The First 5 LA Board of Commissioners is comprised of 13 members (nine voting, four ex-officio) in addition to nine Alternate Commissioners. The Board includes voting members appointed by each of the Los Angeles County Supervisors and the L.A. County departments of Children and Family Services, Public Health and Mental Health. The Chairman of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors also serves as Chairman of the First 5 LA Commission.
The Board also includes representatives from other educational, children and family-oriented organizations throughout the county. The Board of Commissioners meets on the second Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. unless otherwise indicated at the First 5 LA offices or on our website. All meetings are open to the public and agendas are posted, at First 5 LA offices and on our website, at least 72 hours in advance. Please check our calendar for all updated meeting information and scroll below for Commission meeting packets, summaries, and minutes.
BROWN ACT:
Public Meeting Rules
All First 5 LA Board and Committee meetings must be held open and public, with the exception of Closed Sessions. Closed Session meetings are publicly noticed but are not required to permit public attendees.
Two key provisions of the Brown Act, which ensure the public’s business is conducted openly, are the requirements that legislative bodies publicly post agendas prior to their meetings, (§§ 54954.2, 54955, 54956 and 54957.5) and that no action or discussion may occur on items or subjects not listed on the posted agenda (§ 54954.2). Accordingly, all agendas for Board meetings must be posted 72-hours in advance of the meeting while agendas for Special Board and Committee meetings must be posted 24-hours in advance of the meeting.
Finally, all meetings, including Closed Sessions, will give public members an opportunity to provide public comment.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Under A.B. 361, members of the First 5 LA Board of Commissioners or staff may participate in Board and Committee meetings via teleconference during declared emergencies through January 1, 2024. Currently, in the interest of maintaining appropriate social distancing, members of the public may observe Board and Committee meetings telephonically or otherwise electronically via Zoom or YouTube until noticed otherwise. All agendas and meeting materials will be made available on our website in accordance with the Brown Act. While meeting remotely, there will be opportunity for public comment; please check the meeting agenda for more information.
First 5 L Board of Commissioners Bylaws (As of November 2021)
Our Board

Judy Abdo
Commission Vice Chair / Appointed by: Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Third District
Commissioners

Vacant
Representing: Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Astrid Heppenstall Heger
Appointed by: Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Fifth District

Yvette Martinez
Appointed by: Supervisor Janice Hahn, Fourth District

Brandon Nichols
Representing: Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services

Maricela Ramirez
Representing: Los Angeles County Office of Education

Carol Sigala
Appointed by: Supervisor Hilda Solis, First District

Romalis J. Taylor
Appointed by: Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Second District
Ex Officio Representatives

Deanne Tilton Durfee
Representing: Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN)

Barbara Ferrer
Representing: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Jacquelyn McCroskey
Appointed by: Commission for Children and Families

Vacant
Representing: Policy Roundtable for Child Care and Development
Commission Alternates

Deborah Allen
Representing: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Luis Bautista
Representing: Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)

Robert Byrd
Represents: Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH)

Victor Manalo
Appointed by: Supervisor Janice Hahn, Fourth District

Kristin McGuire
Appointed by: Supervisor Hilda Solis, First District

Frank Ramos
Representing: Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services

Winnie Wechsler
Appointed by: Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Fifth District

Sylvia S. Swilley
Appointed by: Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Second District
Commissioners Committee Assignments
Board of Commissioners Committee Assignments F5LA 2022
MEETING MATERIALS
All First 5 LA Board and Committee Meeting Agendas are posted online according to open meeting rules (California Brown Act)…
CALENDAR
The Board of Commissioners meets on the second Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m., unless otherwise indicated, at the First 5 LA offices. All meetings are open to the public, and agendas are posted on our website at least 72 hours in advance.
FINANCIALS
The Commission has received the Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for ten consecutive years beginning in FY 2007-08…