San Mateo County thrives when community-wide partnerships and investments focus on young children. It is all of our responsibility to ensure that children and families have access to basic needs, supportive environments, and nurturing relationships. When this happens, we all benefit—because our county has healthy families, a vital workforce, and strong communities.
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At First 5 San Mateo County, we want all young children to prosper socially, emotionally, and economically. This means working to overcome the tremendous inequities that face children and families, including poverty and racism. It means ensuring that all of the systems that impact families’ lives are accessible, equitable, and family centered. It also means lifting up and celebrating our county’s incredible families and communities.
Making a difference for San Mateo County’s children is possible when community organizations, policy makers, businesses, and residents understand the importance of supporting young children and their families, and work together to mobilize resources.
San Mateo County thrives when community-wide partnerships and investments focus on young children. It is all of our responsibility to ensure that children and families have access to basic needs, supportive environments, and nurturing relationships. When this happens, we all benefit—because our county has healthy families, a vital workforce, and strong communities.
Help our partners and others collaborate in our shared effort to prioritize children and families throughout San Mateo County.
Age-based tips for teachers to help students process.
Take a look at First 5 San Mateo County's more than 20 years of impact.
Research and policy advocacy to improve early childhood systems.
We support the Council's local policy platform.
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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.
