Promoting Equitable Access & Outcomes
In 2002, First 5 Amador adopted the Principles on Equity developed by the Advisory Committee on Diversity to First 5 California.  The Principles on Equity served as the foundation for developing these nine Guiding Principles:  Access; Inclusive principles of equity and diversity for children with special needs; Collaboration; Outreach and Engagement; Utilization of Family Resource Centers; School Readiness; Promoting Father Involvement; Community Building; and Prevention and Wellness Approach. 

Our Strategic Plan
The goals and focus areas adopted in the 2005-2009 Strategic Plan are as follows:

Child Care:  Increase, improve and enhance the availability, affordability, and quality of child care in Amador County for families with children 0-5.

• Increase the percentage of informal caregivers that participate in educational opportunities.
• Support and/or expand the existing child care system.
• Support for development and improvement of facilities and equipment  exists.

Family Safety:  Work towards eliminating Family Violence and its impact on Amador County families with children 0-5. 

• Increase the awareness of Amador County residents about what constitutes family violence, and how to access resources.
• Increase the number of persons who receive services and information about family violence.
• Improvements in the Family Violence/Domestic Violence system functioning in Amador County are supported.

Health:  Enhance the health opportunities to families with children 0-5.

• Increase awareness of the availability of (health) services to families, and how to access those services.
• Increase the utilization of health opportunities (e.g., parent and infant kits, school readiness information, etc.).
• Increase the percentage of eligible families who enroll, participate in, and are retained in health programs (i.e. Healthy Families, Medi-Cal, etc.).
• Increase the number of local health service programs.
   

School Readiness:  Children will enter school with skills for success in life.

• Increase the nutrition education and physical activity of children 0-5.
• Increase peer support of, and self-identification by, parents and/or primary caregivers in their role as their child’s first, most important teacher.
• Increase the number of parents, primary caregivers, and informal/formal caregivers participating in hands-on child development activities in informal settings.
• Increase the number of children 0-5 who have current assessments of their development and total well-being, and whose parents are linked with appropriate resources.
• Increase community awareness of what constitutes School Readiness and skills for success of children.
• Increase early childhood educators’ understanding and awareness of what constitutes School Readiness for children that includes skills for success in life.
• Increase communication and collaboration between Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten communities so they come to a common understanding.