About
First 5 Riverside Strategic Plan
July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2016
Overview of Proposition 10
In November 1998, California voters passed Proposition 10, the California Children and Families Act, which added a 50-cent tax on all tobacco products to fund health and early childhood development services that help establish a strong foundation for children’s success in school and throughout their lives. Funds from Proposition 10 are distributed to each of the 58 counties based on the number of births in that county. These funds are overseen by a local county commission that is responsible for developing a strategic plan to guide funding decisions that are consistent with the intent of Proposition 10. Proposition 10 is based on a research which shows that the prenatal period and first 5 years of life is an exceptionally critical period for children’s future development. During infancy and early childhood, children are flooded with new experiences that impact their brain development. The first 5 years of a child’s life offer parents and caregivers a critically important opportunity to positively shape their child’s growth and development. First 5 Riverside, also known as the Riverside County Children & Families Commission, was created by the passage of Proposition 10. In 2009, First 5 Riverside became a division of the Department of Public Social Services. It is led by Commissioners, who are appointed by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. The Commission decides how to use Riverside County’s share of tobacco tax revenues received through Proposition 10 to prepare our youngest children and their families for success. Since inception, First 5 Riverside has invested more than $200 million in local programs serving young children and their families. Vision, Mission, and Guiding Principles Vision All children in Riverside County are healthy and thrive in supportive, nurturing, and loving environments and enter school ready to learn and embrace lifelong learning. Mission First 5 Riverside invests in partnerships that deliver results in these areas: physical health, socialemotional health, cognitive development, a stable home environment, and schools that are prepared to nourish the development of entering kindergarteners.
