First Five LA Works to Strengthen Child Development Systems

Timothy Kovacs draws on a master’s in psychology and decades of clinical therapy experience as the assistant director of education services at the Baldwin Park Unified School District’s Early Childhood Education programs. Outside of his professional work, Timothy Kovacs also serves in the Data Work Group for First Five LA.

Created in 1998 by California voters, First Five LA supports healthy child development and works to prepare all kids for kindergarten by the year 2028. The organization is an independent public agency that currently relies on a comprehensive policy agenda to guide its systematic efforts to better prepare children and support families.

One element of First Five LA’s policy agenda involves strengthening systems and services that promote family well-being. This area of focus includes working to expand access to family services that optimize child development, such as voluntary home visits. In addition, the organization advocates for services that help young children learn self-sufficiency while also improving the coordination of service delivery to families.

For a full breakdown of the First Five LA policy agenda, visit www.first5la.org/policy-agenda.

Azuza Pacific University’s Psychology Programs

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Image: apu.edu

As the associate director of early childhood education for the Baldwin Park, California public schools, Timothy Kovacs manages the budget and reviews case management. In addition, Timothy Kovacs serves as an adjunct professor of psychology in the School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences department at Azuza Pacific University (APU) in Southern California.

Regularly ranked as one of America’s best colleges by U.S. News & World Report, APU was founded in 1899 as a Christian institution. Some 20+ professors teach psychology to undergraduate and graduate students.

In addition to the bachelors’ program, the department confers master’s degrees in research psychology and data analysis, child life, and counseling of children and adolescents. APU also operates master’s programs in clinical psychology and marriage and family therapy.

Students in all programs are expected to demonstrate proficiency in five dimensions, including knowledge of theories and applications, critical thinking, and ethical behavior in personal and multicultural relationships. Successful learners must also develop career goals after graduation and apply religious values to scientific understanding.

New York Mets Rookie Ties National League Rookie Home Run Record

Baseball game

Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

As assistant director at Baldwin Park Unified School District, Timothy Kovacs applies more than 15 years of experience providing psychological services to manage the Early Childhood Education Department of Services. Outside of his professional pursuits, Timothy Kovacs enjoys playing and watching baseball.

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso tied a National League rookie record on August 15 when he hit his 39th home run of the season, tying the record previously set by Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger in 2017. Alonso's three-run homer during the Mets' 10-8 victory over the Atlanta Braves was one of his five hits in the game. He also drove in six runs. Both figures are new career-best marks for the 24 year old. Moreover, the Mets registered a season-high 23 hits in the game. 

Selected by the Mets out of the University of Florida in the second round of the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft, Alonso was named an All-Star earlier this season. In addition to 39 home runs, he had 91 RBI and 23 doubles to go along with a batting average of .264 and on-base percentage of .369 on August 16. As of that date, the Mets had 41 games remaining in which Alonso could establish a new National League rookie record for home runs. The MLB record for home runs by a rookie belongs to Yankees' Aaron Judge, who hit 52 in 2017.