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First 5 Association of CA

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How We Help California's Children

How We Help California's Children

Your Choices Shape Their Chances!

The future success of children starts with dedicated parents and caregivers. More and more research is showing what happens to a child between the ages of 0 and 5 has a major effect on his or her ability to succeed in school and in life. First 5 California is creating a wide range of programs and offering services that give parents and caregivers the information and tools they need to help children get the best possible start. At First 5 California, we want to help both children and parents reach their greatest potential. That’s why we’ve created so many different kinds of programs that are focused on the following goals:

Support the emotional, social, intellectual and physical development of young children to help them reach their greatest potential in school and in life
Ensure our youngest children enter kindergarten healthy and ready to learn
Offer quality, voluntary preschool to all 4-year-olds
Assist in providing universal health care coverage for all children ages 0 to 5
Educate and assist new and expectant parents
Improve, educate and retain quality childhood educators and caregivers
Ensure that California children from diverse and underserved populations, including children with disabilities and other special needs, receive the services they need and deserve
Provide a solid public education campaign to raise awareness of the importance of a child’s earliest years

To read more about First 5 California’s programs, click on one of the program links below. You’ll see it’s easy to find your way around and get the information you most need from two areas:
Program Information and Tips for Parents & Caregivers.

Program Information
This area addresses specific First 5 California programs and related information. For nonprofit agencies and others who run programs for kids, notices about available funding are also found here.

Tips for Parents & Caregivers
This area provides simple tips, information and resources to help moms, dads and other caregivers learn specific ways they can make sure their young children are getting the best possible start in life.