What is First 5 Mono County?
The California Children and Families Commission was established after voters passed Proposition 10 in November 1998. Proposition 10 added a 50 cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes to fund education, health, child care, and other programs to promote early childhood development for expectant parents and children up to age 5.

Proposition 10 was designed to address the lack of public funding and support for early childhood development in the wake of a growing body of scientific evidence indicating that children's emotional, physical, social, and developmental environments have a profound impact on their ability to reach their greatest potential in school and to become productive members of society.

In 1999, the Mono County Board of Supervisors established the Mono County Children and Families Commission. The County receives $200,000 each year as well as $250,000 in state matching funds and administrative augmentations. Since 2001 First 5 Mono County has granted more than $700,000 to local organizations and individuals, to improve family functioning, child development, and child health. For more information about the Mono County Commission, contact Kathy Peterson at 760-924-7626, or by email at kpeterson@monocoe.k12.ca.us.

How to Use Our Site
Use the menu at the top and bottom of this page to navigate around our web pages. Clicking on the First 5 Mono County Logo will bring you back to where you began.

What Will You Find Here?
We have included information of interest to the general public, child and family professionals, and other county Commissions. Our menu will take you to pages dedicated to:

• Commission information, including Commission members and the Commission's meeting schedule;

• Projects currently funded by Mono County's Commission;

• School Readiness programs funded or run by the Commission (About First 5 Mono County Projects);

• Parenting information related to the developmental needs of children from birth to the age of 5 years, including recent research on infant brain development, the importance of early learning, and ways to help children become ready for school;

• Documents available from the Commission include the strategic plan and FY 2006-07 fiscal audit;

• News of Mono County and State Children and Families Commission activities; and

• Links to other web sites related to Proposition 10, school readiness, and early learning.