Background:
In 1998, California voters passed Proposition 10, the Children and Families Act, a statewide ballot initiative taxing tobacco products. The monies collected are used statewide and locally to build an integrated, comprehensive, and collaborative system of care to promote early childhood development for children ages 0-5 and their families. The Yolo County Board of Supervisors created First 5 Yolo in 1998 following the passage of Proposition 10. Originally formed as the Yolo County Children and Families Commission (YCCFC), YCCFC officially adopted the name First 5 Yolo in 2005 to further spotlight its mission of service to children in the first 5 years of life and their families, and for consistency with the overseeing state commission known as First 5 California.

First 5 is a statewide network comprised of local commissions in all 58 counties, First 5 California, and the First 5 Association. First 5 Yolo receives funding based on the number of live births in the County (approximately 2,400 per year) as a percentage of all live births in California. Governed by a Commission of nine individuals appointed by the Board of Supervisors, First 5 Yolo is a county agency with certain independent authority, including authority over its finances and strategic plan.

Update:
First 5 Yolo will provide an update on its two countywide American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funded projects, Welcome Baby and Childcare Recovery, and on the formation of First 5 Yolo’s FY23/24-27/28 Strategic Plan.

Welcome Baby, funded by Yolo County Board of Supervisors as a priority ARP project, is a 3-year effort focused on maternal and child health and serves publicly insured or uninsured families immediately postpartum. Childcare Recovery ARP is a shorter-term effort providing infrastructure and recovery grants to childcare providers.

In early FY 22/23, First 5 Yolo Commission launched a strategic planning process to develop a more streamlined and publicly accessible Strategic Plan for the next five years.  This Plan includes components required by State Statute, most notably a Funding Plan and Evaluation Plan that is updated each year. First 5 Yolo Investments and efforts are targeted and coordinated to maximize impact, and investments are strategically leveraged with systems impact partners.

To develop key strategic priorities, the planning process has included review of the current external landscape, evaluation of current efforts, retreat work with Commissioners, intensive sessions with the First 5 Yolo staff team, and listening sessions with stakeholders and partners from health, safety, and early learning fields. Sessions with cross-sectional local leaders also informed the process.  The presentation will highlight draft portions of The Plan. The First 5 Yolo Strategic Plan must be reviewed by Commissioners and approved at a public hearing by June 30, 2023.