First 5 California

First 5 California
Hendrik M. Stoops Lugo · Public domain · source
Name	First 5 California
Type	state agency
Founded	1998
Founder	Proposition 10
Location	Sacramento, California
Area served	California
Focus	early childhood development

First 5 California

First 5 California is a statewide initiative created by Proposition 10 to fund programs for young children and families across California. It was established alongside other organizations and local First 5 county commissions to channel revenues from a statewide tax to services addressing prenatal-to-five needs, partnering with agencies such as California Department of Public Health, California Department of Social Services, and nonprofit providers like Save the Children and Zero to Three. The initiative has intersected with policy debates involving figures and entities such as Governor Gray Davis, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California State Legislature, and advocacy groups including Children Now and First Five Associations.

History

First 5 California began after voters approved Proposition 10 (1998), a ballot measure championed by advocates including Rob Reiner and organizations such as Children Now and The California Endowment. The proposition levied a cigarette and tobacco surtax to create a trust fund administered via the newly formed commission and parallel county commissions like First 5 Los Angeles, First 5 San Francisco, and First 5 Alameda County. Early implementation saw collaboration with state agencies such as the California Department of Education and the California Institute for Mental Health and alignment with federal initiatives like Head Start and Early Head Start. Over time, leadership changes involved appointees by governors including Governor Gray Davis and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the program adapted during fiscal pressures linked to shifts in tobacco tax receipts and budget actions by the California State Legislature.

Mission and Programs

The initiative's stated mission focuses on improving outcomes for children prenatal through age five by funding services such as home visiting programs operated by organizations like Parents as Teachers and evidence-informed interventions used by Early Start (California) providers. Program areas have included prenatal care partnerships with California Department of Public Health, early learning investments connected to California Department of Education preschool efforts, developmental screening linked to American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, and parent education modeled on curricula from Family Resource Centers and NICHD-referenced research. First 5 California has funded initiatives addressing literacy through collaborations with Reading Is Fundamental and Reach Out and Read, while workforce supports have engaged training entities like Child Care Resource & Referral agencies and institutions such as University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University for program evaluation and pilot research.

Governance and Funding

The commission was created by Proposition 10 and is governed by an appointed body with members historically named by the Governor of California, Speaker of the California State Assembly, and President pro tempore of the California State Senate. Funding originally derived from a tobacco surtax established by the proposition, with fiscal flows impacted by actions from the California State Legislature and court decisions affecting tax policy. The commission has contracted with entities including County of Los Angeles commissions, statewide nonprofits like First 5 Associations, and academic partners such as University of California, Los Angeles for evaluations. Budget adjustments have referenced fiscal analyses by organizations such as Legislative Analyst's Office (California) and have been affected by public health trends in tobacco use and litigation involving companies like Philip Morris USA.

Impact and Evaluation

Evaluations conducted in partnership with institutions such as RAND Corporation, University of California, Berkeley, and Child Trends have examined outcomes on metrics related to developmental screening, immunizations coordinated with California Department of Public Health, and early literacy linked to programs promoted by Reading Is Fundamental. County commissions like First 5 Los Angeles and First 5 San Francisco reported service volumes in home visiting, early care, and parent education, with state-level reports summarizing aggregate expenditures and outcomes assessed by entities including the Legislative Analyst's Office (California). Impact studies have referenced research frameworks from National Academy of Medicine reports and National Research Council recommendations on early childhood interventions. Results have shown mixed evidence: increases in access to screening and services documented by Child Trends, alongside debates over long-term academic and economic returns cited by researchers at RAND Corporation and Brookings Institution.

Controversies and Criticism

The initiative has faced criticism from fiscal conservatives and policy analysts tied to organizations such as Reason Foundation and commentators in outlets covering California politics regarding sustainability of tobacco-tax funding and allocation priorities between statewide and county-level spending. Legal and policy disputes have involved interpretations of Proposition 10 mandates and oversight debates engaging the California State Auditor and analyses by the Legislative Analyst's Office (California). Critics, including some advocacy groups and commentators associated with American Enterprise Institute-aligned perspectives, have questioned effectiveness claims and called for reallocation toward targeted evidence-based programs championed by researchers at Institute of Education Sciences or consolidation with federal programs like Head Start. Supporters, including Children Now and local county commissions such as First 5 Alameda County and First 5 San Mateo County, have defended the initiative's role in expanding prenatal and early childhood services amid public health and funding challenges.

Category:Early childhood education in California