LOS ANGELES – First 5 LA today released the following statement from Executive Director Kim Belshé responding to Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revision to the State Budget:

“Governor Newsom’s actions for young children and families speak louder than words. He is building on his core proposals from January, and he is expanding his commitment to California’s families and children with his Parents’ Agenda. Working with State Legislators, the Governor is eliminating taxes on family necessities, doubling the Earned Income Tax Credit for families, expanding paid family leave and increasing access to affordable child care for families.

“From Day One, the Governor has proven his commitment to our state’s youngest children through his choices in the State Budget and in his high-level appointments. His earlier proposals on family strengthening through home visiting programs to early care and education, developmental screenings and policy changes on paid family leave and his additions today demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the health and educational needs of children. By prioritizing kids in budget and policy decisions, the Governor is creating a strong foundation for our state’s future.”

###




An Absolute Equality: Celebrating Juneteenth

An Absolute Equality: Celebrating Juneteenth

By, Ruel Nolledo | Freelance Writer June 10, 2025 Nine hundred days. That's how long the dream of freedom was deferred for the enslaved Black people of Galveston, Texas. Although President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, it...

Pride Month 2025: Building a Society Without Discrimination

Pride Month 2025: Building a Society Without Discrimination

Building a Society Without Discrimination “If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society." Those words from Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin take on renewed meaning this June as we...

Celebrating Home Visiting in LA

Celebrating Home Visiting in LA

By, Ruel Nolledo | Freelance Writer May 22, 2025 Opening your home to a stranger can be scary. Especially if you're a new mom.   Just ask Dani. After the birth of her son, she got a call from a parent educator asking if she'd like to participate in a home visiting...

Conversations That Count: Encouraging Bilingualism in Young Learners

Conversations That Count: Encouraging Bilingualism in Young Learners

By, Ruel Nolledo | Freelance Writer April 22, 2025 The young boy is talking about cognates.   "I know some words in Spanish," Mateo tells the nice lady sitting next to him in the booth. "When we watch these videos, they show the word first in English and then, at the...

Statement from First 5 LA President & CEO, Karla Pleitéz Howell : First 5 LA Stands in Solidarity with L.A. County’s Immigrant Community

FIRST 5 LA BOARD EXPLORES INITIATIVE 3: MATERNAL & CHILD WELL-BEING

By, Ruel Nolledo | Freelance Writer May 22, 2025 First 5 LA’s Board of Commissioners Meeting was convened on May 8. Highlights of the meeting included a discussion on the proposed First 5 LA budget for the new fiscal year; a presentation on First 5 LA’s Maternal &...

AANHPI Heritage Month 2025: Leadership and Resilience

AANHPI Heritage Month 2025: Leadership and Resilience

Hello! Aloha! Kumusta! Xin chào! May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Originally established as a weeklong observance in 1978 and expanded to a month in 1992, this annual celebration is a valuable opportunity to honor...

Translate