Community Toolkit

Community Toolkit

Resources for supporting young children.

San Mateo Families have so many incredible resources at their fingertips. Share these tools for everything from free new parent support resources, First 5 SMC partners, simplified tax information, and so much more. Our goal is to make it easier for families to access the resources they need to raise happy, healthy children. This toolkit is intended to help our partners and others in San Mateo County support parents and collaborate in our shared effort to prioritize children and families across San Mateo County.

We update and add tools to the toolkit as appropriate. Sign up for our mailing list to receive important updates.

First 5 San Mateo County Toolkit

Resource Library

Share incredible free community resources for safety, mental and physical health, and more

Kit for New Parents

The Kit for New Parents has supplies for parents to develop positive relationships with their children.

News and Updates

Stay informed of our new resources, current events, and everything going on in our community.

Important Conversations with Children

Talking with Students About Bad News

Age-based tips for teachers to help students process.

Talking to Children about Safety at School

Resources for parents and teachers to talk to children.

Explaining the News to Our Kids

Age-based tips on how to talk with kids about the news.

Trauma and Family Resiliency

TRISI

Participate in our initiative supporting trauma-informed practice, and find resources to support resiliency

Peaks & Valleys: Family Story Project

Parents shared what more aligned systems look like to them. Videos and a one-pager are available.

CalEITC, EITC, and YCTC

The California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) are proven, effective tools to help move working families out of poverty and up the economic ladder. Together with the federal EITC, these credits can put thousands of dollars in the pockets of working families. Tax filers with an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) are eligible for the CalEITC and YCTC credits, meaning outreach to immigrant communities is especially important this year. More information and resources are available below. Help spread the word about EITC, CalEITC, and YCTC to families in our community. 

Federal EITC

Learn more about the Federal EITC and visit often for updates

California EITC

Get resources and information about CalEITC

Young Child Tax Credit

Learn more about the YCTC and get updates

Early Learning and Care

Working to Increase Child Care Facilities

Overview of the need and our work to increase child care facilities.

Build Up San Mateo County

An initiative to grow and improve the supply of early care and education facilities

Child Care Partnership Council

A joint council of the SMC Board of Supervisors & the SMC Superintendent of Schools.

Children & Family Health

Put a Pause on Pot

Flyer for expecting parents sharing information on marijuana and pregnancy.

Improving Oral Health for Children 0-5

Overview of the need and our work to support oral health.

ACEs Aware

Resources for understanding ACEs and why they matter for families.

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"Together we can transform how our county’s services, supports, and systems work for young children to ensure success for every child and guarantee better outcomes for San Mateo County."
First 5 San Mateo County
Headshot of Kitty Lopez

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.