OpEd: We need to address child care shortages now
Our Executive Director here at First 5 San Mateo County, Kitty Lopez, shared her view on the current child care shortage, and how we will
Our Executive Director here at First 5 San Mateo County, Kitty Lopez, shared her view on the current child care shortage, and how we will
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
Child care is not just a necessity for working parents; it plays a vital role in our society as the backbone of our economy, enabling
Families, and especially women, must have the protected right and ability to create families if and when they are willing and able. Ensuring that every
Our vision of success for every child means that children should have the opportunity to grow up with security, safety, stability, and respect from the
Read about the 2022 Child Care Needs Assessment, share stories about what child care means to you, hear from Family Connections’s Eric Valladares about why
The San Mateo County Child Care Needs Assessment found a critical child care shortage in San Mateo County with serious implications for our community. We
When so much in the world is uncertain, parents do everything they can to protect their kids from the unknown, and the COVID-19 Pandemic has
The Child Care Needs Assessment was launched by the San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council, San Mateo County Office of Education, San Mateo County
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Kitty Lopez has served as the Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo County since 2012, focusing on policy, advocacy and communications development. Additionally, she is the Chair of First 5 Association of California. Kitty previously served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House, one of the leading safety-net nonprofit agencies serving low-income families and individuals in San Mateo County with food, shelter, clothing, health care, counseling, education classes, and holiday assistance from 2002 to 2012.
Kitty taught kindergarten, second grade, and high school in the Bay Area and in Santa Barbara, 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 in San Diego.
She attended University of California Santa Barbara earning a California Teaching Credential and B.A in Psychology. Kitty is active in her community serving on several community boards including HEART (Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo County), STEP (Success Through Education Program), and Past President and Current Member of the San Mateo Rotary Club.
