There was reason to cheer inside the El Dorado Hills Library last Wednesday. Community Hub 1 officially opened — one of five hubs housed in public libraries in each of the five county  supervisorial districts.

In the fall of 2016 the Community Hubs project was launched in El Dorado County. It’s a partnership between First 5 El Dorado Children and Families Commission, El Dorado County libraries, El Dorado County Office of Education and the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency. Hubs are planned to be an innovative, community‐based effort to bring valuable services to families in the communities where they live.

With the common goal to increase resiliency in families, from expectant parents to those with children through 18 years old, each Hub has a multi-disciplinary team. Each team member is an expert in his or her field and the roles include an early childhood literacy specialist, family engagement specialist, community health advocate and public health nurse.

The idea to create Community Hubs came to fruition after data, including the county’s 2014 Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Needs Assessment, showed that El Dorado County has high rates of domestic violence and hospitalization of youth and women of childbearing age due to substance use and behavioral health issues. Community partners agreed that primary prevention and early intervention strategies are needed to get ahead of these issues.

“It’s a wonderful time for our families,” Library Director Jeanne Amos told those present, including community leaders, at the ribbon cutting event on Feb. 7.

District 1 Supervisor John Hidahl presented Amos with a proclamation, recognizing the opening of Community Hub 1.

Retired pediatrician Dr. Earl Washburn attended as a representative of First 5 El Dorado. “While raising children, we don’t see a village anymore,” he told the audience. “So agencies joined forces to help families in El Dorado County.”

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley’s office also recognized the opening as a valuable resource for the area with a certificate.

Hub 1’s team members were introduced, which include Amber Burget (public health nurse), Melissa Cockrell (community health advocate), Katie Rinehart (family engagement specialist) and Debbie Arenas (early childhood literacy specialist.)

After the accolades, Arenas led a group storytime.

The best way to request services from the Hub Team is to call or visit them at the library.

To contact your district’s team, or for more information about Community Hubs, visit first5eldorado.com/community‐hubs.

Original article: https://www.villagelife.com/ne...y-support-hubs-open/