First 5 California’s Annual Report

In FY 2021–22, First 5 Napa County served as the lead agency for the Home Visitation Coordination grant funded by First 5 California. The grant funding supported the planning phase for organizations working toward a more coordinated and integrated early learning and care system for young children and their families. Partner agencies included Cope Family Center, UpValley Family Centers, Community Resources for Children, ParentsCAN, Child Start, MomSquad, Ole Health, Napa County Public Health, and Partnership HealthPlan of California. The Family Support and Home Visiting Collaborative reconvened and worked to develop a common mission and vision, developed a comprehensive action plan, and participated in data collection in support of the goals of the planning phase and to prepare the collaborative for future funding opportunities. The Family Support and Home Visiting Collaborative also participated in a professional learning series, Centering Relationships & Trust through Dialog. This three-part virtual dialog series introduced the art of dialog that created an opportunity to share lived experiences while practicing the skills of cultivating curiosity, empathetic listening, and leading with inquiry. Through an innovative framework called Liberatory Design, the group revisited values, created new goals, and began to build infrastructure that supports ongoing dialog with stakeholders and advocating for more equitable practices in early childhood leadership. The overall goal of the series was to develop an understanding of the group’s different communication styles and complex identities. With a strong connection to anti-bias practices in early learning and care, the group spent time building trust and relationships and its commitment to planning long-term solutions for the challenges they collectively prioritize. The Family Support and Home Visiting Collaborative is prepared to collaborate on future funding opportunities, including anticipated additional investments from First 5 California and local Mental Health Services Act funding.