First 5 San Mateo County is led by a Commission made up of nine members, including one member of the Board of Supervisors, Chief of San Mateo County Health, Director of the County Human Services Agency, County Superintendent of Schools, and five members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
Join us! Meetings are open to the public and packets are posted 72 hours in advance.
Usually takes place on the 4th Monday of each month from 4:00 – 6:00 PM (unless if it falls on a federal holiday).
Reach Myra Cruz at ecruz@smcgov.org or at 650-294-4080 with any questions.
Usually takes place on the 1st Monday of each month from 4:00 – 5:00 PM.
The Program, Operations and Planning Committee advises the Commission concerning the County’s Children and Families First Strategic Plan, policies concerning programs to be implemented and supported under the Strategic Plan, community needs assessments, program evaluations, and other tasks and issues as assigned by the Commission.
Reach Michelle Blakely at mblakely@smcgov.org or at 650-372-9500 with any questions.
Usually takes place on the 2nd Monday of each month from 9:00 – 10:00 AM.
The Finance and Administration Committee advises the Commission concerning the budget, administrative costs, savings, investments, fixed assets, long-term financial plan financial objectives, funding strategies and annual allocation plan, annual financial audit, and other tasks and issues as assigned by the Commission.
Reach Khanh Chau at kchau@smcgov.org or at 650-372-9500 with any questions.
Usually takes place on the 3rd Monday of every other month at 3:30 – 4:30 PM.
The Early Childhood Evaluation Advisory Committee advises the full Commission on the planning and implementation of research and evaluation activities; hears the perspectives of grantees on evaluation and data collection and utilization; serves as the initial audience for research and evaluation findings, and provides guidance to staff and evaluation contractors regarding presentation of results to the full Commission.
Reach Jenifer Clark at jdclark@smcgov.org or at 650-372-9500 with any questions.
© 2024 First 5 San Mateo County
Kitty Lopez has served as the Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo County since 2013, focusing on strategic investing, community leadership, policy and advocacy development for young children, 0-5, and their families.
Kitty has served as Co-Chair of the Advisory Body for Build Up for San Mateo County Children’s Initiative, with Board of Supervisor, Dave Pine, since 2018. Congressman Kevin Mullin is Honorary Co-Chair. This initiative was established to preserve, grow, and increase the number of early care sites in San Mateo County.
Kitty previously served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House, one of San Mateo County’s leading Core Service Agencies and safety-net nonprofits serving low-income families and individuals with food, shelter, clothing, health care, counseling, education classes, and holiday assistance from 2002 to 2013.
Kitty taught kindergarten, second grade, and high school in southern California and San Francisco and was a consultant in schools with children who have autism and special needs. Additionally, Kitty worked in a residential substance abuse treatment center in San Francisco and psychiatric hospital for children and youth in San Diego. Kitty’s roots in supporting children began as a 16-year-old volunteer at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles where she taught swimming to children and adults with visual impairments.
She attended University of California Santa Barbara earning a California Teaching Credential and B.A in Psychology. Kitty is active in her community serving as Vice Chair of the San Mateo County Event Center, and Past President and Current Member of the San Mateo Rotary Club. She is currently serving as Past President of the First 5 Association of California. On March 2022, Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin selected Kitty Lopez as the 2022 Assembly District 22 Woman of the Year.
