Overview: First 5 of San Bernardino, a California organization that works to enhance the lives of young children and families, celebrated its 25th anniversary on Nov. 14, with a celebration at the Fox Event Center in Redlands. The organization was developed in 1998 to realize the benefits of Proposition 10 for the County’s youngest residents and their families. The celebration welcomed guest speakers including California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Founder of Center for Youth Wellness & Former Surgeon General of California Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, and President of Children Now Ted Lempert. The organization has been working on a brand campaign for several years to educate more people about First 5.
Alyssah Hall
More than 200 people celebrated the 25th anniversary of First 5 of San Bernardino, also known as Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino County. Launched in 1998, First 5 is an organization that works to enhance the lives of young children and families across California by providing crucial programs and services.
First 5 of San Bernardino’s mission is to encourage, hold up and amplify the early development and “well-being” of the youth from as early as the prenatal period through age 5, as well as assisting those children’s families and their communities.The organization was developed in order to realize the benefits of Proposition 10 (California Children and Families Act) for the state’s youngest residents and their families.
The 25th anniversary occasion was organized by First 5’s staff including Karen Scott who has served as First 5 of San Bernardino’s Executive Director for 17 years.
Scott credited First 5’s partnerships and the relationships she has created throughout the Inland Empire for helping her maintain longevity in the executive director role.
“I learned so much –the whole think tank process comes into play because of all the contributions and thoughts, ideas, exchanges, leveraging of dollars…with the partners. I couldn’t do it at all without all of the institutions that we have in this region, from education to healthcare to social services. It’s all about the partners,” Scott said.
Among the organizations First 5 of San Bernardino partners with are the Child Care Resource Center, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and Diversity Uplifts.
The celebration welcomed guest speakers California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; Founder of Center for Youth Wellness & Former Surgeon General of California, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris (who sent a recorded message); and President of Children Now, Ted Lempert. The celebration was held at the Fox Event Center in Redlands.
“As we look back on 25 years, our main strategic areas are children’s health, quality early education and family support, and that is not done without, not only direct services, but also that policy and advocacy work. So, that’s how we decided which speakers would have the most impact,” Scott said.
With a background in education and social work, Thurmond was elected as state superintendent in 2019, and has been an advocate for public instruction. Last month, Thurmond held a press conference vowing to protect the Department of Education. Thurmond took this stance in light of concerns over possible actions that could impact the department by the incoming presidential administration.
Although First 5 has been around for more than two decades, they have been working on a brand campaign for several years now because many people are unaware of the organization and the services it provides. Part of the hope for the 25th anniversary celebration was educating more people about First 5.
“The most important thing out of all of the 25th anniversary content, to me, is that our region understands that First 5 is the only such dedicated source of funding for children, so children need these services,” Scott explained. “They need these connections, and the family needs support. There is no other dedicated funding source other than Prop 10 — First 5 funding — to do these kinds of services,” Scott said.
The 25th anniversary party was a great event that Scott said she is proud of, noting that a lot of event goers walked away with a better understanding of what First 5 has done and what is possible for them to achieve in the future.
“We built a foundation of partnership, collaboration and identifying what it is that children and families need and I have no doubt that this will continue successfully, and our kids will benefit,” Scott said.