First 5 San Mateo County is developing a strategic plan to guide its work during the next five years. To inform its plan priorities, First Five-SMC spent this past summer gathering input from families, providers, partners and community members. This in-depth learning process generated a great deal of information about how San Mateo County’s children and families are faring, summarized by the following key takeaways:
Families are struggling with the cost of living in San Mateo County.
There is a well-known saying that “it takes a village to raise a child”, and San Mateo Counties are actively looking for that village.
Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, families continue to face challenges finding and accessing high-quality early care and education.
Families with young children are struggling mentally and emotionally.
Despite the issues that families of young children are facing in the County, many families benefit from positive factors that support child and family resilience and wellbeing.
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You can find more details about the issues facing San Mateo County families and young children here. First 5 San Mateo County’s five year plan will be released in early 2025.
First 5 San Mateo County works to ensure that children’s needs are met, their families are supported, and their future is a priority. The organization leads and invests in initiatives that strive to create the conditions that will allow all young children in San Mateo County to prosper…socially, emotionally, and economically.
