For more than 25 years, we have been committed to creating opportunities for all children in San Mateo County.
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.
San Mateo County’s families are as diverse as our county. To help ensure all families have what they need to thrive, we work broadly and proactively to create, support, and sustain the social, physical, and economic conditions needed for children’s success.
Learn how we support children and families
Meet the members of our comission
Meet our dedicated team
Success for every child.
First 5 San Mateo County promotes positive outcomes for young children and their families through strategic investments, community leadership, and effective partnerships.
Our organization is led by a diverse and dedicated team of professionals who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young children. Our team includes experts in child development, early education, public health, and social services, as well as community members who are committed to improving the well-being of children and families during some of the most important years of their lives.
First 5 San Mateo County was created in March 1999 after California voters passed the Children and Families First Act (Prop 10). This legislation added a 50-cent tax on all tobacco products to fund and create an “an integrated, comprehensive, and collaborative system of information and services to enhance optimal early childhood development and to ensure that children are ready to enter school.”
The Act established First 5 California to focus on statewide initiatives, while each of the state’s 58 counties has a First 5 Commission responsible for funding decisions based on local strategic priorities. For the past 25 years, First 5 County Commissions have funded various programs and services for children aged 0-5 and their families. In light of the Commission’s declining revenues, our goal is to make strategic investments and maximize partnership opportunities to make long-term positive impacts for children, families, and the community. We are fortunate to be a part of a community with a history of collaboration and partnership within and across our publicly funded service sectors and community-based organizations.
“First 5 San Mateo County strives to create the conditions that will allow all young children to prosper socially, emotionally, and economically…. This effort will require common understanding, shared ownership, willingness to change, and commitment to providing equitable opportunities for all children. “
Read our 2020-2025 strategic plan to understand how we approach our three current primary community roles:
© 2024 First 5 San Mateo County
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.
