San Joaquin Strategic Plan (2005-2008)

The First 5 San Joaquin Children and Families Commission and the San Joaquin County community embarked on an extensive period of planning and dialogue about the areas of need, services and systems that serve children prenatal to five and their families. The planning began in August of 2004 and extended to April of 2005. It included Commission meetings in four areas of the county and focus groups from seven professional groups and 14 parent groups with a total of 371 participants and research on current data in San Joaquin County.

In 1998, the California Children and Families Act (Proposition 10) was enacted. This proposition increased taxes on tobacco products to fund a comprehensive and integrated delivery system of information and services to promote early childhood development from prenatal to age five. The intent of the initiative is to prepare all children to enter school healthy and ready to learn. This initiative has since become known as “First 5” to emphasize the importance of the first five years of a child’s life.

Eighty percent of revenues collected by this tax are distributed to county Children and Families Commissions to fund local programs. Funds are allocated based on county birth rates with the twenty percent balance used by the State Commission (First 5 California) for statewide strategies. All funds must be used to enhance and expand levels of service, not replace current state or local county funds.

This is the third rendition of a strategic plan for First 5 San Joaquin, the last plan was adopted in February 2002 for years 2002-2005.