First 5 San Diego Highlights Accomplishments
First 5 San Diego is having a significant positive impact on the county’s youngest children, according to the organization’s recently released annual report.
The report highlighted First 5’s key achievements in four areas the organization focuses on: health, learning, family and community. More than 85,000 children, parents and child care providers received direct services during fiscal year 2011-12.
Highlights in the report include:
- More than 13,500 children received developmental screenings and 6,000 children received behavioral screenings. More than 80 percent of children receiving treatment for developmental and behavioral delays showed improvement.
- 25,000 children and 5,700 pregnant women received oral health screenings and more than 90 percent of patients with dental disease received treatment.
- More than 7,500 children benefitted from a high-quality early childhood education.
- Approximately 5,000 parents attended parent education classes.
- Reached more than 20,000 families through community events.
- A therapeutic child development center for homeless families and a child development center for military families were funded by First 5.
“These positive outcomes support the key components of the County’s Live Well, San Diego! initiative,” said Nick Macchione, San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency director and First 5 commissioner. “We are making sure children throughout our region are healthy, safe and thriving.”
The First 5 Commission was established in 1999 to oversee funding from Proposition 10, a tobacco tax initiative enacted to ensure all children ages 0 through 5 develop properly so they enter school ready to succeed.
For more information about First 5 San Diego visit first5sandiego.org. Read the First 5 San Diego’s FY 2011-12 Annual Report (PDF).