September 2023 Newsletter: Stories And The Power of Telling Them
Read our newsletter to discover how storytelling is essential to First 5 San Mateo County’s work, Bilingual learning communities for parents, how we are celebrating
Read our newsletter to discover how storytelling is essential to First 5 San Mateo County’s work, Bilingual learning communities for parents, how we are celebrating
Read our newsletter to discover how First 5 San Mateo County is investing in infant mental health to provide families with free resources and support
As a new parent or caregiver, you may be wondering how you can best support the social and emotional development of your young child. Infant
First 5 San Mateo County, along with the First 5 Association of California, is applauding Governor Newsom’s proposed 2023-24 budget plan, which was released Tuesday.
Winter, and the holiday season, are here! And as much fun as it can be, this time of year can also be stressful. In this
Summer fun is wrapping up and fall is almost here! That means change is in the air, and even the youngest among us are very
When you’re a parent, you may not know what you don’t know. Children are complicated! If you feel like you have questions about your child’s
Hear from Deputy Director of First 5 San Mateo County, Michelle Blakely, on building equity, fighting discrimination, and fostering access when it comes to developmental
Puente de la Costa Sur supports families in San Mateo County’s coastal communities, providing resources and programs and advocating for communities and families. Puente is
The CDC estimates that 17% of all children have developmental delays. Yet in San Mateo County, only 6% of children 0-5 years receive EII services.
© 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.
