FIRST 5 Santa Clara County is committed to engaging in education and communications campaigns to champion the needs of young children. Whether we are promoting educational initiatives, parenting resources such as the FIRST 5 Kit for New Parents, concerns such as preventing child abuse, or fun ways to foster a love of the arts, we will use a wide array of strategies that will raise the visibility of children's issues throughout Santa Clara County.

FIRST 5 and its partners are committed to raising the community’s collective awareness of the importance of supporting the healthy development of all children prenatal through age five, thus ensuring all children:

1. Are physically healthy;

2. Have age and developmentally appropriate cognitive skills; and
3. Demonstrate age and developmentally appropriate social, emotional and behavioral skills.

FIRST 5 recognizes that a range of community engagement and education strategies and activities must occur at multiple levels simultaneously until such a collective awareness exists.

Community Events

Sponsorship of and participation in an array of multicultural community events throughout the year provides a vehicle for educating and engaging communities in the importance of the first five years, and distributing information and resources. Events include the opening of a new, all-access park, immunization drives, and rallies to support children's rights. Whatever the cause, FIRST 5 will support and spotlight many of these events, in the hopes that, one upon the other, the additive effect can be community-wide awareness and mutual commitment to meeting the needs of young children.

Radio Programs

Information, resources and advice are offered to parents and caregivers of young children on three radio programs, broadcasted in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Many of our programs are available online for download.

Our English language program, Childhood Matters, is hosted by Rona Renner, RN and discusses parenting issues weekly on Sunday from 9 to 10am. The program airs on 98.1 KISS-FM in the Bay Area and 105.1 K-OCEAN in Monterey. Please call (977) 372-KIDS or see www.childhoodmatters.org for more information.

Our Spanish language program, Nuestros Niños, is hosted by Dr. Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne and discusses information and tips on parenting. The program airs on Sundays from 8 to 9am on 100.7 FM, 105.7 FM and 1170 AM in the Bay Area, 89.1 FM in the North Bay, and 99.5 FM, 107.1 FM, and 700 AM in Monterey. Please call (866) 99-NINOS or see www.nuestrosninos.com for more information.

Our Vietnamese language program, Nuoi Day Tre Vui Manh, is produced in collaboration with the International Children Assistance Network (ICAN) and Mekong Community Center. The program focuses on issues related to young children prenatal through age five and airs on Sundays from 8 to 8:30am on 1500 AM KSJX. Please call (408) 509-8025 or email happy5@ican2.org.

United Way 2-1-1

In collaboration with United Way, FIRST 5 has provided funding to support the start-up planning and implementation of a 2-1-1 non-emergency information and resource call center for Santa Clara County residents. FIRST 5 funding will ensure the database will include information and services that are relevant to the needs of children prenatal through age 5 and their families. The service is currently available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Mandarin and 140 other languages. Please call 2-1-1 or visit www.211scc.org.

Public Awareness:

Strategic involvement by FIRST 5 in venues designed to raise and/or heighten the awareness of the importance of placing young children as our highest priority. These include, but are not limited to:

1. Presentations to local, state and national policy makers
2. Presentations to other foundations and philanthropic groups
3. Presentations at local, state, national and international conferences
4. Participation on local, state and national councils, commissions and boards
5. Participation in other national, state and local research, planning and development efforts (e.g. School Readiness, Mental Health Services Act, Child Welfare Systems Improvement)