First 5 San Mateo County

A year after reflecting on 25 years of impact, we remain committed to the principle that drove Preschool for All in 2005. High quality early learning can change lives. Today, investing in early childhood and family support workforce remains at the core of First 5 San Mateo County’s strategy.

#MentalHealthMatters #SanMateoCounty #MentalHealth

Investing in Infant Mental Health: Starting from Home As a new parent or caregiver, you may be wondering how you can best support the social and emotional development of your young child. Professionals call that young children's social and emotional well...

First 5 San Mateo County offers free resources like Ages and Stages screenings through Help Me Grow SMC, early intervention services, and home visiting programs to support your family every step of the way. Keep reading to learn more and find resources: first5sanmateo.org/investing-in...

Investing in your child's future starts from day one! Infant mental health focuses on building strong social & emotional foundations from birth to age three. When young children feel safe, loved, and supported, they’re more likely to develop the confidence & resilience needed for lifelong success.

By supporting measures that promote financial security, we can help every child thrive.

#FinancialSecurity #UniversalBasicIncome #SupportOurKids

Financial insecurity can be a major barrier to a child's development, but there are ways to mitigate it. Policies like universal basic income (UBI) can provide families with a stable foundation, ensuring they can meet essential needs and invest in their children's futures.

#FinancialSecurity #HealthyStart #SupportOurKids

Financial security means more than just paying bills—it's about creating an environment where children can thrive. With secure finances, families can invest in early learning, enrichment activities, and overall well-being. Secure your child's bright future by prioritizing financial health!

Alameda County Is Giving Cash to Child Care Providers. Other Bay Area Counties Are Envious | KQED In the Bay Area, where child care costs are among the highest in the nation, counties are seeking local funding solutions to support caregivers and the families who rely on them.

This work is also shaping the San Mateo County Child Care Blueprint, a community-driven plan to ensure that every child receives high-quality care and early learning.

Learn more in @kqednews.kqed.org: www.kqed.org/news/1205533...

#ChildhoodMatters #StrongFamilies #ThrivingKids #AffordableChildcare

Families in #SanMateoCounty deserve child care they can count on.

Supervisors @jackiespeier.bsky.social and @suplisagauthier.bsky.social are listening to parents and providers and championing solutions that expand access, lower costs, and strengthen the system.

#StrongStart #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment

#FinancialSecurity plays a crucial role in ensuring strong early childhoods! When families are financially secure, children have better access to nutritious food, safe housing, quality education, and healthcare. Let's work together to build a stable foundation for our children's futures!

Investing in early childhood is investing in our future. The first 5 years are critical for brain development. Children in economically secure homes have better health, education, & life outcomes. As a county, we can prioritize policies that ensure every child has a strong start.

At First 5 San Mateo County, we're committed to providing the resources needed to ensure every child gets the best start in life👶

From early intervention programs to family support services, visit first5sanmateo.org and let us help your child navigate their crucial years💪

For every dollar invested, there’s a whopping $7 return. That makes early childhood one of the best investments we can make as a community. Economic security isn’t a luxury, it is a critical part of success. Every child deserves to thrive, & that requires reliable resources.

Four ingredients foster stability and healthy early childhoods. First 5 San Mateo County invests in paving the way for more families to access these resources. San Mateo County should be a nurturing place for children to explore, learn, and experience joyful moments.

The 5 Protective Factors: Why the First Five Years Matter “In the developed world, the United States is an outlier in its low levels of financial support for young children’s care. The U.S. spends 0.2 percent of its G.D.P. on child care for children 2 and un...

At First 5 San Mateo County, we empower parents and nurture children in our community for a brighter future.

Learn about the 5 Protective Factors that shape early childhood development, and how they’re leading to stronger communities.

Check out our blog at first5sanmateo.org/the-5-protec...

...with the acknowledgement that much more can be done to ensure all children and their families have access to this care. Check out this link to read First 5 Association of California’s official response.

first5association.org/wp-content/u...

Every young child deserves the chance to thrive, and that starts with early mental health screenings. First 5 San Mateo County recognizes The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP)’ new report promoting pediatric screenings for mental health, emotional, and behavioral concerns...

Head Start Feeds Almost 800,000 Kids Every Day. A Proposed Funding Change Puts That at Risk Head Start doesn’t just help families with low incomes find child care—it’s a vital source of daily nutrition. But a proposed change to the program’s funding would weaken its ability to fight child fo...

Head Start is an early education program, but it’s also an investment in children’s health, providing meals to all of the children in its program, along with vital connections to other health services. www.urban.org/urban-wire/h...

Local Early Childhood Initiatives Need Head Start Cuts to Head Start would mean cuts to all children.

Here’s another useful article looking at the role of Head Start within a thriving early childhood system. www.newamerica.org/new-practice...

Did you know that families in San Mateo County can get FREE BOOKS thanks to the San Mateo County Library and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?

Books are available in English or Spanish.

Families can sign up here: imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliat...

Happy Pride Month! 🌈 First 5 San Mateo County proudly celebrates diversity and inclusion, recognizing the LGBTQ+ individuals part of our community.

We stand with diverse families to spread love and acceptance, in creating a world where every child can thrive and succeed.

The evidence is clear! Federal programs like Head Start reduce poverty and increase upward mobility. We must continue to voice how critical these programs are for our community’s well-being so that they remain funded and supported. newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/fed...

Trauma and Resiliency (TRISI) TRISI About First 5's Trauma- and Resiliency-Informed Systems Initiative First 5 San Mateo County, with support from San Mateo County Health, is embarking on an initiative to transform service deliver...

First 5 San Mateo County is committed to understanding toxic stress in children through our Trauma- and Resiliency-Informed Systems Initiative (TRISI) 🌟

Learn more about how this initiative and what we’re doing to support at first5sanmateo.org/trauma-and-r...

The Three Kinds of Stress, and How to Deal with It Research shows that children grow up to be healthy and resilient when they have supportive parents and caregivers. But to be a fully present and energized parent for your baby or toddler can be a big ...

Children raised in poverty are more likely to experience toxic stress from hardships such as housing instability, hunger & violence. Without support, they're at greater risk for delayed communication, language & emotional development. Learn more about toxic stress: first5sanmateo.org/the-three-ki...

Research shows that children grow up to be healthy and resilient when they have supportive parents and caregivers. But to be a fully present and energized parent for your baby or toddler can be a big task.

Good oral practices starting at a young age lay the foundation for a lifetime of health and wellness. Ensuring families have access to resources, support and education prioritizes our children’s health for a stronger, brighter tomorrow. first5sanmateo.org/oral-health/

Happy Mother’s Day from First 5 San Mateo County!

Your love, dedication, and nurturing spirit make a world of difference in the lives of our youngest community members. We wish you a day filled with joy and appreciation💐

Babies at Risk With Proposed HHS Cuts The Trump Administration’s preliminary budget for the Department of Health and Human Services cuts programs that support baby’s health, well-being and early learning Media Contact: Gina Davis, gdavis@...

At First 5 San Mateo County, we believe every family deserves the opportunity to give their child a healthy, supported start in life. Head Start is essential to making that possible. Learn more about the devastating impact this could have on children, especially babies in the link below.