Focus Areas

Based on the parent survey results, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County identified four focus areas to address our community needs: 

• Connect families to affordable, quality supports and services that meet children’s basic needs and safety; 
• Engage families in our work, including advocacy and leadership opportunities; 
• Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at FIRST 5; and 
• Strengthen the diverse workforce that supports young children and their families.

Financial Sustainability

To support a successful implementation of this strategic plan, FIRST 5 also takes into consideration four financial sustainability priorities in addition to the focus areas described above: 

• Seek and obtain sustainable funding sources; 
• Reduce spending; 
• Support partners and grantees in the identification of funding sources; and 
• Prioritize DEI throughout all FIRST 5 community investment decisions.

Strategic Plan

The FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Strategic Plan 2024 – 2027 is the culmination of a journey where our dedicated FIRST 5 Commissioners, community partners, grantees, parents, and caregivers contributed their knowledge, time, feedback, and support to inform and develop a plan that helps FIRST 5 Santa Clara County guide its work over the next three years.

Parent Survey Results

The unifying principle upon which FIRST 5 Santa Clara’s strategic plan was built, centering all our work around the overarching goals of: 

• Advancing racial equity 
• Cultural-responsiveness
• Trauma-informed and healing-centered practices