Child Development Resources

In observance of Juneteenth, our offices will be closed Friday, June 19. We will reopen Monday, June 22.

What is Juneteenth?

The history of this celebration begins back on January 1, 1863, when President Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation, outlawing slavery in the United States. The news of this monumental decision spread slowly and many remained enslaved until the news reached the people, two-and-a-half years later.

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston, Texas to proclaim the freedom of all slaves in the Lone Star State. His General Order Number 3 begins, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

Galveston was the site of the first public reading of the proclamation in the south, as well as the first community to celebrate the holiday now known as Juneteenth, named for the date of the reading of the historic Proclamation.

For more historical information about Juneteenth, and about this year’s celebration in  scheduled for Saturday, June 20 at Downtown Plaza Park, please visit and juneteenthoxnard.org

The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College is such a wonderful CDR partner that wins the families’ hearts every time they visit.

On Friday, May 29, our Head Start Home-Based Program team provided a fun social outing for its program families. The trip was hosted by the Home-Based social planning group known as Awesome Butterflies.

It’s a unique experience when families get to visit a zoo located in their own backyard. Visitors experienced a wildlife education and preservation lesson via a 30-minute show and tell. Everyone then had the opportunity to walk around the complex to explore and learn about the animals.

This special outing included approximately 90 family participants, along with supporting staff.

This was also the last social outing of the 2025-2026 program year. Our CDR team is already looking forward to visiting the Moorpark Teaching Zoo, along with their Head Start families, on its next cycle, and for many years to come.

The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College Moorpark College Moorpark Acorn City of Moorpark Government Moorpark College Library Rotary Club of Moorpark Morning First 5 Ventura Ventura County Community Foundation Ventura County Office of Education - VCOE

In observance of , our offices will be closed on Monday, May 25. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 26.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend. 🇺🇸

We want to thank our partners First 5 Ventura for inviting CDR to participate in the 10th Annual Take 5 and Read to Kids campaign. The program encourages parents and caregivers to talk, read, and sing with young children to support their early language and literacy development.

Our CEO, Jack Hinojosa, visited CDR’s Bob Borrego Head Start to read to the children. Thank you to the staff and teachers for hosting the event at their center.

Children who are read one book a day will hear nearly 300,000 more words by age five compared to children who are not read to on a regular basis. The more words a child hears, the easier it is for them to pick up reading and learning skills.


Assemblymember Steve Bennett Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin Senator Monique Limón Ventura County Star VC Reporter Governor Gavin Newsom