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
“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
Explore the latest news and updates from First 5 San Mateo County! Inside, uncover our Week of the Young Child celebrations, meet our two newest commissioners, and stay informed with all the latest developments.
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
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
A new paper confirms a central tenet of the ACEs Aware initiative – a trauma-informed environment of care is a crucial foundation for Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) screening. The paper, entitled Clinic Readiness for Trauma-Informed Health Care Is Associated with Uptake of Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences, was published in
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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.
