Frequently Asked Questions
What does First 5 Contra Costa do?
Why the emphasis on early childhood?
What happens when smoking rates go down and fewer revenues are collected?
How is the money administered in Contra Costa County?
What programs does First 5 Contra Costa fund?
How did First 5 Contra Costa determine funding priorities?
What does First 5 Contra Costa do?
First 5 Contra Costa invests Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues in local health and education programs for expectant parents and children birth to age five. First 5 funded programs help young children grow up healthy, nurtured, and ready for school.
First 5 Contra Costa receives funding from Proposition 10, a statewide ballot initiative passed in 1998 which added a 50 cent-per-pack tax on tobacco products. Proposition 10 was approved by voters to dedicate a revenue stream for young children and provide them with healthcare, school readiness, child development, and family support programs. Funds received by the tobacco tax are distributed by the First 5 California commission for statewide programs and by county First 5 commissions to support local priorities for young children.
Why the emphasis on early childhood?
Research shows that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years and that caregiving during these years shapes the way a child learns, thinks, and behaves for the rest of his or her life. Proposition 10 was passed by California voters to fund health and education programs that take advantage of this critical time in development and provide children with a strong foundation.
Numerous studies have confirmed that investing in the early years reduces the need for more expensive tax payer-funded services later, such as foster care, special education, and welfare programs. First 5 investments are giving Contra Costa's children the foundation they need to succeed in school and life.
Approximately $550 million is collected each year statewide from the tobacco tax. Eighty percent of the revenues go to County Commissions to fund local programs that address local priorities. First 5 California receives twenty percent for statewide programs. Funds are allocated to County Commissions based upon county birth rate data, according to the county where the birth mother resides.
Last year, First 5 Contra Costa received $10.6 million in local Proposition 10 revenue, and anticipates receiving $10.2 million this year.
What happens when smoking rates go down and fewer revenues are collected?
Tobacco taxes are a declining revenue source. Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenue has declined 4% each year for the last three years. As fewer taxes are collected, funds to each county are reduced proportionately.
The intent of Prop.10 is to create sustainable programs for children that can continue even as Prop. 10 funding decreases. First 5 Contra Costa has developed a sustainability plan to provide a consistent level of funding for our initiatives. First 5 Contra Costa has saved for the future to ensure that children continue to receive needed health and education programs. You can also review funding projections in our strategic plan.
How is the money administered in Contra Costa County?
The funds are administered by the First 5 Contra Costa Children and Families Commission, which is made up of nine members and nine alternates appointed by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.
What programs does First 5 Contra Costa fund?
- First 5 Centers offering families neighborhood-based places to take classes and get support
- In-home parent education and support for at-risk families
- Substance abuse services for pregnant and parenting women and their young children
- Programs to help identify and treat problems or disabilities in young children early
- Support for parents of children with special needs
- Training and education for child care providers to make sure children receive high-quality care
- Preschool programs to help children enter kindergarten ready to learn
- Radio programs, 211, and parenting kits providing parenting information and resources
For a complete list of current contractors and funded programs, click here.
How did First 5 Contra Costa determine our funding priorities?
Prop. 10 directs each county to create a strategic plan outlining how counties will use funds to support and young children and their families.
First 5 Contra Costa’s strategic plan is based on extensive community input, our experience implementing Proposition 10 over the last ten years, and new knowledge and successful practices that have emerged in the early childhood development field in recent years.
