OROVILLE – There were many smiling parents and laughing children at the grand opening of the First 5 Family Resource Center in Lakeside Friday morning.
The center, which has been “softly open” since March, offers support to families who are expecting a child or already have children ages five or younger, said Jaymee Sifers, site manager.
Funded by the First 5 Butte County Children and Families Commission with Proposition 10 tobacco tax money and operated by Northern Valley Catholic Social Services, the center in Oroville provides families with educational opportunities, social activities and access to additional resources.
“We offer families a wide variety of activities and classes, including playgroups, preschool storytimes, craft activities and kindergarten preparation, positive discipline and healthy relationship classes, and support groups,” Sifers said. “All programs and services are free to all interested families, caregivers, and friends who play a role in a child’s life.”
Located in the Lakeside Market shopping center on Olive Highway, the center is a multi-room suite that formerly housed the NVCSS Wildfire Resource Center. With an established location familiar to many families in East Oroville and the surrounding mountain communities, including Berry Creek and Feather Falls, it was the “natural place” to open the family center.
“We’ve been here a few times since it opened,” said Lilly Collins, who was there with her nine-month-old son. “It’s a great place to take Owen to play and be with other kids. It’s right down the street from my house, so it’s super easy.”
The centre has a neatly decorated and comfortably furnished reception room where parents and carers can chat, have a cup of coffee and use a computer and printer. The reception room is flanked by two other rooms including a large playroom and a spacious pantry with adjoining toilet.
The large playroom is filled with child-sized furniture, toys and books and was busy during Friday’s event as little ones explored the area, played with toys and stuffed animals and looked at books.
Mailia Chronister heard about the opening on Facebook and decided to check it out. She brought her 15-month-old daughter Lilian Cook and her neighbor Melissa Graves.
“I wanted to see what it was like,” Chronister said. “I’m a young mother and I’m looking for ways to socialize with my daughter and me.”
Ashley Chirita, mother of two girls, Nicoleta (2) and Persidia (10 months), said she has visited the center a few times a week since it opened.
“It’s always very clean, which is great,” Chirita said. “And I like the developmental surveys they do so I can see that my girls are meeting their milestones. I also like the imaginative play they can do.”
Two additional First 5 centers also had their grand openings on Friday in Gridley and Chico. The First 5 center at Esperanza House in Gridley is open to all families with young children. The First 5 center at Renewal House in Chico is open only to families who currently or previously attended the Renewal Center. First 5 also plans to open a center in Magalia.
“Since we opened the Lakeside Center in March, we have served 28 caregivers, many of whom have been there more than once,” Sifers said. “Our goal is to serve at least 300 people at all three locations currently open.”
For more information about First 5 Centers programs, services, and hours, visit https://first5butte.org/family-center.
