Did you know:
- By age five a child’s brain is 90% fully developed. According to the Common Wealth Fund developmental delays and conditions are common in early childhood, affecting at least 10 percent of children. Early treatment of delays and sensory difficulties (i.e. vision and hearing problems) is critical. In 2008, SBCS completed 2,731 developmental screenings for children zero to five in South San Diego County.
Child Well Being
Childhood is the foundation upon which life is built. We believe, the healthier that foundation, the greater the possibility of success and happiness in adulthood. South Bay Community Services' Child Well Being Department is dedicated to ensuring that our community's children are provided the services they need to give them the best chance at leading a healthy and happy life.
Among the services and programs provided are:
Mi Escuelita Therapeutic Preschool
Mi Escuelita Therapeutic Preschool, a preschool for children affected by family violence, is a program of South Bay Community Services (SBCS) and the only school of its kind in Southern California. The school provides specialized services for three to five-year-olds and their families, including developmental screenings, parenting classes and unique curriculums designed to support the specialized needs of the students.
The preschool is free and bilingual and provides counseling, parenting support, and teacher/caregiver training. With a teacher to student ratio of 1 to 9, the Mi Escuelita staff is specially trained and is able to provide specialized care with a range of age-appropriate therapeutic, developmental, and educational activities in a safe, healthy environment.
Children are referred to Mi Escuelita, a free all day preschool, by various agencies such as local law enforcement, Child Welfare Services and SBCS emergency shelters and transitional housing programs. Mi Escuelita is funded in part by First 5 San Diego, local housing developers Jim and Nancy Baldwin of Otay Ranch Company, private donations from community members and funds raised through SBCS Annual Change Their Lives.
Mi Escuelita has capacity for 90 children. Current funding allows for 45 children. More info
"Baby First" - At-Home Nurse Visit for All New Parents
Funded by First 5 San Diego, Baby First is a free, personalized and private consultation available to all new parents and newborns in preparation for their new life together. While a first doctor visit can be only a few minutes, our nurses from Rady Children's Hospital spend the time new families need to answer questions, provide support and connect them with further free resources when needed. Our nurses visit new parents in the comfort of their own home - free of charge - whether or not families have insurance or a pediatrician.
Our Baby First registered nurse will:
- Administer newborn baby check up
- Answer new parent questions regarding infant care and parenting
- Assist with breastfeeding concerns
- Assess a mother's physical health
- Screen for post partum depression
- Offer additional free services for further assistance
- Provide a First 5 of California Kit for new parents
Schedule a FREE Baby First Appointment Today: 1-888-6-BABY STEPS or download an informational PDF.
Child Ready. School Ready.
Funded by First 5 San Diego and Free for ALL children - Child Ready. School Ready. is designed to help families confirm important milestones and ensure their little one is growing, developing and on the right path for school.
The screening checks:
- Fine Motor Skills - managing small objects, cutting, coloring and writing
- Gross Motor Skills - balance, walking, and jumping
- Vision and Hearing
- Communication and Speech
- Behavior
If developmental delays are identified, children can be directed to other free services to assist in areas of concern. Parent support and coaching are also available. Child Ready. School Ready. offers just one more way to set children in the right path for school success.
To schedule a FREE Child Ready. School Ready. appointment call 1-888-6-BABY STEPS or check our calendar of events for a screening event in your neighborhood. Download an informational PDF.
Kinship Care Resources
Kinship caregivers are people who have taken on the responsibility of caring for their relative's children when the biological parents are unable to do so. While many caregivers are grandparents, they may also include: siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and other extended family members. These relatives play an essential role in helping to meet the needs of children who are unable to live with their parents.
Together with the South Bay Kinship Collaborative - a group made up of South Bay Community Services, Casey Family Programs, San Diego County Health and Human Services, YMCA and Focus on Kinship - SBCS provides services and assistance to kinship caregivers to help them achieve stability and a permanent family connection for the children in their care.
Kinship is funded through the County of San Diego through the Community Services for Families program. Download an informational PDF.
SafeCare
SafeCare is an in-home visitation program that focuses on families who have children from birth to 12 years old who are at-risk or have been reported for child maltreatment. Trained staff work with the families in their home environment by providing four to six months of intensive parenting training focusing on parent child interaction, improving their home safety and child health issues. SafeCare is funded by United Way. In partnership with San Diego County Child Welfare Services and subcontractor agency Social Advocates for Youth San Diego, SafeCare is provided throughout the south and central regions of San Diego County. More info is available at LiveUnited.org.
Community Services for Families (CSF)
supports at-risk families and offers home visits, parenting classes, counseling and assistance.