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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) - UC Riverside Extension's Early Childhood and Family Studies programs earned $1.2 million in grant funding from the First 5 California Children and Families Commission. The money will pay for reduced-cost education and financial aid to early childcare providers and educators in San Bernardino County.

"This investment by First 5 California and First 5 San Bernardino will allow UCR Extension to offer valuable support to the parents and children of San Bernardino County," said Margi Wild, who oversees the Early Childhood and Family Studies program.

The first grant of $850,000 is designated for the San Bernardino County-CARES program, a statewide initiative that provides incentive stipends and support or educational services for child care workers. The second grant of $360,580 is designated for the San Bernardino County-CONNECTIONS project, which is designed to help San Bernardino County students taking child development classes.

UC Riverside Extension can provide tuition assistance, textbook assistance, participant stipends, educational materials vouchers, reduced-cost training, and special project funding and college credit for training.

A statewide initiative called "Preschool for All" is focusing attention on early childhood education, and appropriate training for those in the field, Wild said.

"UC Riverside Extension will continue to remain in the forefront of this issue, offering quality programs and necessary opportunities to those in early childhood education," Wild said.

For more information about either program, visit www.ucrextension.net/connections or call Jill Riggs at (951) 827-5994.

The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment has exceeded 20,500 students. The campus will open a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of more than $1 billion.

A broadcast studio with fiber cable to the AT&T Hollywood hub is available for live or taped interviews. UCR also has ISDN for radio interviews. To learn more, call (951) UCR-NEWS.