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Los Angeles County Residents Favor Public Spending to Aid Youngest Children

May 2, 2005
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Los Angeles - LA County residents overwhelmingly support programs that provide health insurance and preschool for children 5 and under, particularly when those programs are funded by a statewide tobacco tax, according to a survey released today.

In that countywide survey, conducted by research firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates and commissioned by First 5 LA, almost 90% of respondents registered strong support for First 5 LA's programs when described to them, which include providing free or low-cost health insurance to all of LA County's children 5 and under.

First 5 LA is the nonprofit organization created by Proposition 10 in 1998 dedicated to the health, education and safety of children from prenatal through age 5 in Los Angeles County. First 5 LA is the largest of 58 county commissions that annually allocate about $600 million statewide in tobacco tax revenues to champion the needs of California's youngest children.  First 5 LA's share of those revenues is about $120 million.

"We are delighted to know the public supports the kind of work we do," said Evelyn V. Martinez, Executive Director of First 5 LA.  "At a time when government funds are strained, Los Angeles County residents have told us that spending public dollars on the needs of our youngest children is a top priority."

First 5 LA programs include Healthy Kids – free to low-cost health insurance for LA County children 5 and under – and Los Angeles Universal Preschool, an organization created and funded by First 5 LA with the goal of making voluntary preschool available to every 4-year-old in the county.

First 5 LA's dedication to the county's youngest children is based on research that shows a child's experiences during the first 5 years of life impact his ability to succeed for the rest of his life.  A child's brain develops up to 90% of its full capacity by age 5 – before he or she spends a single day at school.  Activities and experiences that develop a child's capacity to learn, and grow up healthy and safe, at this early stage go a long way toward preparing him to succeed in school – and in life.