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It’s All About The Kids! |
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494 Pacific Avenue Crescent City, CA 95531 Phone: 707-464-5500 Fax: 707-464-5510
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Be sure to take a look at our calendar of programs and activities. Updated Monthly |
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About Us |
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Commissioner Gary Blatnick |
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Often it is said to do what you love and make a career of it. Fortunately, I have followed this advice and been given tremendous opportunities to be of service to children and families in our community. Central to my efforts as a clinician and administrator is the goal of families and community providing for the healthy social, emotional, and physical development of their children. All children, especially those living in families experiencing adverse challenges deserve an enriched, predictable, and stimulating environment build upon a foundation of safety and security.
As the County Health and Social Services Director and a First 5 Commissioner, I experience the rewards of focusing activities on the early childhood years. We work to improve the human condition by creating effective and accessible child and family services so every child can reach their full potential. Family resource centers and other neighborhood based activites help children and their families experience what it means to be part of a caring community.
Seeing a child smile as they are held by a loving adult is my ultimate reward.
Gary Blatnick Commission Chair, First 5 Del Norte Director/Public Guardian, Del Norte County Health and Social Services
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Commission Vice-Chair David Finigan |
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Once in a great while, an opportunity comes along in the form of a job whose duties and responsibilities include dreaming and visioning. So it is with First 5.
I am currently filling the position on the Commission designated for a member of the Board of Supervisors; but it goes deeper than that. When the Children and Families Commission was born, I was fortunate to be the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and recommended my own appointment to the Commission. I am in my fourth term as a County Supervisor, and serve on, chair/or co-chair various committees (state, local, and regional) that range from transportation to economic development and from health to natural resources. None of these are more important than the work we do at First 5 Del Norte.
As a parent with 5 children, the youngest now 9; and four grandchildren, with the youngest now 10 months; I am acutely aware of the needs and demands of our children and their relationship and demands of our community. For years I participated as a coach in Little League and youth soccer leagues, realizing that the obligation of coaching was really more of an opportunity to be a positive impact on a child.
I am also a businessman. And as such, I want results that can be a measure of our success. The opportunity First 5 presents us with...to function differently than government as usual, to base our decisions on measurable outcomes, to be able to go way upstream to change a culture of negativity and/or ignorance, and create a community that considers its children as its most valued resource...that is what makes me passionate. As the mural on the wall depicts, if we continue to wait to rescue the children from the pool at the bottom of the waterfall, we as lifesavers will tire and also drown. Rather, we must put our efforts toward educating the parents and children as to the consequences the swift river brings once we enter it. I can find nothing more meaningful than to work towards ensuring that our children are safe, healthy and ready to learn.
It’s not about us…”It’s all about the kids!”
David Finigan Commissioner, First 5 Del Norte Del Norte County Supervisor, District 5
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More Commission & Staff Bios to Come!!! |
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Commissioner Jan Moorehouse |
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Jan Moorehouse has been a California educator since 1979. She began her career as a middle school math and reading teacher, then served as a high school English teacher for seven years. After a brief time as a middle school principal, she served as an assistant high school principal for three years. In 1990 she began working for the Riverside County Office of education facilitating region-wide restructuring efforts. She also took the lead in introducing the state’s high school reform initiative throughout Riverside, San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono Counties, with the focus on providing support for young people from low income and minority communities.
Wanting more hands on experience in schools, in 1996 she accepted the role of principal of a large, suburban Southern California high school, remaining in that role until she and her husband moved to Crescent City following a life-long dream to live on the North Coast. From 2001 to 2005, she served as principal of Del Norte County High School. In June of 2005, she was appointed by the Del Norte County Board of Education to the role of Superintendent of Del Norte County Unified School District and Del Norte County Superintendent of Schools. She appreciates the opportunity to work with First 5 Del Norte, believing that school success starts for children at birth.
Jan Moorehouse Commissioner, First 5 Del Norte Superintendent, Del Norte County Unified School District
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Moved from the east coast with family to live in Del Norte County in 1967. Graduated from DNHS in 1974. Went to CSU, Chico, worked in a variety of employment positions, married and raised a family, then returned to Humboldt State University to finish BA degree in Sociology, with Masters' work completed in Sociology, and a teaching credential in Multiple Subjects. Worked in the prevention field for Del Norte County Drug and Alcohol Services for nine years. Currently working for Del Norte County Unified School District as a teacher in alternative education programs. |
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Commissioner Alicia McKellar |
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Picture Coming Soon!! |
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Hi, I'm Sarah. I am married and blessed with four beautiful children. I have worked with families and children for the last 10 years through various programs at the Del Norte Child Care Council and now with First 5 School Readiness. I am thrilled to get to know your family and I look forward to seeing you at our School Readiness programs and special events! Namaste! |
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School Readiness Advocate Sarah Noll |
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Patricia L. Vernelson Executive Director FIRST 5 Del Norte
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Patti Vernelson was hired as the founding Director of First 5 Del Norte in May of 2000. Patti is responsible for developing the Commission’s Strategic Plan, carrying out its mission/vision, managing its grants program and overseeing the day-to-day operations of First 5 Del Norte.
On behalf of the Commission, Patti oversaw the purchase of the old Pacific Market and was involved in its transformation into the new Family Resource Center in Crescent City. A “dream come true”, the FRC is now operated by an independent nonprofit, houses multiple community organizations, and welcomes over 2,000 guests each month!
Patti manages the First 5 Service Corps VISTA program and also supervises the Commission’s School Readiness Program, which includes operation of the popular Wonder Bus, a mobile early literacy program.
Patti loves her work with First 5 and is grateful for the chance to work with so many wonderful people, staff, and community partners who care passionately about making Del Norte a stronger, safer, more loving community for its young children. |
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In 1960, I moved with my family from Mexico City to Smith River. I attended school in Del Norte County and eventually became a mid-wife in town before moving to work for the H St. Clinic in 1990. We started work there with only one provider and me, though the project has blossomed into the Del Norte Community Health Clinic and now employs over 20 providers.
First 5 Del Norte is another project in which I take great pride. I have served as a commissioner for over 5 years and have twice served as Commission Chair. First 5’s work is important because children are important, especially as they grow and develop in the early years of life. Beyond that, First 5 also serves to act as a catalyst to create a stronger community in Del Norte County. I hope to see family resource center type establishments in every populated area of our county so all families can have access to the programs and resources First 5 offers. |
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Commissioner Hilda Yepes-Contreras |
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Commission Chair Tom Crowell |
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I am originally from Central California and began my work in law enforcement as a police officer in Tulare County, a position I held for 6 years. I then came to Del Norte County and for the past 12 years have been working in Probation. I’ve worked with child and family teams as a Wraparound Coordinator, spent 3 years managing Juvenile Hall and am now Chief of Probation for our county. I currently live with my wife and son who attends Del Norte High School and am close to my own parents who live in the area. I’ve been a First 5 Del Norte Commissioner for 2 years and am now Vice Chair. My experience in law enforcement has allowed me to see what happens to children who don’t get the support and encouragement necessary to achieve a healthy life. It is imperative that we begin early, during the first five years of life, in our efforts to provide positive environments, examples and support for families to ensure children get the best start possible. The foundation created during these formative years gives children a stable base upon which to stand and greatly decreases the likelihood that they will come into negative contact with the law. We must break the cycle of poor support early on in children’s lives because it leads, more often than not, to difficulty later in life. I am excited to see First 5 Del Norte champion programs like Baby College, young parent education, pre-kindergarten readiness and to continue to expand access to valuable resources to our families with young children. |
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Commissioner Warren Rehwaldt M.D. |
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Picture & Bio Coming Soon! |