School Readiness via Bilingual Radio

First 5 Santa Barbara County has funded Radio Bilingüe to air the programming of “La Hora Mixteca” locally in Santa Maria. Radio Bilingüe is a transnational radio program dedicated to ethnically and linguistically diverse communities. “La Hora Mixteca,” radio programming includes key messaging relevant to the Oaxacan community and is broadcast in Spanish and in Mixtec in the Central Valley and in regions of Oaxaca, México.

As of January 2009, “La Hora Mixteca” has been broadcast in Santa Maria through KSBQ – “La Mexicana” – 1480 AM and via the internet at www.radiobilingue.org every Sunday from 11am to early afternoon.

The programming includes educational messages from First 5 Santa Barbara County on the topics of health, education, resources in the community, and the importance of the first five years of life. In addition, in the months of April, May, and June, three—1 hour live educational shows conducted by experts from Santa Barbara County will air on the topics of: Healthy Eating/ Nutrition and Oral Health Positive Child Discipline and Social-Emotional Health/ Well-being School Readiness and the importance of preschool for young children.

The next 1 hour live educational show is scheduled to air on Sunday, June 13, from 11:00am-12:00pm on the topics of the importance of young children attending pre-school, how to find quality pre-school and child care in Santa Maria, and information on how to become a licensed child-care center. The local guest for this talk show will be Martha Jauregui, Programs Manager, Santa Barbara Family Care Center.

About First 5 Santa Barbara County

First 5 Santa Barbara County Children and Families Commission, funded by Proposition 10 works in partnership with individuals and organizations throughout the county, to support the health, early learning and well-being of children pre-natal to age 5 and their families. Call (805) 884-8085 or visit www.first5santabarbaracounty.org