Low birth weight. Low-performing schools. Poverty.When Best Start expanded beyond Metro LA in 2009, these were among the risk factors for young children, along with geographic, racial and ethnic diversity, used to determine which additional communities would become a...
Amado Ulloa
Coming “Full Circle”
Rafael González’s current role as director of First 5 LA’s Best Start Communities has brought him back full circle to the single most important lesson of his youth: it’s all about community. “It wasn’t so much a choice for me to go into social justice work – it was...
Best Start Communities Learning By Doing Implementation Moves Forward
In a milestone step forward for Best Start Communities, First 5 LA's Commission recently allocated $413,033 for the City of Long Beach to work in collaboration with the Best Start Central Long Beach Community Partnership to implement strategies and activities...
Best Start Representatives Join Community Leaders at Empowerment Congress
Best Start program officers and partnership members recently joined civic leaders, educators and community members at the 23rd Annual Empowerment Congress Summit, where topics included decision-making, constituent involvement and the importance of early...
“Baby University” Provides Invaluable Tips for Best Start Northeast Valley Parents
EN ESPAÑOL »Thanks to a strong and productive partnership between First 5 LA’s Best Start Northeast Valley Community and Pacoima Charter Elementary School, the school has developed a program, focusing on parents of children ages 0-5 in the San Fernando Valley, to help...
Policy Pick: Governor’s New Budget Plan Ignores Child Care, Dental Issues
While Governor Jerry Brown’s $113 billion budget proposal for 2015-16 includes increases for higher education and K-12, children’s advocates have criticized the budget for not prioritizing two issues affecting young children and their families.According to an analysis...
Best Start “Ready for Kinder” Workbook Transcends Borders
Sometimes a small, local project can make a big difference, even across borders.As a stay-at-home mother of two young girls and an active leader in the Best Start Panorama City & Neighbors Partnership, 34-year-old Alma Rodriguez knows the importance of early childhood...
A Day of Thanks in December
EN ESPAÑOl »On a sunny, bright Saturday afternoon in December, leaders from the 14 Best Start communities were honored at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Downtown Los Angeles. Salsa music played in the background while over 300 members of the various Best Start...
Policy Pick: Congress Passes Child Care Development Block Grant Reauthorization Bill
After nearly 20 years since the federal child care subsidy law saw any significant modifications, Congress has finally taken action on this important federal program that provides child care assistance for families and funds child care quality initiatives.On November...
Mayor Opens Door for Best Start Palmdale
Best Start Palmdale had a special acknowledgement when Palmdale Mayor James C. Ledford attended its monthly partnership meeting recently and spoke about how his team is looking forward to helping the community. Accompanied by Palmdale’s Communications Manager John...
