Safe Passage Family Resource

Children's Garden Preschool, reopened in Fort Bragg in 2014 after over 25 years in Caspar, is dedicated to providing quality early childhood education. Operating under a hybrid model, the program partners with the Mendocino County Office of Education to offer State Preschool services alongside their private pay program. Located on the grounds of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Children's Garden Preschool is unique in the county as the only State Preschool that operates independently from a school district. The program has successfully served hundreds of families, fostering a nurturing and educational environment for young children. Generated from the website

North Coast Energy Services (NCES) has been dedicated to providing low-income energy assistance and weatherization services since 1977, showcasing a high level of skill and expertise in these areas. Incorporated in 1981 as a subsidiary of North Coast Opportunities, NCES has operated independently since 1983, managing various grants and contracts that fund their vital programs. Through their commitment to enhancing energy efficiency and supporting community needs, NCES has developed a reputation for delivering quality services to those in need. The organization actively engages with the community by sharing updates and fostering connections through social media platforms. Generated from the website

Here in Mendocino County, FIRST 5 spends more than one million dollars each year to help children ages 0 - 5 get: Some of our money is spent on grants ' meaning that we write a check to a local person or organization, then evaluate the outcome of their work. The rest of our money is spent on partnerships -- meaning that FIRST 5 staff shares the work with other organizations. See GRANTS or PROJECTS to read more about specific projects. Creative Use of Resources: Each year, Mendocino County receives about $800, 000 from the state FIRST 5. In the last few years, though, our budget has been closer to $1.5 million. That's because we use our state allocation to bring other funds that benefit children into the community. For example, we often successfully compete for grants from FIRST 5 California or private foundations. Also, we place 6 AmeriCorps and VISTA volunteers in local partner agencies every year, thereby bringing in another $100, 000 in federal funds to benefit young children. Innovation: We were one of the first, and the smallest, in the state to create a community partnership that successfully developed a universal children's health insurance program. Also, our Raise & Shine program, which helps families with child behavior issues, is quickly becoming a model for other California counties. We are now advising a half-dozen other communities that hope to offer similar services to families. Fair Distribution of Resources: Finally, FIRST 5 Mendocino is unusual in that it widely disperses its funds, roughly based on the population in each area of the county. We understand that our geography and transportation are serious barriers for families. The work of our partners and grantees benefits children from Round Valley to Gualala, and just about every point in between.