Strategic Plan, Working Together: First 5 LA's Public Education Plan

• Public Education
• Workforce Development
• Data Systems Integration
• Systems Integration
• Policy Agenda
• Accountability Plan
• Information and Referral
• Health Access

Countywide strategies will be coordinated to support direct service and capacity-building efforts in funded communities and, on a broader level, to improve and integrate children's service and other systems for families. One of multiple strategies in this integrated, countywide approach is First 5 LA's Public Education Plan, which includes an array of communications efforts focused on families in both communities of high need, as well as the county as a whole.

Education efforts will promote helpful resources, healthy choices, and communicate about the importance of the first five years of life. These education efforts will support the Commission's four priority goals: babies are born healthy, children maintain a healthy weight, children are safe from abuse and neglect, and children are ready for kindergarten. 

First 5 LA will use public education tools such as social marketing, community outreach, media outreach, government affairs and social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. In target communities, public education efforts will focus on place-based outreach and the creation of materials and tools to help grantees communicate about First 5 LA-funded strategies. Social media efforts and other communication tools will aim to help engage and mobilize members of the community to change behaviors or take certain actions.

First 5 LA's countywide education efforts will promote and support the systems improvements needed to further the well-being of young children, such as legislative and other changes in the policy arena. Social marketing and other efforts will be aimed at large and diverse audiences, raising awareness about the importance of children's early years, particularly as they relate to achieving the Commission's priority goals.

The plan's two-pronged, community-based and countywide approach will work in an integrated manner to reinforce key messages in both target communities and countywide. For example, public education in the target communities may help parents advocate for more green space or healthy food options for children. Such actions across multiple communities may bolster similar advocacy efforts countywide and garner support from policymakers with the same goals.

To learn more about First 5 LA's Public Education Plan, contact Public Affairs Director Carol Baker at CBaker@First5LA.org.

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