Spotlight Story Index

First 5 LA's latest initiative, the Community Opportunities Fund, is launching its first cycle. Fourteen L.A. County non-profits are on board with innovative policy and advocacy plans, as well as capacity building programs.

Armando Jimenez has lead First 5 LA's Research and Evaluation Department since it began in 2000. Learn how he came to join our team of leaders, and how working on behalf of children and families has impacted his life.

Every 20 minutes an American child is born with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In response to this crisis, members of the California Legislature have introduced eight bills to support those with ASD and their families.

More than 300 California nutrition experts, small grocers, and public health advocates gathered last week to give their input on the how the new WIC food packages should roll out. Hear interviews with the effort's leaders.

More than 400 volunteers and prominent community leaders swarmed the Crenshaw/Hyde Park area on March 19th to build a park in one day. Hear participant interviews and see how this powerful group converted a vacant lot into an interactive park.

Last week Garfield Adult School's Family Literacy program celebrated spring with a picnic lunch and Easter egg hunt. Watch our short video and learn how program families benefit.

As health disparities in minority communities continue to increase, policy makers and health care advocates are trying to find solutions. Find out what has been done recently to help close the gap.

Relatives make up more than half of those caring for our children when parents are away at work. Learn how North Valley Caring Services is reaching care-giving family members with child development information.

Community is an essential part of raising a child. When my daughters were young, I traded information with other mothers about child care, diaper rash, and several other things that I struggled with or knew something about...

Good mental health in young children is critical to their overall well-being and future success. Unfortunately, achieving good mental health is a struggle for many children in L.A. County.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired millions to social change. We need to promote a similar kind of movement for our children, making them a priority in the eyes of our leaders.

While children with gay or lesbian parents function as well as children with heterosexual parents, many of them are bullied by their peers. Learn how a grantee is training providers to protect victimized kids.

Celebrating the holidays with arts and crafts, families at the South Central Los Angeles Ministries (LAMP) Family Literacy Program make holiday wreaths out of construction paper cutouts of their handprints.

Three families compete to see who can shop best for the fixins of a balanced meal as Latina star Chef La La challenges them to "sweep" Vons for healthy foods.

Get involved in city parks planning on behalf of children! The L.A. City Department of Parks and Recreation is asking for input about how to improve parks.

In October, the Monday Morning Report featured Noah Ogata, a 5 year-old Champion for adults, who, with help from his family, started Project Star, a program to collect blankets ...

It's always nice to be thanked, and First 5 LA got to experience a true and formal thank you at the beginning of this month from Los Angeles City Council Member Jose Huizar at ...

Over 1,000 parents and children attended the 2007 Festival of Readers. See photos of the book-making, story-telling, face-painting, mariachi-playing fun!

As a first step showing its commitment to fighting childhood obesity, Westfield handed out First 5 California temporary tattoos instead of candy ...

After a visit from firemen from the local Fire Department, families with the Rowland Unified School Districts Family Literacy program paint their version ...

Parents participating in First 5 LA-funded family literacy programs talk openly about their dreams for their children's future ...

In Michael Moore's "Sicko," a father whose toddler is hearing-impaired in both ears complains that his family medical-insurance provider will only pay …

Addressing challenging social policy issues is not an easy task, and providers and policymakers often aren't sure if their efforts have a desired impact …

Now living in a hotel room in the San Fernando Valley, Project SAFE participant Elsa F. recalls her long struggle to leave her abusive ex-spouse …

Joan Davis, Director of the Lawndale Elementary School’s First 5 LA-funded School Readiness Program, will be retiring next month …