First 5 Sacramento partners with parents, community organizations and communities to advance equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive prevention and early intervention policies, systems, and practices. These efforts aim to eliminate racial inequities, promote optimal health and development, and improve the lives of children prenatal through age five and their families. Guided by a whole child/whole family approach, First 5 Sacramento centers the experiences of historically marginalized Californians, including immigrant, low-income, and communities of color disproportionately impacted by systemic racism, wealth inequality, and environmental hazards.
First 5 Sacramento’s 2026 policy, advocacy and systems improvement efforts will focus on the following priorities that align with the strategic plan:
Racial Equity
1. Eliminate racial inequities in parental and infant health outcomes by dismantling systemic racist practices, increasing culturally safe and relevant maternal health care, and partnering with health systems to improve outcomes for communities of color.
2. Support systems change efforts, policies, legislation and programs that prioritize racial equity, diversity and inclusion (REDI), anti-black racism and social justice through continued data driven analysis.
Health and Well-Being
3. Improve access to essential health, behavioral health and social services for young children and families by strengthening system coordination to expand screenings, assessments, early intervention and infant and early childhood mental health services.
4. Preserve access to essential health and social services for young children and their families and strengthen care coordination across systems including navigation and re-certification supports for Medi-Cal.
5. Advocate for culturally responsive, trauma-informed, healing-centered family support services that recognize and build parents’ strength, wisdom, and capacity to support their children’s optimal development.
6. Protect and leverage health, family and child development investments with a shared goal of removing barriers to accessing systems of care.
Quality Child Care
7. Support efforts to increase the supply of high-quality early care and education programs for children by advocating for equitable access to affordable childcare and early learning programs with a focus on infant and toddler care.
8. Promote recruitment, retention and support systems improvement for the early care and education workforce by advocating for fair compensation and higher education, while valuing diversity across the field.
Parent Partnership
9. Empower parents to be effective community leaders and advocates to improve the well-being of children and families through expanded leadership programing and policies.
Systems Improvement
10. Ensure First 5s are identified and prioritized as fund administrators, innovators, intermediaries, and systems partners in securing and safeguarding dedicated funding for early childhood systems.
11. Support the sustainability of First 5 Sacramento programs, leverage resources and implement policies to strengthen the capacity of funded partners to effectively serve children and families.
12. Explore and advance additional revenue sources for ensuring sustainable, comprehensive, equitable and integrated systems and services for children and families.
13. Advocate to increase economic supports that empower families to meet the basic needs of children.
14. Expand and strengthen the home visiting workforce by supporting professional development, with the goal of ensuring home visitors represent the diversity of Sacramento’s families.
