
To reach our North Star, First 5 LA is focusing on four results that represent the conditions we believe must be met to ensure that all kids in L.A. County enter kindergarten equipped to succeed in school and life.

Result 1: Families have the resources, opportunities and relationships to optimize their child’s development.
When families thrive, so do their children. Families thrive when they form strong bonds in their community; have access to the right resources; and have help navigating the systems that support families, such as education, health, mental health and others.

Result 3: Children are safe from abuse, neglect and other trauma.
The effects of a traumatic experience during the early years can last a lifetime. Anxiety, fear and stress can impact a child’s brain function, social interactions, and physical and emotional health. Addressing trauma in early childhood must include a focus on reducing child abuse and neglect.

Result 2: Children receive early and timely developmental supports and services.
Child development refers to a child’s ability to do more complex things as they get older — sitting, standing, speaking, laughing, playing. Regular screenings help identify any developmental and behavioral delays at an early stage. This helps families access early intervention services when they matter the most.

Result 4: Children have high-quality early care and education experiences.
High-quality early care and education before kindergarten leads to future school success. It helps children gain cognitive skills such as reading, language development and numeracy. High-quality early care and education also aids in developing socio-emotional skills and build positive relationships with adults and peers.

African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM)
The Los Angeles County AAIMM Initiative is a countywide coalition dedicated to addressing the disproportionately high rates of Black infant and maternal deaths and ensuring healthy and joyous births for Black families in L.A. County.
Early Care and Education Investments in Access
Early Identification and Intervention (EII)
Home Visiting Programs
Best Start Network
Early Care and Education Investments in Quality
As a way to evaluate and improve the quality of early learning programs, states across the country have begun to implement the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). Participation in QRIS helps families identify high-quality programs and helps programs to improve their quality of care for participants.
First Connections
The Link Advocates, Governments, Families and Parks Intiative (Link)
The Link model supports community-led organizations in building civic and planning capacity to access funding for parks and other forms of public infrastructure in a way that addresses the priorities of residents and families in the communities where it’s needed the most.
Dual Language Learner (DLL) Initiative
First 5 LA is working with Quality Start Los Angeles and funder First 5 California to celebrate and better support dual language learners from birth to age 5 with the launch of the Dual Language Learner (DLL) Initiative.