Excitement for collaboration was in the air at the first Family Support Initiative (FSI) providers networking meeting held on April 22 at First 5 San Bernardino’s office. Participants in a new, three-year $12 million funding opportunity met to share best practices to create partnership building. The purpose of this funding, awarded last year, is to strengthen the family support network so there is efficient access and navigation of services for families which ultimately will improve outcomes for young children.
Topics covered included organization news, announcements, branding guidelines, policy and programmatic updates and Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) management discussion. Further, providers shared insights, success stories and challenges they face in working with families in their communities.
Attendee Liz Lara, Family Services program specialist with Chino Valley Unified School District’s TYKES Program, noted the FSI Collaborative meeting was a great opportunity to connect with like-minded First 5 San Bernardino partners serving our county. “It’s always beneficial to be able to check in to share strategies and/or struggles,” Lara said. “Being able to network and learn about upcoming events, resources and opportunities only strengthens our collaborative efforts in serving families with young children.”
The meeting also included a presentation by Josh Roche, F5SB statistical analyst, who presented data and trends impacting family support services. Future meetings will include topics such a resource mapping and identifying gaps in services.
“The FSI networking meeting showcased the incredible strength found in unity through First 5 San Bernardino’s shared vision,” explained Ronnie Robbinson, staff analysts II. “By aligning efforts, sharing resources and learning from one another’s experiences, providers are able to amplify their impact and create a more connected, responsive support system for families across San Bernardino County.”