First 5 Children & Families Commission
www.First5SantaBarbaraCounty.org
Contact:
Ben Romo
Executive Director
Mailing Address:
1306 Santa Barbara Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone Number: (805) 884-8085
Email Address: benromo@countyofsb.org
Legal Authority:
The First 5 Children and Families Commission was formed pursuant to a voter initiative, Proposition 10, also known as the California Children and Families First Act of 1998. Proposition 10, amends the California Constitution (Article XIIIA, Section 7), and adds sections to the Health and Safety Code (Section 5, Division 108, commencing with Section 130100) and the Revenue and Taxation Code (Division 2, Chapter 2, Part 13, Section 6, Article 3, commending with Section 30131.
Local Authority is prescribed by an Ordinance (No. 4349) of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, adding Chapter 41 to the Santa Barbara County Code, and establishing the Santa Barbara County Children and Families First Commission and Trust Fund. The Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 4349 on February 2, 1999. The effective date of the Ordinance is March 5, 1999.
Membership:
The Commission shall consist of nine (9) regular members appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The nine regular members of the Commission shall be as follows:
1. The first member shall be a member of the Board of Supervisors;
2. The second, third and fourth members, called “County Members”, shall be from among the County Health Officer and Directors of the following county functions:
a. Social Services
b. Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services
c. Probation
3. The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth members are called “Community Members”. The fifth member shall be the Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools. The sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth members shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors from among the following categories:
a. Recipients of project services included in the county Strategic Plan;
b. Educators specializing in early childhood development;
c. Representatives of local child care resource or referral agency, or a local child care coordinating group;
d. Representatives of local organizations for prevention or early intervention for families at risk;
e. Representatives of community-based organizations that have the goal of promoting nurturing and early childhood development; and
f. Representatives of local medical, pediatric, or obstetric associations or societies.
The Board of Supervisors shall appoint four alternate Commission members as follows:
1. The tenth member called the board of supervisors alternate;
2. The eleventh member called the county alternate. Appointment of a designee is subject to approval by the board of supervisors. If a designee is appointed as the county alternate, the designee shall be authorized to speak on behalf of their department; and
3. The twelfth and thirteenth member called the community alternates.
Term:
All members of the Commission shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors as follows:
The Board of Supervisors representatives shall be appointed on an annual basis. The County members’ one-year renewable terms. Of the 7 Community members one is a permanent appointment and the remaining 6 shall be appointed to a two or three-year term.
Duties:
The Commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities as follows:
Locally implement the Goals and Objectives of the Children & Families First Act through a complete and adequate Strategic Plan that supports and improves early childhood development within the County of Santa Barbara.
Meeting Date and Location:
The First 5 Commission meets the third (3) Monday of every month from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, except in January and February the meetings are held on another day due to National Holidays. Meetings are held at the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria. Unless a special meeting is called, the First 5 Commission does not traditionally meet in the months of July & December.