First 5 Contra Costa is leading a project focused on creating more inclusive early care and education environments for children with disabilities.
The project is supported by local county Measure X funding and state Proposition 10 funding that First 5 Contra Costa pledged to add to the project.
Measure X is a countywide 20-year, ½ cent sales tax approved by Contra Costa County voters on November 3, 2020. The ballot measure language included an intent to invest in early childhood services, and First 5 Contra Costa is excited that the Board of Supervisors allocated these local funds to address this large early childhood need in the county. The Board of Supervisors allocated $405,000 per year of Measure X funds to the effort, and First 5 Contra Costa is adding $200,000 per year in Proposition 10 funding.
First 5 Contra Costa is leading a community planning process to identify ways to improve early care and education providers’ ability to effectively include children with disabilities in their programs. Focus groups will be held with key stakeholders, including parents of children with disabilities, early care and education providers, and community organizations who work with children with disabilities. Information will also be drawn from the 2020 Inclusion Blueprint developed by the Contra Costa County Office of Education in collaboration with other early childhood agencies. The resulting plan will aim to build the capacity of early care and education providers by increasing their knowledge, skills, and resources to better include children with disabilities.
Join one of the online focus groups and share this information with others! Interpretation is available and participants will receive a gift card for participation.
Early Childhood Education providers
- Family Child Care: Monday, April 22, 6pm
- Centers: Tuesday, April 23, 6pm
Parents/Caregivers
- Thursday, May 16, 7:30pm
- Thursday, May 23, 12pm
Advocates & Folks with Lived Experience
In addition to the community planning process, this spring First 5 Contra Costa offered trainings to early care and education providers on inclusion strategies. These trainings aim to promote children’s learning, development, and sense of belonging in inclusive, accessible early care and education environments.
Through this effort, we will create more inclusive early care and education spaces that provide children, families and providers with the support they need to be healthy and ready to learn.
First 5 Contra Costa invites community input on this effort. If you are interested in participating in one of the focus groups or learning more about the effort, please reach out to Emily Hampshire (she/they), Trauma & Resiliency Coordinator at ehampshire@first5coco.org.