First 5 California

Join host, First 5 California’s Chief Deputy Director, Dr. Angelo Williams, as he talks with professionals about children’s early years and challenges old ideas of fatherhood with new ways of giving support and building an emotional connection. 🎙️ In the latest episode, Former Surgeon General of California, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, joins Dr. Williams for an in-depth conversation about the future of ACEs, toxic stress, and the important role dads play in their child’s life. Listen now: Spotify - https://lnkd.in/gUmQaN9z Apple - https://lnkd.in/gfNDd2vi

We’re excited to announce the launch of our brand new podcast focused on fatherhood, This Is How Dads Do It! 🎙️ Join host, First 5 California’s Chief Deputy Director, Dr. Angelo Williams, as he talks with professionals about children’s early years and challenges old ideas of fatherhood with new ways of giving support and building an emotional connection. Dr. Williams is joined by experts like Former Surgeon General of California, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, First 5 Orange County Program Officer, Andrew Montejo, and Cofounder and Program Administrator of the Alameda County Fathers Corps, Kevin Bremond, to provide insights and ideas to support dads. Listen now: Spotify - https://lnkd.in/gUmQaN9z Apple - https://lnkd.in/gfNDd2vi

Earlier today, our Executive Director, Jacqueline Wong, attended the Champions for Youth Summit in Virginia to shed light on ACEs and toxic stress, and how they can negatively impact the youth if not addressed properly. Thank you to Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) for allowing us to be a part of this impactful 3-day event!

Last week, First 5 California’s Chief Deputy Director, Dr. Angelo Williams, Deputy Director of External and Governmental Affairs, Jorge De La Cruz, and Deputy Director of Program Innovation and Evaluation, Dr. Martha Dominguez-Brinkley, participated in Capitol Impact's Health Policy Education Institute (HPEI). This invaluable session, held at the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento, provided California legislative staff with essential health education focused on creating a more equitable future for all Californians. Our team highlighted the critical importance of affordable childcare in shaping the well-being of California’s youngest children and their families. We also discussed the Raise CA Strong campaign, sharing why this initiative is crucial to ensuring access to affordable, high-quality childcare. By advocating for increased childcare support through this campaign, we aim to make a lasting impact on the future of California’s children, families, and communities. We are proud to be part of this ongoing dialogue, ensuring that the needs of California’s children and families are front and center in health policy discussions. A special thank you to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, California Department of Managed Health Care, Covered California, Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission, and California Department of Developmental Services for their participation and collaboration in this important conversation. #First5California #HealthPolicy #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Childcare #RaiseCAStrong #Equity #PublicPolicy

We’d like to congratulate our Executive Director, Jacqueline Wong, on being selected for the 2024 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Interest Forum Distinguished Leadership Excellence Award! Her outstanding leadership and her dedication to promoting equity and access within diverse communities have consistently driven significant achievements and have set a high standard for excellence in education and public policy. Congratulations, Director Wong!

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In California, 48% of parents — mostly women — find it difficult or very difficult to find affordable childcare. Executive Director Jacqueline Wong sat with LAist to discuss the affordability issues of childcare in California: https://bit.ly/4ecI6DH. View our report, The Childcare Crisis in California & 5 Pathways for Change, at RaiseCAStrong.com.

Jacqueline Wong visited CapRadio again, and this time to talk with Allen Young about our new advocacy campaign, Raise CA Strong. “93% of families are unable to afford childcare,” says Wong regarding the childcare crisis in California. “[This campaign] is to build public support for greater access to affordable childcare for all families...” Hear more about our efforts and the childcare crisis: https://lnkd.in/gPpCmwvX

We’re very proud to announce the launch of our campaign, Raise CA Strong. This campaign’s an effort to increase awareness about the economic and societal impacts of the childcare affordability crisis and the need for additional state investments to boost childcare access for more California families. “It is our hope to move this conversation forward in a new way and separate it from year-to-year state budget conversations where childcare has historically been under-resourced,” says First 5 California’s Executive Director, Jackie Thu-Huong Wong. “We are looking forward to the next chapter for childcare in California.” View our report, The Childcare Crisis in California & 5 Pathways for Change, at RaiseCAStrong.com. #RaiseCAStrong #UnaffordableIsUnacceptable #AffordableChildcareCA #SupportCAFamilies #InvestInOurKids #Childcare

Are you at the ZERO TO THREE LEARN Conference? Join Jackie and others for a children and families’ policy discussion tomorrow morning at 9am!