A message from First 5 Sacramento’s Chair, Phil Serna
It’s been a great honor and privilege serving as the Sacramento First 5 Commission Chair for the past 10 years. As many are aware, the first five years of a child’s life are critical in so many ways, whether it’s in the space of early learning and development, supporting parental connection, and/or advancing health improvements. During the past decade I’ve worked with my commission colleagues, our very committed staff, and an army of local non-profit community based organizations to see that First 5’s mission is successful and sustainable.
Thanks to California voters who passed Proposition 10 more than twenty years ago, we’ve since utilized tobacco tax dollars to fulfill the charge we have to nurture and support the youngest among us and their families. As such, I’m excited to announce that First 5 Sacramento is making available funding to further satisfy community needs as they intersect with our commission’s objectives.
During the next two months, we will stagger the release of multiple ‘Requests For Proposals’ (RFPs) totaling over $40 million. True to our mission, these funds will go toward services benefiting the health and well-being of young children and their families. It will be allocated as follows:
• Preventing African American Child Deaths
• Strengthening Families/Decreasing Child Abuse and Trauma
• Improving School Readiness
• Building Quality Child Care Settings
• Enhancing breastfeeding resources
Again, it has been an honor serving as the First 5 Chair and I look forward to the future---the future of healthy, strong, and well-educated young children.
