Council to Receive Update on Office of the Young Child

During a joint meeting with the Pasadena Board of Education on Monday, the City Council will receive an update on the Office of the Young Child.

Established by the council in 2015, the Office of the Young Child focuses on maximizing resources and integrating best practices and services across city departments, nonprofits and the early learning community. 

According to the city’s website, the agency “is a foundational investment by the city to bring direction and a comprehensive approach to early childhood policies and services in Pasadena.” 

The Pasadena Council for the Young Child, made up of 25 local experts in the early learning field and related disciplines, actively supports the agency on a pro bono basis.

“How well children are prepared for school is directly related to their early experiences within the home and within their community at large, which influence overall success in school and in life,” according to the website. 

In December, the city announced that Carla Hegwood has been hired as coordinator of the newly created office.

Hegwood previously worked in the Virginia Department of Health, where she was the state maternal and child health director and project director for the Title V Block Grant. 

In that position, Hegwood managed a $23 million portfolio of investments in state and local health systems, infrastructure, and community-based organizations to improve the health of women, men, children 21 years and under, and individuals with special health needs. 

In 2019, the California State Library awarded Pasadena Public Library a regional Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant for $230,000 to establish seven early childhood hub sites. The sites are a part of a network coordinated by the Office of the Young Child. 

The locations serve families with children ages five and under to access services and the support they need to flourish, with a specific focus on school readiness.

The hub sites are hosted by well-established community organizations that presently serve families with young children.