SUBJECT
Title
RECEIVE THE FIRST 5 COMMISSION OF SAN DIEGO ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
In November 1998, voters passed the California Children and Families Act (Proposition 10). The First 5 Commission of San Diego (Commission) uses revenue from voter-approved taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products to promote early childhood development for children ages zero to five. The Commission recently completed and approved the Annual Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 summarizing the Commission’s activities for the fiscal year. Today’s action requests the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to receive the First 5 Commission of San Diego Annual Report for FY 2022-23.
This item supports the County of San Diego’s vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all, specifically those communities and populations in San Diego County that have been historically left behind, as well as our ongoing commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This will be accomplished by seeking to improve early childhood health and development in the San Diego County region, and the Commission’s long-term goal to ensure that “all children in San Diego County enter school ready to learn.”
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Receive the First 5 Commission of San Diego Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022-23.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The First 5 Commission of San Diego (Commission) has over 25 years of providing high quality early care and education support services throughout the San Diego County region that are accessible to every child. This work is led through various contracted partners who provide families of children, ages zero to five, with comprehensive services that support child development and overall well-being. These services advance the Commission’s vision that all children ages zero through five are healthy, loved, and nurtured, and enter school as active learners.
The Commission aims to ensure services are equitably accessible to all families that have a need and engages with all population groups regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation. These groups include, but are not limited to, refugee and immigrant families, teen parents, military families, and low-income families.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The First 5 Commission (Commission) offers families a reliable resource that impacts the wellness of parents and children, ages zero to five, by potentially reducing stress and creating opportunities to increase the likelihood that children will enter school as active learners. The Commission programs contribute to and enhance sustainability in the areas of child and family well-being, the environment, and the economy. This effort aligns with Sustainability Goal #1 to engage the communities in meaningful ways, by providing opportunities for parents and providers to partner and participate in decisions that directly impact them and their children. The Commission also supports Sustainability Goal #2 to provide just and equitable access to resources for children by providing parents and Family Child Care providers who were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with opportunities. These opportunities include increasing child care provider capacity and enhancing business resilience to allow parents to return to their jobs confident that their children are cared for. Additionally, the Commission supports Sustainability Goal #3 to support the creation of green jobs. Through the Commission’s programs, Family Child Care providers will expand their business infrastructure through a Shared Services Alliance that support their business resiliency and maximize their enrollment and revenue generation.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommendation. There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
On November 9, 2023 (3) the First 5 Commission of San Diego reviewed and approved the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Annual Report.
BACKGROUND
In November 1998, California voters passed the California Children and Families Act (Proposition 10). This Statewide ballot initiative increased the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products and created local county commissions to oversee funding decisions. The revenue is used to facilitate the development of comprehensive, integrated services and systems that promote early childhood development from the prenatal period through age five.
In December of 1998, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors established the San Diego County Children and Families Commission, later renamed the First 5 Commission of San Diego (Commission), to implement Proposition 10 on a local level. On November 9, 2023 (3), the Commission approved the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Annual Report. The goal of the Commission is to ensure that “all children in San Diego County enter school ready to learn.”
The Commission receives approximately $24 million per year directly from First 5 California Commission to support the First 5 San Diego Strategic Plan 2020-2025 (Strategic Plan), which guides the actions and funding decisions of the Commission. On April 18, 2019, the Commission adopted the Strategic Plan which includes four areas of focus for funding: 1) Health, 2) Learning, 3) Community, and 4) Family. Each focus area identifies the Commission’s objectives and priority strategies.
The annual report submitted today highlights the comprehensive outreach and impact of the Commission during Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23, which includes:
• Provided 31,978 health and social service referrals for families.
• Provided 16,717 children high-quality early care and education.
• Screened 13,909 children for developmental delays and treated 5,087 children with developmental concerns.
• Served 525 pregnant women and caregivers and 488 children with intensive home visits.
The Commission achieves its vision through advocacy, funding of services, serving as a leader for coordinating and integrating resources, and building community capacity and infrastructure to support families. Significant accomplishments include receiving and distributing grant funding from the First 5 California for the following activities:
• Refugee Family Support Program designed to connect refugee families with community-based refugee serving organizations to support language assistance, healthcare, care coordination, transportation, and social capital. This effort is funded through an 18-month grant and led by the County Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities, Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs.
• A centralized intake system for the First 5 First Steps Home Visiting program and an expanded Family Support Connection website and referral pathway tool to connect families to a family support program. This effort is funded by a two-year grant and led by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Shared Services Alliance intended to support family childcare providers located in child care deserts and in lower healthy places index communities with business infrastructure and resiliency supports. This effort is funded by a two-year grant and is led by the YMCA Child Care Resource Services.
Today’s action requests the San Diego County Board of Supervisors receive the First 5 Commission of San Diego Annual Report for FY 2022-23.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to receive the First 5 Commission of San Diego Annual Report for 2022-23 supports the County of San Diego 2024-2029 Strategic Plan Initiatives of Sustainability (Resiliency), Equity (Health), and Community (Quality of Life and Partnership). This is accomplished by ensuring access for all children, ages zero to five years, through a fully optimized early care and education system of care, as well as providing programs and services that enhance the community through increasing the well-being of families and providers.
Respectfully submitted,
SARAH E. AGHASSI
Interim Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - First 5 Commission of San Diego Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022-23