First 5 SLO County Initiatives

First 5 SLO County was created in 1998 by Proposition 10, which added a tax on tobacco products. First 5 SLO County allocates the tobacco tax revenue to programs in SLO County that improve the lives of children from prenatal through age 5.

Health Initiative ensures children in SLO County are healthy and fit by connecting children with health care, promoting healthy lifestyles, and providing screening and early intervention for health-related issues.

BABES provides breastfeeding education and support to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, including phone support and breast pump loan services. You do NOT need to be a WIC client to receive these services.

• French Medical Center Breastfeeding Clinic Info
• SLO County WIC Program

Postpartum Depression Support Services provides counseling, information and referrals for new mothers, their families and other caregivers.

• SLO CAP Information and Website

Vision Screening and Treatment program provides preschool and kindergarten age children with vision screening and treatment referrals for visual disorders and visual development delays.

• Optimetric Care Associates

Oral Health Initiative ensures children in SLO County have good oral health by promoting community collaboration, promoting good oral hygiene and providing oral health care.

La Clinica de Tolosa provides dental treatment, prevention and education to low-income children.

• La Clinica de Tolosa Website

Oral Health Program Manger coordinates children’s oral health services, including dental screenings, referrals, case management and connecting clients with providers.

• SLO Oral Health

WIC Oral Health provides education, assessment and referral of children with oral health needs.

• SLO County WIC Program

Perinatal Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative ensures children in SLO County are born free of exposure to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs by promoting community collaboration, promoting substance-free pregnancy, and screening and brief intervention of women using substances.

Baby’s First Breath offers stop-smoking services to pregnant women, family members and caregivers of children ages 0-5.

• SLO County Tobacco Control Program

Beginnings is a collaborative network that shares resources and develops strategies related to the prevention of alcohol, tobacco or other harmful substance abuse during pregnancy.

• Beginnings of San Luis Obispo County

Special Needs Initiative ensures children in SLO County are screened early for special needs and receive the individual treatment and family support they need by providing resources and support to parents, assessing, treating and referring children with special needs.

Parents Helping Parents is a resource center, which provides information, referrals, training, family support, and outreach to families of children with special needs.

• Parents Helping Parents

BEST PALS provides assessment and treatment of children with educational, behavior or sensory concerns. Services include behavior management technique information, parent education, and referrals.

• Best Pals

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.

Expanded Day State Preschool provides additional preschool hours at three state preschool sites and is open to children whose parents work or attend school full-time.

• SLO County Office of Education
• CA State Preschools | First 5 Preschools

First 5 Preschools are open to children ages 3-5 living in Oceano or Paso Robles, with priority given to children who will be entering kindergarten at Oceano Elementary or Georgia Brown Elementary.

• SLO County Office of Education
• CA State Preschools | First 5 Preschools

Head Start Summer Enrichment Program is a three-week camp available at four sites which prepares children to transition into kindergarten.

• Head Start Program

Oak Park Soccer Program is a soccer league for children in the Georgia Brown Elementary area.

• Oak Park Soccer Program

Georgia Brown Elementary School Readiness provides pre-kindergarten services that connect parents and children with resources, early literacy programs, family advocacy services and parent education, so children are better prepared for school.

• SLO County Office of Education
• School Readiness

Oceano Elementary School Readiness provides pre-kindergarten services that connect parents and children with resources, early literacy programs, family advocacy services and parent education, so children are better prepared for school.

• SLO County Office of Education
• School Readiness