Community Coordinated Care for Children is committed to strengthening our communities and families. It’s our belief that every child deserves a bright and successful future. We produce this newsletter as part of 4C’s mission to be a community leader by providing high-quality services that improve the lives of children and families.

Head Start Awareness Month

In October, we recognize Head Start Awareness Month and the impact it has on children up to 5 years old and families in our community. Head Start is more than an educational program, it provides a family-focused approach to helping children succeed in life and school. Head Start focuses on positive child and family outcomes to close the achievement gap, and to build a better future for children, families, and communities.

Five things to know about Head Start programs:

• Helps children and families thrive, enrolling children ages 0 to 5 years old and pregnant women.
• Uses research-based curricula and assessments so each child makes progress in language/literacy, math, science, and physical development.
• Coordinates comprehensive services so children and families have the community resources they need.
• Evaluates, identifies and serves children with special needs, and facilitates early intervention services.
• Supports at-home learning and healthy habits from parent-child reading and regular bedtimes to positive parenting.

To learn more about 4C Head Start and Early Head Start, click here.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is unique in that it crosses over two months, celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. This time period was chosen because it includes Independence Day celebrations for Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua. Even if your family isn’t from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central or South America, you can still celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Children build respect and curiosity when they learn about other cultures. For eight ways children can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, click here.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year old.  Most SIDS deaths are associated with sleep, which is why it’s sometimes still called “crib death.” October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month. A safe sleep environment can help reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death, such as suffocation. To learn more, click here.

National Child Health Day | October 7, 2024

On the first Monday of every October, we show our support of children’s health, family, and those that work hard to help them. Family income is a major factor in the health of children both physically and mentally. Children from households below the poverty line have a higher obesity rate than those above it, and with the epidemic not slowing down, it’s clear that there’s more that we need to do. To learn more, click here.

EVENTS CALENDAR

Here are upcoming free, family-friendly events in Central Florida:

Saturday, September 28
Diaper Distribution, Winter Garden, 9 a.m.
Kissimmee Open House, Oak Street Park Community Center, 10 a.m.
Hispanic Heritage Festival, Kit Land Nelson Park, Apopka, 4 p.m.

Monday, September 30
Hiring Event, Kia Center, Orlando, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, October 1
Ocoee National Night Out, Bill Breeze Park, Ocoee, 5 p.m.
Avalon Park National Night Out, Town Park, 5 p.m.
Longwood National Night Out, Candyland Park, 5:30 p.m.
Winter Garden National Night Out, Downtown Pavilion, 6 p.m.
Orlando National Night Out, Eola Square, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, October 3
Ocoee Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Ocoee Lakeshore Center, 5 p.m.
Orlando Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Orlando Museum of Art, 5 p.m.

Saturday, October, 5
Winter Park Fishing Event, Lake Island at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 7:30 a.m.
Home Depot Kids Workshop, various locations, 9 a.m.
Rollins Family Studio, Rollins College Museum of Art, 10 a.m.

Sunday, October 6
Viva Osceola, Kissimmee Lakefront Park, 1 p.m.

Monday, October 7
Leu Gardens Storytime, Leu Gardens, Orlando, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, October 9
Job & Resource Fair, Taft Community Center, 1 p.m.

Friday, October 11
Reeves Center Fall Festival, Orlando, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 12
Winter Park Autumn Art Festival, Central Park, 9 a.m.
Kids Zone, JCPenney, various locations, 11 a.m.

Sunday, October 13
Winter Park Autumn Art Festival, Central Park, 9 a.m.
Free Family Funday, Mennello Museum, Orlando, noon.

Friday, October 18
Free Movie, Coco, Cypress Grove Park, Orlando, 7 p.m.
Free Movie, Coco, Torcaso Park, Winter Springs, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 19
Open House, Orlando Fire Department Station 12, 11 a.m. 
Truck or Treat, Reiter Park, Longwood, 3 p.m.
Free Movie, Coco, Bithlo Community Park, 7 p.m.

Sunday, October 20
SoDo Fall Fest, South Downtown Orlando, 10 a.m.

Friday, October 25
Halloween Howl Night, Bill Breeze Park, Ocoee, 6 p.m.
Fall Festival, Faith Assembly, 6:30 p.m.
Concert at Lake Eola, Walt Disney Amphitheater, 7 p.m.
Free Movie, Coco, Kelly Park’s Camp Joy, Apopka, 7 p.m.

Thursday, October 31
Eatonville Trunk or Treat, Eatonville Chamber, 6:30 p.m.

For more events, check out the 4C Community Calendar, click here.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Local public libraries offer a variety of events such as story times. Use these links to learn more about the offerings available to your family:

• Orange County Library System, click here.
• Osceola Library System, click here.
• Seminole County Public Library, click here.
• Winter Park Library, click here.
• Maitland Library, click here.

MORE RESOURCES

Head Start/Early Head Start
The 4C Head Start and Early Head Start programs promote school readiness and child development for eligible low-income families with children from birth to 5 years old, click here.

Neighborhood Centers for Families
NCF is made up of nonprofits, agencies, churches, and groups that work together to provide family-friendly accessible services and activities to Orange County families, click here.

Sign up for the monthly 4C Family Newsletter alerts and other timely information about resources and services. To subscribe, click here.