The First 5 Difference

Timing is everything: A child’s brain grows to 75-90% of its full size during the first 5 years of life!

Our vital work for children's first 5 years helps ensure that children and their parents are healthy, nurtured, and well prepared for kindergarten.

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Preparing for the Future

The School Readiness Initiative ensures children are ready for school and schools are ready for children by providing quality early care and education services, providing parental support and education, and increasing a school's readiness for children.

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Supporting Families

As most parents know, a healthy child is not always happy, but an unhealthy child will eventually lead to an unhappy family.  First 5 SLO County wants to see all families living happy and healthy lives.  To that end we invest in programs that impact family health at the earliest possible age.

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News & Updates

March Commission Meeting


The public is always invited to attend First 5 Commission meetings. Please join us. The next meeting of the Commission is March 28th, 2012 from 4:00 - 6:30 PM. The meeting location is the DSS (Department of Social Services)...   (read more)

Time is running out...Nominate a Hero for Children!


Do you know an unsung hero in San Luis Obispo County who works with great passion and dedication to improve the lives of our youngest children? Nominate them as a Hero for Children! http://www.first5slo.org/advocacy/heroes/ Nomination...   (read more)

Children's Oral Health Summit


The Third Children's Oral Health Summit Summit Purpose 2012 marks five years of dedicated effort focused on improving oral health for the children of San Luis Obispo County.The Third Children’s Oral...   (read more)

Parenting with Positive Discipline


The six-week Positive Discipline series is based on Best Seller Book “POSITIVE DISCIPLINE” by author Jane Nelsen, ED.D., the classic guide to helping children develop self-discipline,...   (read more)

First 5 of California

“There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
- Nelson Mandela