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First 5 County Efforts > Sonoma County

Sonoma County

crying infant

Strong Funding Partnerships

The First 5 Sonoma County Early Childhood Mental Health taskforce has developed and begun implementing a plan for an effective ECMH system that supports the optimal social-emotional development of children from the prenatal stage through age five. This effort focuses on promoting healthy attachment relationships between children and their caregivers through education about child development and positive parenting.

Results

  • 25-30% of Mental Health Services Act Prevention and Early Intervention (MHSA-PEI) funds pledged to children 0 to 5
  • MHSA-PEI and First 5 are collaborating on a joint funding opportunity to increase parent support and screening for maternal depression and children’s social-emotional issues
  • Social workers and foster parents have been trained and are conducting periodic screenings of children in foster care
  • A First 5-funded study by County Mental Health to expand local use of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) funding for children birth to 5 and a pledge from First 5 to fund a portion of the local match when those methods are identified

Key Partners

  • The First 5 California Special Needs Project
  • Community-based organizations serving young children and their families
  • First 5 Sonoma County
  • Department of Human Services, Family, Youth, and Children’s Services Division
  • Department of Health Services, Mental Health Division Children’s Mental Health Partnership
  • Early Learning Institute
  • Mental Health Services Act
  • Families First Home Visiting
  • Easter Seals Northern California
  • Kaiser Permanente, Petaluma
  • First 5 Marin
  • Behavioral Consultation Project