First 5 Leadership Institute

Stronger Leaders. Better Outcomes for Children and Families.

Register for Upcoming Sessions

Building Sustainable Futures: Policy & Funding Strategies for F5 Leaders

As First 5s across California navigate declining and uncertain funding landscapes while being called to play a stronger role in shaping early childhood systems, leaders are seeking practical ways to move beyond programs and into policy and structural change.

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

Stay tuned for more upcoming events!

Building Sustainable Futures: Policy & Funding Strategies for F5 Leaders

As First 5s across California navigate declining and uncertain funding landscapes while being called to play a stronger role in shaping early childhood systems, leaders are seeking practical ways to move beyond programs and into policy and structural change.

This interactive webinar equips First 5 leaders with concrete tools to influence local policy, secure sustainable funding, and institutionalize equity-centered approaches that endure beyond individual initiatives. Presenters will draw from real-world examples, including ballot measures such as voter-approved Children’s funds, local revenue strategies such as excise taxes and impact fees, and governance frameworks such as Health in All Policies and Children & Youth Bill of Rights.

The webinar is designed to meet participants at different levels of experience, from those new to policy engagement to those ready to advance ballot measures or formal policy initiatives. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of what is feasible within the First 5 role, what requires partnership with local government, and how to begin regardless of their starting point. We understand the unique role First 5s play as trusted public stewards, conveners, and advocates for early childhood systems

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

Join us for an engaging onboarding session designed to welcome new First 5 staff into the statewide network. This session will introduce the history and structure of First 5, explore the powerful case for investing in early childhood, and provide an overview of key staff roles across counties. We’ll highlight how First 5 teams work together—within and across counties—to advance equity and improve outcomes for California’s youngest children and their families. Whether you’re new to the organization or looking to deepen your understanding of the network, this session offers a valuable foundation for your work ahead.

Stay tuned for more upcoming events!

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.

California’s Medi-Cal program is undergoing a significant transformation focused on expanding care navigation and engaging trusted community providers to deliver more equitable care. Through this transformation, new Medi-Cal benefits, such as community health worker (CHW) services, community supports (CS), and enhanced care management (ECM), closely align with the services delivered and funded by California’s First 5 network and CBOs that are trusted pillars within their respective communities. The path to becoming a Medi-Cal contracted provider requires deep organizational transformation. Across the state, First 5s and CBOs have stepped up into the Medi-Cal provider role, ushering in a new class of providers focused on addressing the social determinants of health needs of their local communities.

Building on the Making CalAIM Work for Community Providers: Lessons and Strategies from California’s First 5 Network webinar and drawing on the First 5 network’s contracting experiences, this webinar highlights the key considerations organizations must evaluate as they navigate their Medi-Cal contracting journey. As part of the webinar, we will share helpful tips and resources to support organizations through their contracting journey. The webinar also includes a panel of First 5 and CBO leaders who will discuss what it looks like in practice to become a Medi-Cal provider and share their contracting best practices.

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.