Highlights across Contra Costa County: Coffee & Kids, advocacy efforts, kindergarten celebrations, and community connections making an impact.
Coffee & Kids brings leaders together to focus on Contra Costa’s early care and education workforce
On May 26, community leaders, advocates, and policymakers gathered for Coffee & Kids, First 5 Contra Costa’s Policy Breakfast, for a conversation on the current state of the early care and education (ECE) workforce, existing ECE workforce supports in our county, and opportunities for investment to support “the workforce behind the workforce.”
The morning reinforced a central message: the ECE workforce is not only critical to children’s development, but also foundational to our county’s economic vitality.
Key moments from the morning included:
- Insights from Anna Powell from the UC Berkeley Center for the Study of Child Care Employment on why investments in educators matter far beyond the classroom
- Emerging findings from consultant Pamm Shaw from an ongoing landscape analysis of ECE workforce supports in our county and potential areas for investment.
- Video testimonials from family child care and center providers whose experiences reflected both the challenges of working in the field and benefits of workforce supports.
- Closing remarks from Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, expressing appreciation for local advocacy and collaboration while emphasizing the urgency of investing in early care and education.
Click here to read the full recap and download resources and presentations from the event
This event was just one step in many that will be needed to make progress on our ECE workforce challenges. Later this summer, we will share the final landscape analysis report and information on next steps.
Thank you to all who joined us for Coffee & Kids—including offices of elected officials, local agencies and organizations, educators, funders, and partners—whose participation and engagement made this conversation possible.
2nd Annual Ready Kids East County Resource Fair shines as families connect with support from ‘womb to classroom’
Even on an overcast (and slightly wet) day, the warmth, connection, and joy shared by families shined bright. Over 120 families attended the annual event at the Marina Community Center in Pittsburg, connecting with nearly 50 partners serving families with young children in East County.
Ready Kids East County is a dedicated effort that centers the experiences of Black and African American families, and is supported by both First 5 Contra Costa and the Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation. The effort helps families access the support they need while also helping service providers better respond to the needs of such families The Resource Fair is one of the ways that happens, bringing together trusted, culturally rooted programs, services, and community resources in East County.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us. The energy and sense of community throughout the day was truly something special, and we’re still feeling inspired. Don’t forget to explore our East County Resource Directory to stay connected with the same partners and organizations from the Resource Fair.
Click here to view the photo gallery
Advancing Early Childhood Policy: From Local Voices to State and Federal Advocacy
First 5 Contra Costa continues to join partners at the county, state, and federal levels to elevate and advance early childhood priorities:
Federal Advocacy: Bringing Early Childhood Priorities to Capitol Hill
In April, Executive Directors from First 5 Contra Costa and First 5 Santa Clara traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with seven congressional offices and advocate for young children and families impacted by HR 1. A central focus of these discussions was the ongoing challenge of child care affordability for working families.
A highlight of the visit was a meeting with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, a long-standing champion for early childhood who previously served as a First 5 County Commissioner before his tenure in the State Assembly and now in Congress. The delegation also met with Congressman Josh Harder, who represents the eastern region of Contra Costa County, to discuss shared priorities for families in the region.
State Advocacy: Advancing Early Childhood Priorities in Sacramento
First 5 Contra Costa joined the First 5 Network in Sacramento for its Advocacy Day on April 14, meeting with state legislators to elevate key priorities including increased investment in family resource centers , expanded access to child care, and stronger support for the child care workforce.
Staff engaged with the offices of Assemblymembers Anamarie Ávila Farías, Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Buffy Wicks, and Lori Wilson, as well as Senators Tim Grayson, Jesse Arreguín, and Christopher Cabaldon. These conversations reinforced shared commitments to advancing equitable policies and ensuring sustained investment in young children and families across Contra Costa County and beyond.
Community Advocacy: Standing with Providers and Families for Child Care Investment
On May 11, Mackenzie Whipps, First 5 Contra Costa’s Data and Policy Manager, joined educators, families, elected officials, and community partners at the 5th Annual Day Without Childcare, hosted by the Bay Area Professional Family Child Care Network.
The event centered on the need for universal access to affordable, high-quality child care and sustainable wages for providers. The conversations were powerful, urgent, and reinforced the importance of continued collaboration and community leadership in advancing equitable early childhood systems.
Together, these actions reflect a coordinated effort to advance a consistent message that investing in early childhood is essential to the well-being of children, families, and communities.
First 5 Centers Celebrate Roadmap to Kindergarten Graduations Across Contra Costa
Our First 5 Centers recently celebrated the culmination of the Roadmap to Kindergarten class, marking the completion of a year-long early learning journey for participating children and their parents/adult caregiver who joined them in the class. Graduations honored children’s growth and readiness for kindergarten in joyful, heartfelt ceremonies, acknowledging tiny first steps, moments of discovery, and proud milestones.
The celebrations also recognized the families, caregivers, and staff who supported them along the way, highlighting the importance of early learning experiences and strong family engagement in preparing children for future academic success.
Click here to watch the highlight reel
Child Care Boost Initiative Cohort 2 Applications Open!
We very excited to share CocoKids has opened applications for Cohort 2 of the Child Care Child Care Boost Initiative, a wage enhancement program. This 10-month program provides licensed child care providers in Contra Costa County with a Boost in their monthly income through a monthly wage enhancement stipend program. Participation in the program is based on application and priority scores and a lottery system.
The first cohort of participating early educators will be receiving their final monthly wage enhancements of approximately $1,800 this summer. The goal of this Measure X-funded pilot is to support retention and reduce turnover in a field that depends on stable, skilled staff to provide high-quality care to families.
To learn more, and apply, see details on CocoKids website
A strong and consistent early care and education workforce is critical for young children, who depend on stable relationships for healthy development, and for families who rely on dependable child care in order to work. First 5 Contra Costa led a community process to inform the development of the Wage Boost model and helped advocate for the pilot to be implemented. We continue to advocate for thriving wages for providers countywide.
Planning for the Future: Strategic Planning Process Continues
First 5 Contra Costa is continuing its strategic planning process to prepare for the next five years on behalf of young children and families. Over the last ten months, the organization has been engaging Commissioners, staff, and partners in shaping a vision for the future.
In May, First 5 Contra Costa Commissioners participated in a Strategic Planning Retreat to reflect on the organization’s foundation, history, and evolving context. The retreat included a review of updated five-year fiscal projections and discussions about opportunities, challenges, and priorities that will help guide the development of the next Strategic Plan.
Over the coming months, First 5 Contra Costa will continue refining strategic priorities and identifying key strategies that will inform the organization’s next five-year Strategic Plan, covering 2027/28–2031/32, which will come before the First 5 Commission for approval in December 2026. We will continue sharing updates as the planning process continues.