Centering young children and families in community initiatives.
Children and families thrive when communities work together. Local government, businesses, and community organizations all play a role in building a strong foundation for early childhood well-being. First 5 Monterey County works with community organizations and initiatives across sectors to support families, improve systems, and ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Supporting young children and their families requires strong, integrated partnerships across health, education, business, and social services. When systems work together—recognizing both their individual and shared roles—they create more accessible, coordinated, and responsive support for families. These collaborations help ensure that services are seamless and centered on the whole child and whole family, laying the groundwork for healthy development, school readiness, and lifelong well-being.
Systems that work for ALL families
We believe the best outcomes happen when children and families help shape the programs and systems designed to support them. We work alongside community partners to ensure those most impacted—particularly communities of color—are heard, respected, and part of the solutions.
Below is a list of our community partners, along with descriptions of how we work together to achieve shared goals.
A countywide initiative uniting community partners to improve early childhood development outcomes for children from prenatal through age 8.
A collaborative leadership group advancing policies and partnerships to ensure the well-being and success of all children in Monterey County.
COLIBRI (Collaboratively Organizing for Liberation, Inclusion, and Breaking Inequities) is a local cohort initiative that brings together residents, community leaders, and government partners to advance racial equity and community power.
A partnership providing comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care to ensure healthy pregnancies and strong starts for every baby in Monterey County.
A task force dedicated to increasing awareness, screening, and access to care for maternal mental health, supporting the well-being of parents and children.
A coalition of leaders from multiple agencies working together to align strategies and strengthen systems serving children and families in Monterey County.
A collaborative advocating for immigrant rights and creating a welcoming, informed, and supportive environment for immigrant families in Monterey County.
A collective of nonprofits and community groups advancing inclusive economic development and family-sustaining jobs in the Salinas Valley.
A regional nonprofit convening public, private, and civic leaders to improve economic health and quality of life across the tri-county area.
A cradle-to-career partnership aligning education, community, and business leaders to help every Monterey County student succeed in school, college, and career.
By fostering partnerships and aligning resources, First 5 Monterey County creates opportunities for children and families to thrive. For more information about our community-focused initiatives or to learn how you can get involved, contact us.