Why Was FIRST 5 Created?

More than half a million children are born every year in California. Each child has an unlimited amount of potential – to grow-up healthy, to do well in school and to succeed. FIRST 5 believes in tapping into that potential during a child’s earliest years and working to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to thrive.

Research shows that a child's brain develops most dramatically during the early years of life. The first 5 years offer parents and caregivers an amazing opportunity to shape a child’s growth and form healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

Vision

FIRST 5 Santa Clara County will be a catalyst for ensuring that the developmental needs of children prenatal through age 5 are a priority in all sectors of the community.

Who We Are & What We Do

We support the healthy development of children prenatal through age 5 and enrich the lives of their families and communities.

We work with parents, caregivers, agencies and the community to create a strong, healthy foundation for Santa Clara County’s youngest.

Through access to resources and support systems, we provide families and young children with the opportunities and services they need for the best start in life.

We serve as a voice for young children and families, advocating on their behalf, to ensure our community makes them a top priority.

FIRST 5 System of Care

FIRST 5 serves as a leader, convener and advocate to ensure that Santa Clara County offers a coordinated and integrated system that provides comprehensive and evidence-based care, innovative solutions and robust, accessible services that allow children and families to thrive.

FIRST 5 Investment Strategies

FIRST 5 has adopted two key investment strategies to serve our 147,000 children 0-5 in Santa Clara County:

• MACRO-Community-Wide Investment
  Community wide services and support utilizing best practices for all young children and their families.
• MICRO-Targeted Investment
  Quality programs for children under the age of six that are targeted to specific geographic areas with particularly vulnerable and high-risk populations such as high-risk infants.

FIRST 5 Supports

Children: By investing in local programs and services to ensure the optimal development of children from conception to kindergarten.

Families: By investing in programs and services for families so that they can provide a safe, stable and enriching home for their children.

Schools: By partnering with childcare, preschools and school districts to provide high quality early learning experiences for children birth through age 5.

Community: By raising awareness in the community about the benefits of making young children a priority and our neighborhoods a safe, welcoming and respectful place for our youngest citizens.

Partner Organizations

Alum Rock Counseling Center
Arts Enrichment Initiative
Arts Council/Artsopolis
Asian American Center for Improvement
Bring Me A Book
Catholic Charities
Center for Healthy Development
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
Children’s Health Council
Childhood Matters Inc.
Choices for Children
Community Health Awareness Council
Community Solutions
Cupertino Community Services
Social, Services agency, Department of Family & Children’s Services
Eastern European Services Agency
EMQ Children & Family Services
Family & Children’s Services
Gardner Family Care Corporation
Gavilan College
Gilroy Unified School District
Go Kids Inc
Happy Hollow Corporation
Institute for Family Development International
International Children Assistance Network
Jewish Family & Children Services
Mexican American Community Services Agency
Mexican Heritage Corporation
Mountain View-Los Altos Adult Education
Organization of Special Needs Families
Parents Helping Parents
Palo Alto Community Child Care
Power of Preschool
Rebekah Children’s Services
Sacred Heart Community Services
San Jose Education Foundation
San Juan Bautista Child Development Center
Santa Clara Family Health Plan
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Santa Clara County Social Services Agency
Santa Clara County Superior Court
Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System Mental
Health Dept & Public Health Department
Somos Mayfair
SRI International
St. Joseph’s Family Center
Health Mobile
United Way Silicon Valley
Valley Medical Center Foundation
Vision Literacy
WestEd E3 Institute