First 5 Santa Cruz County

First 5 Santa Cruz County's mission is to ensure early childhood systems and supports foster equitable health, development and well-being for all young children and their families in Santa Cruz County. When Proposition 10 passed in 1998, California made a definitive and enduring commitment to promote the health and well-being of young children, prenatal through age five, and their families. For over 25 years, First 5 Santa Cruz County has had the great privilege and responsibility to serve as the steward of Prop 10 revenue, ensuring these public funds benefit young children and their families throughout Santa Cruz County. First 5 Santa Cruz County is dedicated to ensuring that children ages 0-5 have the opportunities and resources they need to be healthy, able to learn, emotionally well-developed, and ultimately reach their full potential. Since its inception, First 5 Santa Cruz County has invested in many innovative, effective programs and initiatives that help ensure all children ages birth through age 5 have access to health insurance and preventative care, increase protective factors and decrease child abuse and neglect, improve access to affordable, quality early care, and education, build early language and literacy skills that are the foundation for future learning, and promote and support equitable and sustainable early childhood systems of care.