News and Updates

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Newsletter: The Next Decade of Thriving Families

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 he chose to vaccinate his children, register for a webinar about children and gender identity, and while you’re at it, sing the Dragon Song. All

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JOIN US for Breakfast! Thriving Families Symposium: The Next Decade

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 ask you to partner with us to identify community solutions to ensure our communities have equitable access to high quality, affordable childcare. To turn data

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Applauding the 2023–24 Budget Proposal

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. The budget continues to demonstrate a commitment to provide for the needs of young children and their families and build toward an improved early childhood

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Headshot of Kitty Lopez

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.