About Us
First 5 Mendocino focuses on supporting families from pregnancy through the age of 5.
Why the first 5 years?
Kid’s brains and bodies grow so much in the first 5 years. And these years can go fast!
What happens in the first 5 years can set a child up to:
- best cope with stress
- focus their attention
- regulate their emotions
- plan for the future
- and have empathy for others.
We want to help make it easier for families to have what they need so kids grow up strong.
When children are raised in a well-resourced family and community, early experiences interact with genetics to make the best chances for them to thrive, first in school and then in life.
We’re here to help build and connect the community and resources that support families.
Some of our Partners
First 5 Mendocino
FIRST 5 Mendocino focuses on creating the best environment for children 0-5 years old to grow, learn and get the best start in life. Offering diapers, Imagination Library, links to community services, and more.
Redwood Empire Food Bank
Basic Needs & Resources - Food
Growing Together Program
Care coordination, free gift cards for prenatal care and post-partum visits, breastfeeding
North Coast Opportunities
NCO offers the Head Start Child Development program, Head Start Home Based program, preschool, childcare, and more.
Easter Seals Northern California
Services for people with disabilities, home and community based services for those with autism, other developmental disabilities, and their families
Early Start Program
The Early Start Program is California’s early intervention system that offers services to eligible infants and toddlers who have or are at risk for developmental disabilities or delays.
Round Valley Family Resource Center
Round Valley Family Resource Center (RVFRC) is a program of the Round Valley Indian Health Center. RVFRC connects families in Round Valley with existing community service providers and resources to help families thrive.
Redwood Coast Regional Center
Developmental screening and services for qualified individuals effected by developmental delay in the first 3 years, autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, epilepsy.
Nuestra Alianza
Nuestra Alianza serves Latino families in and around Willits, with child devleopment support, food bank, financial literacy, mental health and more!
Raise and Shine
Raise & Shine is an Early Start Family Resource Center and Family Empowerment Center. We help families with kids by linking them with resources, support, training, and classes. All staff members are bilingual.
Front Door for Families
Housing guidance and support for families and seniors.
Consolidated Tribal Health Project
Heatlhcare, wellness, parent support through Family Spirit and parent circles, and additional services and more while honoring traditional Native American values.
Family Spirit
Family support for Native American families with babies and toddlers
Healthy Families Mendocino
Healthy Families Mendocino offers free one-on-one support by a Nurse or Family Support Specialist to parents and primary caregivers, from pregnancy until your child is 3 years old
Sherwood Valley Tribal Youth Program
We support youth leadership skills, self-expression, identity, & education with connection and practices from Northern Pomo cultural in arts, workshops, gathering materials, and exploring our environment with community members who share their own skills, experiences, and traditional knowledge.
Mendocino County Youth Project
MCYP supports children and youth ages 0-25 and their families throughout Mendocino County who are experiencing crises.
Mendocino County Women, Infants, & Children (WIC)
WIC helps helps families by providing supplemental food, nutrition education, breastfeeding or chestfeeding/lactation support, and referrals to health care and other community services.
Mendocino Breast Start
Call the BreastStart warmline or go to the website for support with breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and lactation.
Funding for the Smart Start Mendocino County Eligibility Wizard is provided by:
