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toddler stands in an indoor playhouse holding a toy

25 Years of Impact

October 9, 2024

For a quarter of a century, First 5 San Mateo County has been proud to be a leader, partner, and investor working on behalf of young children and families in our county. That’s right–it’s our 25 year anniversary, an incredible milestone in our history. From our early investments in children’s health and development, to our longstanding commitment to creating access to high quality early childhood education and supporting the early childhood workforce, we have been committed to making San Mateo County a place where young children and their families can thrive. Since its inception, First 5 San Mateo County has invested more than $150 million in local programs and has served nearly 100,000 children from birth through age five. Take a look at this timeline that shares select highlights from the past 25 years of our work. And, thank you for your support! Whether you are a partner, parent, or

Read More
young professional women in conference room

Empathy in Action: Fostering Trust and Community at Friday CAFE

July 8, 2024

What comes to mind when you think of empathy? Perhaps it’s a warm hug during a moment of sorrow, or the shared laughter that brings people together.  If you’ve attended a Friday CAFE (Community and Family Engagement), administered by the San Mateo County Office of Education and funded by First 5 San Mateo County, you’ve heard Anthony Thomas, the Conversation Catalyst at Friday CAFE say, “Empathy is feeling with another person, rather than feeling for them. It’s really about being with someone in the space that they’re at, whether good, bad, or indifferent.” San Mateo County Office of Education’s (SMCOE) Friday CAFE is a monthly gathering where self-exploration, connection, and authentic dialogue between our county’s dedicated family support staff take center stage. Facilitated by Anthony Thomas, Manager of Community Services at Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC), the goal of Friday CAFE is to provide support and shift the mindset for

Read More
Japanese older brother embraces his younger sister, while their mother joins in on the sofa.

The 5 Protective Factors: Why the First Five Years Matter

May 30, 2024

“In the developed world, the United States is an outlier in its low levels of financial support for young children’s care. The U.S. spends 0.2 percent of its G.D.P. on child care for children 2 and under — which amounts to about $200 a year for most families,” the New York Times highlighted in this article. “Other wealthy countries spend an average of 0.7 percent of G.D.P. Denmark, for example, spends $23,140 annually per child on care for children 2 and under.” “‘We as a society, with public funding, spend so much less on children before kindergarten than once they reach kindergarten,’ said Elizabeth Davis, an economist studying child care at the University of Minnesota. ‘And yet the science of child development shows how very important investment in the youngest ages are, and we get societal benefits from those investments.’” Investments in early childhood return, on average, seven times in

Read More

Week of the Young Child 2024: Celebrating the Present and Future of San Mateo County’s Children

April 8, 2024

As parents, caregivers, and members of the community, we often hear about the importance of early childhood. But what exactly does it mean to invest in the first years of a child’s life, and why is it so crucial? This week, the entire early childhood community is celebrating all of the incredible ways children can be set up for success from the very beginning.  That’s right, it is the Week of the Young Child!  The Week of the Young Child is celebrated annually in April to recognize the needs of young children and thank the adults involved in their education and care. This celebration often lasts all month and focuses on raising awareness about the importance of early learning and early childhood programs among parents, families, community leaders, and the general public!  Why is investing in the early years crucial? Investing in the early years of a child’s life is

Read More

Nurturing Diversity: County and Public Leadership’s Vital Role in Addressing This Challenge!

March 20, 2024

In the grand finale of our Nurturing Diversity series, we shine a spotlight on an individual whose passion for early childhood education serves as a core theme of our series. Meet Andrea Burnett, a Coordinator, P3 Quality Improvement Initiatives at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE). Andrea’s story highlights the vital role of County and Public Leadership in dealing with diversity-related issues within early childhood education. As we conclude our series, we reflect on Andrea’s insights, illustrating how her commitment has helped shape a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape. Reflecting on her journey into the early childhood landscape, Andrea reveals that her experience as a teenage mother played a pivotal role in shaping her trajectory. Initially, it was a routine child development class that sparked her interest. However, what began as a simple course quickly turned into new opportunities. With each unit she completed, Andrea earned teaching

Read More
A loving black family of 3: dad holds their baby while mom wraps her arms around them, creating a heartwarming embrace.

Nurturing Diversity: Paving the Way for Black Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

February 14, 2024

As we continue Black History Month, it’s important to shed light on the challenges that persist for many Black children during their early years. The landscape of early childhood education (ECE) reveals a stark reality— neighborhoods of color often have fewer options, creating a hurdle for the youngest members of our community. Many children still face challenges based on their race during their early years. And while these challenges continue, so does the determination of communities to overcome these obstacles. In San Mateo County, only 43 percent of families have access to suitable ECE options. This leaves a staggering 57 percent of families without suitable, or without ECE options at all, which means there are hundreds of children falling through the cracks. This striking contrast highlights the need for a universal commitment to achieving genuine racial equity for every child. The journey towards breaking down these barriers requires an approach

Read More
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toddler stands in an indoor playhouse holding a toy

25 Years of Impact

October 9, 2024

For a quarter of a century, First 5 San Mateo County has been proud to be a leader, partner, and investor working on behalf of young children and families in our county. That’s right–it’s our 25 year anniversary, an incredible milestone in our history. From our early investments in children’s health and development, to our longstanding commitment to creating access to high quality early childhood education and supporting the early childhood workforce, we have been committed to making San Mateo County a place where young children and their families can thrive. Since its inception, First 5 San Mateo County has invested more than $150 million in local programs and has served nearly 100,000 children from birth through age five. Take a look at this timeline that shares select highlights from the past 25 years of our work. And, thank you for your support! Whether you are a partner, parent, or

Read More
young professional women in conference room

Empathy in Action: Fostering Trust and Community at Friday CAFE

July 8, 2024

What comes to mind when you think of empathy? Perhaps it’s a warm hug during a moment of sorrow, or the shared laughter that brings people together.  If you’ve attended a Friday CAFE (Community and Family Engagement), administered by the San Mateo County Office of Education and funded by First 5 San Mateo County, you’ve heard Anthony Thomas, the Conversation Catalyst at Friday CAFE say, “Empathy is feeling with another person, rather than feeling for them. It’s really about being with someone in the space that they’re at, whether good, bad, or indifferent.” San Mateo County Office of Education’s (SMCOE) Friday CAFE is a monthly gathering where self-exploration, connection, and authentic dialogue between our county’s dedicated family support staff take center stage. Facilitated by Anthony Thomas, Manager of Community Services at Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC), the goal of Friday CAFE is to provide support and shift the mindset for

Read More
Japanese older brother embraces his younger sister, while their mother joins in on the sofa.

The 5 Protective Factors: Why the First Five Years Matter

May 30, 2024

“In the developed world, the United States is an outlier in its low levels of financial support for young children’s care. The U.S. spends 0.2 percent of its G.D.P. on child care for children 2 and under — which amounts to about $200 a year for most families,” the New York Times highlighted in this article. “Other wealthy countries spend an average of 0.7 percent of G.D.P. Denmark, for example, spends $23,140 annually per child on care for children 2 and under.” “‘We as a society, with public funding, spend so much less on children before kindergarten than once they reach kindergarten,’ said Elizabeth Davis, an economist studying child care at the University of Minnesota. ‘And yet the science of child development shows how very important investment in the youngest ages are, and we get societal benefits from those investments.’” Investments in early childhood return, on average, seven times in

Read More

Week of the Young Child 2024: Celebrating the Present and Future of San Mateo County’s Children

April 8, 2024

As parents, caregivers, and members of the community, we often hear about the importance of early childhood. But what exactly does it mean to invest in the first years of a child’s life, and why is it so crucial? This week, the entire early childhood community is celebrating all of the incredible ways children can be set up for success from the very beginning.  That’s right, it is the Week of the Young Child!  The Week of the Young Child is celebrated annually in April to recognize the needs of young children and thank the adults involved in their education and care. This celebration often lasts all month and focuses on raising awareness about the importance of early learning and early childhood programs among parents, families, community leaders, and the general public!  Why is investing in the early years crucial? Investing in the early years of a child’s life is

Read More

Nurturing Diversity: County and Public Leadership’s Vital Role in Addressing This Challenge!

March 20, 2024

In the grand finale of our Nurturing Diversity series, we shine a spotlight on an individual whose passion for early childhood education serves as a core theme of our series. Meet Andrea Burnett, a Coordinator, P3 Quality Improvement Initiatives at the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE). Andrea’s story highlights the vital role of County and Public Leadership in dealing with diversity-related issues within early childhood education. As we conclude our series, we reflect on Andrea’s insights, illustrating how her commitment has helped shape a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape. Reflecting on her journey into the early childhood landscape, Andrea reveals that her experience as a teenage mother played a pivotal role in shaping her trajectory. Initially, it was a routine child development class that sparked her interest. However, what began as a simple course quickly turned into new opportunities. With each unit she completed, Andrea earned teaching

Read More
A loving black family of 3: dad holds their baby while mom wraps her arms around them, creating a heartwarming embrace.

Nurturing Diversity: Paving the Way for Black Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

February 14, 2024

As we continue Black History Month, it’s important to shed light on the challenges that persist for many Black children during their early years. The landscape of early childhood education (ECE) reveals a stark reality— neighborhoods of color often have fewer options, creating a hurdle for the youngest members of our community. Many children still face challenges based on their race during their early years. And while these challenges continue, so does the determination of communities to overcome these obstacles. In San Mateo County, only 43 percent of families have access to suitable ECE options. This leaves a staggering 57 percent of families without suitable, or without ECE options at all, which means there are hundreds of children falling through the cracks. This striking contrast highlights the need for a universal commitment to achieving genuine racial equity for every child. The journey towards breaking down these barriers requires an approach

Read More
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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.