Los Angeles, CA: Peter Barth has been selected as Director of Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs at First 5 LA. As the senior policy and intergovernmental affairs strategist for the organization, Barth will lead a team to inform public policy at the county, state, and federal level on behalf of children prenatal to 5 and their families. He will spearhead building and maintaining strong relationships with elected officials, administrators, and opinion leaders at all levels of government, as well as organizations and institutions partnering with First 5 LA’s ongoing policy work.
Barth comes from Third Sector Capital Partners, where has served as director in their San Francisco office coordinating their West Coast operations since June 2014. Third Sector is a nonprofit advisory firm that works with government, funders and providers to address public issues through social innovation financing. Previously, he was assistant secretary for program and fiscal affairs for the California Health and Human Services Agency, appointed by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and reconfirmed by Governor Jerry Brown.
“Peter’s knowledge of leading edge social entrepreneurship and government experience will greatly help us advance key policy goals on behalf of young children in L.A. County,” said First 5 LA Executive Director Kim Belshé. “We are enthusiastic to have Peter join the First 5 LA leadership team. We look forward to benefiting from his policy expertise, cross-sector experience, and smarts to help First 5 LA focus and accelerate its impact on the critical policy issues shaping the life trajectories of young children.”
“I am excited to join the phenomenal leadership team at First 5 LA,” said Barth, “and to work with my new colleagues and the broad range of elected officials, policy leaders and organizations who partner with us to support L.A. County’s youngest residents.” Barth is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in policy, management and planning. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. Barth has also completed fellowships with the California Capital Fellows Program, Academy of Business Leadership and American Enterprise Institute.
