The First 5 OC Board meeting began with a presentation on First 5 OC’s Fatherhood promotion work, with staff lead Program Officer Andrew Montejo joined by Family Ambassador Tan ZhieWen to share what drives this work, and how we integrate fathers in our work and strengthen community support.
The Board was very engaged and expressed interest in a toolkit about father engagement that partners could easily use, as well as support for young fathers. The Board reviewed the Long-Term Financial Plan and expressed their support for and recognition of the importance of First 5 OC’s home visiting services. They discussed the importance of matching families with their specific needs, including families with children with special needs, and thanked Program Officer Yvette Nuñez for her work leading this Initiative as it transitions to Program Officer Jessica Castillo.
Commissioners also noted the critical role First 5 OC is playing to offset the upfront risk and cost for small pediatric practices to implement HealthySteps. CEO/President Kim Goll shared that there is only one other private practice in the U.S. implementing HealthySteps, so we are excited to capture and share our learnings.