First 5 Contra Costa to receive the Community Impact award at the 12th Annual East Bay Philanthropy Awards

First 5 Contra Costa

First 5 Contra Costa is innovative and effective in addressing the needs of our most vulnerable families with young children. Although the mission is centered on early childhood, the work necessitates outreach and programming for the families and communities in which young children live.

First 5 is compassionate and resilient. In response to the pandemic, the staff quickly identified the essential needs of the families and caregivers and filled gaps that became evident like getting diapers to families.

That same initiative was on display when a Contra Costa County survey revealed that many East County communities had high numbers of children unprepared to enter Kindergarten. Research is clear that being ready for Kindergarten is positively correlated to better life, education, and health outcomes. Today, in partnership with trusted leaders and interventionists from the same communities, an East County program is already improving readiness rates.

When called upon by the former Surgeon General of California to address Adverse Childhood Experiences, First 5 answered. They created a network of health clinics and other providers to train and provide ongoing support in trauma-informed practices that made an immediate impact.

First 5’s reach is beyond early childhood. Through their award winning place-based regional community groups, First 5 has supported the in-community leaders to come together and decide what their needs are, for themselves. They learn to assert their power and use their voices with elected and other community leaders. This empowerment has helped drive fair rent policies, parks funding, and civic engagement projects.

They have also contributed substantially to the Family Economic Security Partnership - a coalition of private, governmental, nonprofit, and community-based groups. Together they are implementing concrete programs that improve financial literacy for families and advocating for policies like guaranteed income to help families move farther from poverty.

First 5 Contra Costa has shown a commitment to our youngest children and most vulnerable families. In the process, they prove that investments in early childhood last a lifetime.

We are so excited to honor First 5 with the Community Impact Award at the 2022 Philanthropy Awards on November 17. If you are interested in attending please register here.

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