First 5 LA
Champions for Our Children
Our Mission
First 5 LA's mission is to increase the number of Los Angeles County children ages 0 to 5 who are physically and emotionally healthy, ready to learn, and safe from harm.
We were established in 1998 after California voters approved Proposition 10, an effort to fund health, safety and early education programs for children prenatal to age 5 through revenue from tax on tobacco products. A local First 5 commission was created in each of the state's 58 counties to administer Proposition 10 funds, which are allocated based on each county's birth rate.
By investing more than one billion dollars from tobacco tax revenues in the last 12 years, First 5 LA has turned a negative habit into positive programs that benefit L.A. County's youngest kids. Our five core values - families, communities, results, learning and advocacy - guide us in building public support for targeted programs that address the needs of young children and their families.