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Strategic Plan: Place-Based Target Communities Selected

June 14, 2010
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Last week, the First 5 LA Board of Commissioners approved a portfolio of 14 communities to target for resource investment over the next five years. These 14 "Best Start" communities represent the Commission's commitment to funding a place-based approach as outlined in First 5 LA's 2009-2015 Strategic Plan, Strengthening Families and Communities in L.A. County, which was adopted last June.

This place-based approach recognizes the importance of a family's environment to the health, safety and school readiness of young children. By focusing a significant portion of its resources in specific communities, First 5 LA will strive to have a greater impact on the children and families who reside in neighborhoods of high need in our county. 

As part of the criteria for selecting the target communities for its place-based investments, First 5 LA conducted an intensive data-driven analysis of neighborhoods across L.A. County. This analysis focused on factors that put children and families at risk, such as poverty, low birthweight rates and low test scores in schools. First 5 LA also evaluated the strengths, assets and infrastructure capacity within communities with high levels of need, and sought to distribute resources throughout different geographic regions of the county and in communities that were reflective of the county's diverse population.

Collectively, the 14 target communities selected are home to about 165,000 children from newborn through age 5, which represents nearly 20 percent of the children 5 years old or younger in L.A. County. The collective need of the target communities is illustrated by the following key statistics:

  • 22 percent of families with children living in the 14 target communities live in poverty, compared to 12 percent of families in L.A. County in 2009.
  • 41 percent of 3rd grade students score below basic or far below basic in California Standards Test for English-Language Arts proficiency in the target communities compared to 30 percent in L.A. County.
  • Out of every 1,000 births, approximately 76 of the babies born in the target communities are considered to be low birthweight, this compared to approximately 73 per 1,000 in L.A. County.
  • 54 percent of adults over age 25 in these communities have less than a high school education compared to 31 percent in L.A. County.

Click here for a list of target communities and their profiles.

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Comments

Mon, 06/28/2010 - 09:25 — Anonymous

First 5 LA Response to Questions About Programs & Funding

One of First 5 LA's strategic goals is that children are ready for school, and First 5 LA's Commission intends to do everything in its power to make sure that more children in L.A. County are ready to learn when they start kindergarten. I'd like to respond directly to the questions above about funding for First 5 School Readiness programs and about how members of the community may become involved in Best Start. The School Readiness programs, which have benefitted many children and families in Los Angeles County, are made possible by matching funds from First 5 California, the state First 5 Commission. Along with local First 5 commissions, First 5 California has funded school readiness efforts like the one in El Monte throughout the state. The state Commission funding has made these programs possible since 2002. But First 5 California, which (like local First 5 commissions) is facing a diminished revenue stream, plans to discontinue its matching funds for current School Readiness programs in June 2011. As they currently operate, sustaining these School Readiness programs in Los Angeles County beyond that period would be very difficult for First 5 LA to do as the sole funder outside of school districts. Having said that, First 5 LA's Commission is committed to supporting school readiness strategies that prove effective. The Commission has also stressed that it wants to build on existing community-based investments. School Readiness grantees in communities targeted for Best Start funding -- including El Monte and South El Monte -- are encouraged to participate in community-based, partnership-building efforts to plan what direct services will be funded by First 5 LA in their communities in the future. Those service include efforts to prepare children for school. Parents also are encouraged to engage in the partnership-building process, which begins this summer. Those same partnership building efforts will be taking place in Central Long Beach, another community First 5 LA intends to target for Best Start funding. If any of you would like to participate in those activities, please do so! Thanks for your interest in First 5 LA and our School Readiniess programs. Should you have additional questions, please contact Katie Kurutz at 213-482-7556. Best regards, Carol Baker Public Affairs Director

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