First 5 Shasta Commission

The First 5 Shasta Commission consists of seven members appointed by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors in accordance with a County Ordinance adopted in March 1999. Commission membership can be composed from the following:

• one member from the Board of Supervisors
• the County Health Officer or a designee
• the County Health Officer or a designee
• the Director of Social Services or a designee
• the Director of Mental Health or a designee
• three members representing community-based organizations, early childhood educators, local child care resources, prevention/early intervention programs for families at risk, medical associations, local school districts, or project services included in the Commission's Strategic Plan
  

History

First 5 Shasta, the Shasta Children and Families First Commission, was formed in March 1999 in response to the statewide passage of the Children and Families Act, Proposition 10. This initiative aims to promote, support, and improve the development of all children from the prenatal period to five years of age. Through a tax placed on the sale of tobacco products, the initiative raises approximately $700 million per year for early childhood development activities. Shasta County receives approximately $1.5 million each year for these purposes.