Only about 30% of children in the state’s Medi-Cal program were screened for developmental delays in the first three years of life in 2022.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Month of the Child recognize the importance of families and communities that work together to prevent child abuse and neglect while highlighting those who strive to meet the needs of the young children in their care.

Programs dedicated to the well being of California’s youngest residents are facing major cuts. That’s because a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products sharply lowered revenue that’s supposed to fund first five California and the early childhood services.

Proposed one-time funding set to alleviate cuts and ensure sustained services for California’s youngest children and families

Without this funding, advocates say, programs supporting tens of thousands of young children, many of whom are low-income, face cutbacks.

The partnership between F5RC and RUHS ensured opportunities for families to receive training, both virtual and in-person, on how to safely install the seats.

Locally, First 5 San Diego has been working diligently on alternate funding sources and advocating for policy changes to strengthen the early childhood education systems of care…

As cigarette consumption declined over time, so did the funds available for early childhood programs. Turns out penalizing smokers for their habits had unintended consequences.

In Monterey County, there are only enough licensed child care spaces to serve 26 percent of the children under five. When you include working families, the number drops to 17 percent.

Watch as Fox KTVU sits down with Ruth Fernandez, the Executive Director of First 5 Contra Costa, to learn how they are making a lasting impact on children’s lives.