Why We Do It

Our Impact

Community Impact

At First 5 Fresno County, we believe children thrive when their families thrive. The voices of Fresno County families and community partners are at the heart of our work and initiatives. We are building on more than two decades of lifting up young children by investing in their families, neighborhoods, and the system of services that make up our community—because when children are healthy, loved, and nurtured, we all thrive.

We have invested more than $300 million in local initiatives and services for young children and their families over the last 25 years. We continue to partner with the community to fill gaps in the early childhood services system and raise the needs of young children so that families have access to the community-based support they need.

While we will continue to fund effective and culturally responsive services for families, we will also look ahead to a more sustainable, coordinating role in the early childhood system of care.

Child-Friendly Business Awards

A Primary Initiative

Annually, First 5 Fresno County hosts the First 5 Fresno County Child-Friendly Business Awards, an honor that we bestow on local businesses that go above and beyond to ensure their culture allows workers to do their best on the job and at home with their children and families.

Lighthouse for Children

A Beacon for Families

The Lighthouse for Children, Inc., a 501 3(c) non-profit, was created to build the Lighthouse for Children facility (LFC). The LFC is a centralized hub of programs, services, and training spaces supporting young children and their families. Community partners offer families a learning environment where they feel safe, supported, and prioritized. This three-story community building houses the Child Development Center, the Community Learning Center, conferencing, office space for community agencies, and First 5 Fresno County’s administrative offices.

Infant Safe Sleep Program

Ensuring Safer and Comfortable Sleep

Sleep Safe Baby is a movement funded by First 5 Fresno County to help families in Fresno keep their babies sleeping safer and comfortable. We do this by raising awareness, knowledge, and support to shift cultural norms and everyday sleep practices and reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS or SUIDS) in the Fresno Community.

Advocacy

First 5 Fresno County engages with decision-makers at all levels to promote family-centered policies that improve the well-being of children. We advocate for our county’s youngest residents and their families to ensure they have the support to thrive in school and life.

Rooted in a whole child/whole family framework focusing on children prenatal to 5 years old, we hope to be a conduit for change during this critical stage of development—building comprehensive and integrated early childhood systems of care that advance equity, prevention strategies, and systems coordination.

Policy Agenda

As a part of the First 5 Association Policy Committee and in partnership with all 58 California counties, we create, adopt, and support the First 5 Association Policy Agenda. Our advocacy efforts focus on supporting legislation and policies that center our priorities in a whole child/whole family framework.