community. We reach out across Sierra-Sacramento region to inform parents, caregivers and community members about the factors that protect children, services available and inviting their participation.
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Building partnerships. Resources are best used when our work is coordinated to ensure effective, efficient services. But we don't stop there; we invest in our partners by providing them with training, technical and financial assistance to ensure the availability of services across the Region. By working together, we reduce duplication and increase our impact.
