First 5 SLO County Awards More than $4 Million to Community
January 22nd, 2025
Jan. 2025 - First 5 Grant Funding Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 21, 2025
First 5 San Luis Obispo County Awards More Than $4 Million to Community
Local Programs Receive Critical Funds to Support Young Children & Families
(San Luis Obispo, CA)— First 5 San Luis Obispo County is proud to announce a renewed commitment to local children and families by approving $4,168,985 in multi-year investments through 2028 with community partners who provide valuable services to children, ages 0-5, and their families.
Partners/programs being newly funded are as follows:
SLO County Office of Education - Ticket to Teach ($300,000)
Aims to address the local child care staffing shortage by recruiting, supporting and training apprentices who are interested in a career in early childhood education.
Community Action Partnership of SLO County - Building Connections ($350,000)
Aims to improve access to quality, affordable early care for children 0-2 in SLO County by providing training, coaching, and curriculum support to Family Child Care (FCC) providers and Family, Friend & Neighbor (FFN) caregivers.
Mixteco Indigena Community Project (MICOP) - Aprendiendo con Mamá y Papá / Learning with Mom and Dad ($399,985)
Offers Mixteco-speaking families parent-child engagement groups that feature singing and playing as well as education on topics such as language and cognitive development, social skills, discipline, safety, activity, nutrition and more.
The Link Family Resource Center ($400,000)
Family resources and support services for families with children ages 0-5 coordinated via the Services Affirming Family Empowerment (SAFE) system of care in SLO County.
Ongoing partners/programs receiving a continuation of funds are as follows:
Pregnancy and Parenting Support of SLO County - Perinatal Mental Health ($252,000)
County of San Luis Obispo, Public Health - Lactation Support & Children’s Oral Health ($160,000)
Parents Helping Parents - Support for Families Raising Children with Special Needs ($248,000)
Optometric Care Associates - Vision Screenings ($48,000)
Tolosa Children’s Dental Center - Dental Screenings and Treatment ($80,000)
Carsel Consulting Group - Health Access Training ($100,000)
South County Youth Coalition - Parent Learning Pods ($240,000)
Community Action Partnership of SLO County – Developmental Screenings (Help Me Grow) ($800,000)
San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce - Family-Friendly Workplaces ($75,000)
"All the evidence shows that investing in a child’s early years lays a strong foundation for their entire life," said Wendy Wendt, Executive Director of First 5 San Luis Obispo County. "When we come together to ensure every child has a healthy, thriving start and the chance to succeed, we build stronger, more vibrant communities for everyone."
First 5 has a 25-year history of working to give kids the best possible start in life. The agency was created in 1998 by CA Proposition 10, a voter-approved initiative that added a 50-cent tax on tobacco products—establishing a dedicated source of funding for programs that serve children from prenatal development through age 5 and their families.
Contact: Misty Livengood, Communications Coordinator, mlivengood@first5slo.org (805)781-4058