New Report Highlights Progress Toward Inclusive Child Care in Contra Costa
More than 72,000 children under age six call Contra Costa home, but with licensed child care spaces available for roughly two-thirds of those whose parents work, many families still struggle to find affordable, high-quality care. In addition to this overall shortfall, there is an even greater gap in access to inclusive child care programs that can meet the needs of children with disabilities, delays, and developmental concerns.
To help address this challenge, First 5 Contra Costa—supported by Measure X funds and state tobacco tax revenue—launched a two-year initiative to strengthen inclusion in early learning settings. This effort aims to ensure that child care providers have the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to effectively support the diverse needs of all children.
Our newly released two-year report spotlights the progress made through this effort, highlighting investments, partnerships, and measurable outcomes that are helping to close the gap for children with disabilities and delays. These results shine a light on what’s possible when we work together to build a future where every child, of every ability, has the support they need to thrive.
Click here to download the report.
Creating More Inclusive Early Childhood Education Programs in Contra Costa County
We are pleased to share a report summarizing the findings of a community engagement process, led by First 5 Contra Costa, that aimed to gather input on ways to improve early childhood programs’ ability to effectively include children with disabilities (diagnosed or undiagnosed), developmental delays, and social-emotional concerns, and their families.
Between March 2024 and July 2024, First 5 Contra Costa and Cardea, conducted interviews, focus groups, and meaning making sessions to understand ways to support inclusive spaces for children with disabilities. In August 2024, we held two community convenings to share findings from the community engagement process, unveil emerging recommendations, and gather community perspectives and priorities related to the recommendations.
The report outlines a summary of themes from the community input and recommendations for making early learning programs in our county more inclusive of all children.
Click here to download the full report and executive summary in English.
Click here to download the full report and executive summary in Spanish.
Click here to download the executive summary in Chinese.
Background Information
This 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.
First 5 Contra Costa was charged with leading a community engagement process to identify ways to improve early childhood programs’ ability to effectively include children with disabilities (diagnosed or undiagnosed), developmental concerns, and social-emotional delays, and their families. The process included interviews and focus groups with parents of children, early learning educators, and community organizations who work with children with disabilities, delays or concerns. Information was also drawn from the 2020 Inclusion Blueprint developed by the Contra Costa County Office of Education in collaboration with other early childhood agencies. The community engagement process resulted in recommendations to support early childhood education programs’ ability to include children of all abilities.
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 early childhood need in the county. The Board of Supervisors initially allocated $450,000 per year of Measure X funds to the effort, and in FY 2024 and FY 2025 First 5 Contra Costa pledged $200,000 per year in Proposition 10 funding.
If you are interested in learning more about this effort, please reach out to Emily Hampshire (she/they), Program Coordinator at ehampshire@first5coco.org.
