Guest commentary: Early childhood investment helps the tri-county community thrive
By First 5 Ventura County, First 5 San Luis Obispo County & First 5 Santa Barbara County
Our community’s well-being and economy improve when we invest in early childhood.
Economists and brain researchers alike agree the prenatal period and first five years of a child’s life are critical for developing lifelong social, emotional, and learning skills.
Based on that research, California voters passed Proposition 10, a tobacco tax, in 1998 which established First 5 county commissions throughout the state to improve the lives of young children and their families.
With 25 years of history, First 5s across California and on the Central Coast continue to prioritize our youngest children while also helping to keep parents working and businesses flourishing.
Statewide, there are 700,000 kids without access to childcare, and 30% of women leave the workforce shortly after having children.
When families have access to affordable, high-quality childcare, parents can work, and businesses thrive.
Locally, each county commission tailors investments to their community’s needs, including high-quality childcare, early childhood health, learning and development, and building strong families.
FIRST 5 SAN LUIS OBISPO
First 5 San Luis Obispo County (F5SLO) champions childcare through a cross-sector initiative, “We Are the Care,” addressing the need for accessible, affordable, and quality childcare options for all families — and elevating the profession of early childhood educators.
F5SLO partners with the SLO Chamber of Commerce on a county-wide program that helps employers assess their current business practices, identify opportunities for change, and adopt family-friendly policies to support working parents and sustain a strong local workforce.
F5SLO invests in early childhood health through services such as vision and dental screenings, and access to support for developmental delays. Collaboration and coordination are key to identifying and shoring up intervention gaps — with the goal of giving families better access to needed services.
In addition, F5SLO promotes strong families through postnatal mental health services, parent engagement programs andfamily resource centers to reduce stressors and build resiliency in early childhood.
FIRST 5 SANTA BARBARA
First 5 Santa Barbara County (F5SBC) mobilizes communities to prepare children for Kindergarten.
To achieve this, F5SBC prioritizes partnerships with key agencies to support the youngest learners.
F5SBC strives to ensure equitable access to foundational experiences that support school readiness.
Ongoing efforts that highlight this approach include:
• Partnering with 10 of Santa Barbara County’s 18 school districts to strengthen connections between early childhood education and the TK-12 system,
• Launching Help Me Grow SBC to promote developmental monitoring and provide resources to families,
• Supporting regional Tri-Counties home visiting workforce development to foster community amongst practitioners, and
• Investing in the Network of Family Resource Centers in partnership with the Department of Social Services to enhance the system of services to families in need.
F5SBC’s work reflects its dedication to building capacity across the community.
FIRST 5 VENTURA
First 5 Ventura County (F5VC) invests in evidence-informed programs to help families raise children who are healthy, nurtured, and prepared for kindergarten.
The 12 Neighborhoods for Learning sites provide free Parent and Child Together (PACT) classes, parent education programs, and connections to other resources.
The Neighborhoods for Learning, F5VC’s network of Family Resource Centers, promotes equity in diverse communities, helps minimize education and income-related disparities, and increases children’s early learning, literacy, and school readiness.
Ventura County, like most areas nationwide, has a substantial shortage of childcare spots.
To address this shortage, F5VC partners with the Economic Development Collaborative to increase childcare availability through the Community Investment Loan Fund.
This program provides below-market financing and no-cost business advising to develop a licensed childcare or preschool facility.
To date, this program has created nearly 350 new childcare spots and more than 60 new jobs.
F5VC is also partnering with the County of Ventura to address the importance of early childhood in their Economic Vitality Strategic Plan.
The bottom line: early childhood needs consistent funding to ensure that all children can be born healthy, thrive in nurturing environments, and enter school prepared and eager to learn.
Science tells us it’s critical, economics tells us it’s smart, and our hearts tell us it’s the right thing to do. When children thrive, our community and economy thrive.
Whether you are a parent, entrepreneur, teacher, or caring community member, early childhood is everyone’s business.
First 5 California County organizations are dedicated to improving the lives of California’s young children and their families.
