In drafting their proposals, the Commissioners were mindful that the goals of the projects included expanding the reach of First 5 LA's investments to "touch" the lives of all children 5 and under in the County. The intent of the projects is to achieve a more effective balance between our place-based and countywide investments.

At a Feb. 10 meeting, the Commissioners approved revising the First 5 LA Strategic Plan's countywide activities to include direct services beyond place-based activities. To date, the Commissioners have approved the following countywide projects:

• ECE Workforce Consortium/East Los Angeles College Childcare Providers: First 5 LA will collaborate with others on a five-year, $38 million Early Care and Education (ECE) Workforce Consortium that will provide and improve training and professional development to a wide spectrum of current and potential members of the ECE workforce.

• Tots Parks and Trails: This four-year, $10 million project will provide funding to upgrade or enhance playground facilities to ensure they are accessible to children and caregivers with disabilities, as well as fund other projects, like stroller trails.

• Infant Safe Sleeping: This $1.5 million, three-year campaign is aimed at reducing the number of infant deaths by raising awareness and practice of safe sleeping recommendations through public education, discussion and a crib voucher program.

• Connecting Risk and Perinatal Services: This project will assess existing systems to county hospitals, jails, clinics and others that provide services to high-risk pregnant women and their infants to understand the policies and practices that govern data collection, sharing and dissemination. The year-long project is allotted $200,000.

• Data Partnership: This $5 million, five-year project will establish an interagency partnership to establish a Data Rapid Response Team that will, among other things, develop an online clearinghouse for data and research projects related to 0-5 issues in the region.

• Countywide Universal Newborn Assessment: New families at greatest risk and in need of supportive services will be identified and directed to the appropriate services in this $54 million, seven-year project targeted specifically toward the approximate 112,000 annual births in the County outside the Best Start communities.

• Parent-Child Interaction Training: This project utilizes the "train-the-trainer" model for providing high-risk new parents with an additional layer of support on top of the Universal Newborn Assessment (above). The $20 million, five-year project will utilize a therapeutic approach recognized as an evidence-based practice by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

• Workforce Development: Nutrition & Physical Activity: This $6.2 million, four-year project ensures that children in child care settings receive good nutrition and adequate physical activity.

• Improving Access to Substance Abuse Services: In cases where there is potential risk of abuse or neglect due to substance abuse by pregnant women or parents and caregivers of children 0-5, this $15 million, three-year program increases access to prevention and treatment services. This program has the potential to reach approximately 9,000 parents and caregivers each year, and will work closely with the Department of Children and Family Services.

• One Step Ahead: This $30 million, six-year program aims to improve the long-term health, developmental and safety outcomes for new babies in low-income communities who are receiving the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). One Step Ahead will provide critical developmental, early literacy, safety items and basic necessities.

• Family Literacy: Taking early literacy and family education and support models based on existing programs by the Los Angeles Unified School District and other community partners, this five-year, $13 million project intends to reach more families through community and faith-based organizations, schools and other venues.

• Peer Support Groups for Parents: This is a $2.2 million, five-year mini-grant project that supports development of opportunities for parents to foster social connections, reduce isolation and share information and skills related to parenting, breastfeeding and nutrition. Peer support leaders and about 100 groups will be established.

• Healthy Food Access Initiative: Grants that will assist in the construction and maintenance of community gardens for low-income families with young children is the focus of this $7.5 million, five-year project. The goal is to increase families' access to fresh produce, and will also utilize a "veggie voucher" subsidy to purchase the products.

• Children's Oral Health: Recognizing the importance of oral health care for children 0-5, this $7.7 million project re-vamps First 5 LA's existing Oral Health and Nutrition Project to ensure expedient and full use of funds for dental care access, as well as public and provider education campaigns.

Chief Executive Officer
First 5 LA

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