Partner Counties
CEP provides grants and technical assistance to First 5 Children and Families Commissions in eight partner counties — Contra Costa, Monterey, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Yolo — each with its own unique approach to engaging communities in public policymaking.
Feel free to contact the CEP partner counties directly to learn more about the civic engagement initiatives highlighted below as well as other innovative strategies and programs each county has developed and implemented in their local communities.
First 5 Contra Costa
First 5 Contra Costa has built four Regional Groups of parents, child care providers, business people and representatives from community-based organizations. The Regional Groups provide a direct link between the community and the Commission.
Contact
Rhea Elina Laughlin, Community Engagement Coordinator
1340 Arnold Drive, #125
Martinez, CA 94553
phone: (925) 335-9991
fax: (925) 335-0418
email: rlaughlin@cckids.org 
web: www.firstfivecc.org 
First 5 Monterey County
Through its participation in the Civic Engagement Project for Children and Families, First 5 Monterey County created a Community Engagement Steering Committee and Parent Advisory Council. The Community Engagement Steering Committee is charged with developing and implementing plans to consistently involve and engage those who are most impacted by Proposition 10 through community dialogues and needs assessments. The Parent Advisory Council has been an important partner to the Commission in providing input on the agency's priority outcomes as well as representing the Commission at local events.
Contact
Melissa Parlee-Hirth, Community Engagement and Information Specialist
1125 Baldwin Street
Salinas, CA 93906
phone: (831) 444-8549
fax: (831) 444-8637
email: melissa@mcprop10.org
web: www.mcprop10.org
First 5 Commission of San Diego
The First 5 Commission of San Diego partners with local agencies, collaboratives, and parent groups to conduct Community Conversations to solicit public input on existing needs and begin a dialogue as to how programs and activities can begin to bridge these gaps. The Commission also contracts with a local agency to conduct intensive technical assistance in community engagement to select communities. The Commission has also translated their Frequently Asked Questions brochure in Spanish, Laos, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Hmong.
Contact
Martha Garcia, Community Engagement Coordinator
1495 Pacific Highway, Suite 202
San Diego, CA 92101
phone: (619) 230-6476
fax: (619) 230-6466
email: martha.garcia@sdcounty.ca.gov
web: www.first5sandiego.org
San Francisco Children and Families Commission
The San Francisco Children and Families Commission funds a Parent Action Grant Project that involves parents in every step of the decision-making process of the Commission’s mini-grants program. Parents apply to join the Parent Selection Board, which then reviews applications, interviews potential grantees and makes recommendations to the Commission for funding of parent-led community projects.
Contact
Carlos Nolasco, Parent Action Project Manager
1390 Market Street, Suite 318
San Francisco, CA 94102
phone: (415) 554-8966
fax: (415) 565-0494
email: carlos@dcyf.org
web: www.sfkids.org
First 5 San Mateo County
First 5 San Mateo County taps into existing county networks through the Peninsula Partnership and other community-based programs to provide leadership training to community leaders, who are recruited from different faith-based groups, local business and nonprofit community agencies. Trained community members are then invited by First 5 San Mateo County to facilitate and host community dialogues throughout the county. The information from these community dialogues is documented and utilized by the Commission to better understand the community’s wants and needs.
Contact
Michelle Vilchez, Civic Engagement Project Manager: Children & Families
Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center
520 El Camino Real, Suite 640
San Mateo, CA 94403
phone: (650) 373-3490
fax: (650) 373-3495
email: michellepcrc@aol.com
web: www.childrenfamilies1st.org
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
A civic engagement process is a centerpiece in the development and implementation of all FIRST 5 Santa Clara CountyÆs funded initiatives. In addition, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County strives to maintain 51% community participation on their 10 Partnerships which includes 6 from the Regional Partnership Initiative, 3 Early Learning Initiatives and 1 East Initiative. While planning meetings can take place with less than 51% community participation, no decisions can be made until a community majority can be assembled.
Contact
Charlene Della Maggiore, Civic Engagement Coordinator
1150 South Bascom Avenue, Suite 12
San Jose, CA 95128
phone: (408) 289-5330
fax: (408) 295-3761
email: charlene@santaclarakids.org
web: www.santaclarakids.org
First 5 Santa Cruz County Commission
First 5 Santa Cruz County extends the reach of its work by partnering with five Family Resource Centers (FRCs) in convenient locations throughout the county. The Commission underwrites ten hours of work time for five FRC outreach workers based in their local communities. The FRC outreach workers are trained in civic engagement goals and techniques, which they then use to recruit community members for leadership roles in First 5 related activities and events.
Contact
Michelle Sioson, Program Officer
P.O. Box 1457
Capitola, CA 95010
phone: (831) 465-2215
fax: (831) 479-5477
email: msioson@first5scc.org
web: www.first5scc.org
Yolo County Children and Families Commission
Yolo County Children and Families Commission runs a highly successful mini-grant program that is easily accessible for community members. Grant applications are simple in design and are available in English, Russian and Spanish from the Commission office and Web site. Handwritten and typed proposals in any language are accepted. There are monthly submission deadlines and applications can be faxed, mailed or hand-delivered. Commission staff supports the mini-grant program with outreach efforts and informational meetings for potential grantees.
Contact
Carmen Garcia, Community Engagement Coordinator
403 Court Street
Woodland, CA 95695
phone: (530) 669-2475
fax: (530) 669-2477
email: cgarcia@yolochildren.org
web: www.yolochildren.org
