Funding Opportunities
In 1998, California voters passed Proposition 10, the California Children and Families Act (Act). This Act imposes a tax on all tobacco products, generating revenue that is dedicated to supporting California’s youngest residents, from the prenatal stage to age five. The purpose of the Act is to provide California’s children with the best opportunities for physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development that are so crucial to optimum early learning and school readiness.
Proposition 10 generates $500 million per year for First 5 statewide. Each county First 5 in each in California receives a share of this tax money based on how many babies are born in that county each year. Sonoma County’s share is about $4.5 million annually.
The California Children and Families Act states that First 5 dollars must be spent to promote, support, and improve the early development of children five years old and younger. First 5 Sonoma County does this by funding programs and services for young children and their families and by working to improve early childhood development.
First 5 Sonoma County began in December 1998 when the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors created the Sonoma County Children and Families Commission. The nine-member Commission governs First 5 Sonoma County. The Commission makes funding decisions and oversees funded programs and services.
Funding is awarded in three ways:
