1. The First 5 Movement: Investing in California’s Children

2. Looking Towards PFA What is First 5 doing at the state and local level? How is this work connected to PFA? What have First 5 counties been doing to prepare for PFA? How can First 5 County Commissions support PFA efforts in June?

3. Who and What is First 5?  Created by Proposition 10 in 1998  Additional 50¢ tax on tobacco products  58 County Commissions and 1 State Commission  Commissions are county departments, independent agencies, or a hybrid of the two  Many County Commissions have designated seats for the County Superintendent (or designee)  Other designated seats include: County Supervisors, Health and/or Human Services Departments, and Local Planning Councils

4. First 5 Oversight and Accountability  Funds distributed to counties (80%) and State Commission (20%)  County funds allocated in accordance with a locally developed Strategic Plan that identifies needs of children 0-5 and their families  Funds must supplement and not supplant existing programs and services  Many Commissions focus on supporting “pilot programs,” co-funding, or leveraging other investments – rather than on-going continued funding of permanent programs  All funds must be distributed in accordance with state contracting guidelines, and all programs and services must be continually evaluated  Revenues expected to decline as tobacco usage declines

5. First 5 Outcome Areas Early Learning –Early Literacy and Family Literacy –Improved Quality of Child Care –Building the Workforce Informed and Supported Parents –Family Support Programs –Parent Education Childhood Health –Universal Health Access Programs –Oral Health Education and Services –Behavioral Health Programs and Trainings Community Outreach –Safety Education Programs –Smoking Cessation Information and Programs –Family Festivals and Community Celebrations

6. Early Learning Investments Early Literacy Programs –Raising a Reader –Public Library Partnerships –Improved Early Care Environments Workforce Development and Stipend Programs for ECE Staff –CARES –Community College Partnerships –Trainings for License-Exempt Providers Information on Choosing Quality Care –Parent Outreach Quality Assessments for Early Care Programs –ECERS and Desired Results Trainings Kindergarten Transition Programs –Summer Bridge Programs –Kindergarten “passport” Programs –Outreach to Enrolling Families –Health Screenings for Incoming Children Preschool Expansion

7. School Readiness Programs State Commission matching funds to create local programs that support school readiness –Children’s readiness for school –Schools’ readiness for children –Family and community supports for children Partnerships with local school districts targeting low-performing schools Emphasis on early literacy for children not enrolled in preschool

8. School Readiness Strategies Preschool expansion Quality enhancements for existing programs (curriculum, facility improvements) Staff training Home visiting focused on parent and child literacy activities Parent education services Book distribution and reading promotion programs

9. Results: Early and Family Literacy Imperial County: 96% of parents reported reading at home to their children an average of 4.6 times a week Los Angeles: 98% of parents indicated they enjoy reading to their kids, compared with 82% in the beginning Ventura: At one-year follow-up, 63% of parents reported reading often to their children compared to 53% at baseline Santa Cruz: Read to Me reached more than 150 family day care providers serving over 1,000 children a month Riverside: County libraries partnered with 100 child care staff serving more than 1,500 children to encourage literacy activities in the home Nevada: Family literacy trainings resulted in 80% of families setting regular reading times for the first time and 69% of families making their first visits to the library

10. Results: Summer Bridge Programs Butte: 78% of entering kindergarteners had “almost” or “fully mastered” school readiness competencies, compared to 32% of children at the same level one year before Stanislaus: Participating children showed greater literacy skills, better control over negative emotions, and a greater likelihood of reading daily than those who did not participate Sonoma – 49% increase in children able to write their name – 42% increase in average number of colors known – 35% increase in children able to recognize the front of a book Kern: Over 200 preschoolers participating in the Kindergarten Summer Bridge program showed an average 11% growth from pre- to post-test Humboldt: Hoopa children scored higher in 28 of 30 dimensions of the MDRDP, tying in the other two

11. Results: Expanding Early Care San Luis Obispo: Two new preschool classrooms were opened in 2004 serving 44 families Yolo: Created 506 new child care slots for children with special needs and 194 spaces for children living in rural areas San Mateo: Created 250 new child care spaces, increasing much needed child care capacity throughout the county Contra Costa: 28 child care sites received grants to help meet national accreditation standards

12. Highlights of First 5 Investments 58 County-level school readiness programs 37 Counties using local funds to expand preschool capacity 24 County CARES Programs provide stipends to ECE teachers to support continuing education 12 County Health Access Programs Provide Premium Support to Insure low- income children 10 County programs to ensure universal screening for special needs and enhanced referral programs and services for identified children

13. First 5 as a PFA Partner First 5 Commissions are supporting PFA-readiness –Partnerships with COEs for planning –Convening community conversations –Reaching out to Private Providers –Launching PFA programs in targeted school districts www.f5ac.org