First 5 Humboldt has awarded a total of $147,000 in grants to help support 19 free Playgroups for families with young children throughout Humboldt County. These Playgroup grants will support weekly community gatherings for families in both our smallest communities like Casterlin, Shelter Cove, Petrolia, and Orleans, as well as our larger cities of Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna, and McKinleyville. The new grant awards will start in July and continue for a year. The current Playgroup Schedule and contact information can be found at: http://first5humboldt.org/for-families/playgroups/.
Playgroups help parents make friends and build community, help young children socialize with each other, and provide safe, fun environments for families to learn about and support their children’s development and get access and referrals to other important services. Playgroup leaders help create a welcoming friendly space for families, with songs, stories, and snacks in an age-appropriate environment.
First 5 Humboldt has helped support Playgroups throughout Humboldt County for over 20 years as an important prevention and early intervention measure to help children and families. We surveyed almost two hundred Playgroup parents last fall and every one of them said they would recommend Playgroup to their friends and family. Playgroups promote protective factors, relational health, resilience, and family strengthening principles, (Center for the Study of Social Policy, 2016), which are demonstrated to reduce child abuse and neglect and to support healthy family functioning, child development, and readiness for school.
First 5 Humboldt is extremely grateful to our many partners who will be hosting Playgroups and the Humboldt County families that bring Playgroups to life.