First 5 Leadership Institute

Stronger Leaders. Better Outcomes for Children and Families.

Register for Upcoming Sessions

Medi-Cal Contracting Journey: Practical Guidance and Learnings

Explore how to become a Medi-Cal contractor and hear best practices from community organizations delivering Medi-Cal services statewide.

Building Leadership Capacity for California's Early Childhood Systems

The First 5 Leadership Institute exists to cultivate leaders across California who prioritize the health and well-being of young children and their families—and who have the knowledge, tools, and experiences to create sustained change.

By strengthening leadership across county First 5 Commissions and their partners, the Institute helps drive more coordinated, equity-centered systems that better serve young children and families.

Through a connected suite of learning experiences—including virtual sessions, a peer-based Leadership Lab, and structured Affinity Circles—the Institute supports leaders to strengthen governance, advance advocacy, and integrate equity- and justice-centered practices into their work.

Our approach prioritizes depth, coherence, and sustainability—ensuring that leaders at every stage have access to meaningful, connected learning experiences that build on one another over time.

What people are saying about the
Leadership Institute

"For advocacy, I used the guidance to create a Commission agenda item to endorse a ballot measure and to inform what actions I can take after that endorsement that is legal."

Advocacy TrackAdvocacy and the Law session attendee

"Plan to utilize some of Elliot Haspel talking points on the importance of child care when engaging with elected officials/business sector to advocate for financially supporting quality child care for families."

Field in Focus TrackReimagining America’s Approach to Children & Families with Elliot Haspel session attendee

"Really great information, especially for those navigating the turbulent times and for a newbie to public policy."

Advocacy TrackAdvocacy and the Law session attendee

"This was excellent! So grateful you brought Elliot to speak. Gave me a lot to consider, and gave me hope from an advocacy standpoint"

Field in Focus TrackReimagining America’s Approach to Children & Families with Elliot Haspel session attendee

Leadership Institute Offerings

Applied Learning Communities

Applied Learning Communities are structured learning communities that bring leaders together around shared roles, experiences, or focus areas.

Leadership Lab

Leadership Lab is a structured peer-learning experience that pairs leaders across California in a shared leadership partnership model.

Learn at your pace, deepen your impact

Virtual Learning Tracks

Focused, self-guided or facilitated sessions designed to build core competencies and explore emerging topics in early childhood leadership.

Additional Offerings Launching Soon

Launching 2027

Fellowship Program

Lead with purpose and shape the future.
A capstone opportunity for early childhood leaders to apply their learning in a real-world project while contributing to system-wide change.

Leadership Institute Session Calendar

Skill-building and reflection

Medi-Cal Contracting Journey: Practical Guidance and Learnings

Explore how to become a Medi-Cal contractor and hear best practices from community organizations delivering Medi-Cal services statewide.

First 5 Staff Onboarding: Understanding the Network, Mission, and Our Collective Impact

Join us for an onboarding session that welcomes new First 5 staff, introduces the network’s history and structure, and explores how county teams work together to advance equity and improve outcomes for California’s youngest children and their families. Must be First 5 staff to register.

Leadership Development and Learning Is Part of Our Focus and Our Future

Part of First 5 Association’s Strategic Framework goals is developing and implementing comprehensive leadership development programs and learning opportunities for members of the First 5 Network, the early childhood field, and other sector leaders.

Our goal is to have more leaders in California who prioritize the health and well-being of young children and their families—and have the knowledge, tools, and experiences to create sustained change.

Leadership Institute Advisory Council

The First 5 Leadership Institute’s Advisory Council is a small group of thought partners who will help shape the Institute’s design, implementation, and evaluation.

Our advisory council members bring a range of perspectives, professional expertise, and lived experience. They are committed to building an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable supports for California’s early childhood leaders.