Commissioners briefed on implementation planning as First 5 faces a projected 20% funding reduction

First 5 Sacramento staff presented an implementation‑planning timeline Aug. 4 and asked commissioners to weigh in on prioritization criteria for strategy selection in light of an expected 20% funding reduction for the next implementation period.

Why it matters: Staff said the commission must prioritize strategies now because projected Proposition 10 declines will reduce available program dollars. The process will include community feedback, data analysis, and staff recommendations leading to strategy prioritization in December and funding allocations in February.

What staff proposed: Presenters described how the commission’s previously approved foundational principles (narrow and deep investments, prevention/early intervention, systems improvement, data‑informed decisions and leveraging partnerships) would be operationalized into scoring criteria. They also proposed adding a foundational principle to prioritize investments that maintain First 5 Sacramento’s organizational capacity to carry out its mission (for example, administrative and systems supports for community engagement, evaluation and partnership work).

Community engagement and equity: Staff summarized Phase 1 community research (six focus groups with 53 participants including fathers, Afghan community members, Spanish‑language caregivers and a group of mothers experiencing homelessness) and said Phase 2 (broader focus groups and a countywide survey) will follow. Commissioners encouraged targeted outreach to immigrant populations and to service sectors likely affected by federal actions, and to managed care plans and other systems partners who could align investments.

Timeline and decisions: The staff roadmap presented to the commission said: - October: Present community trend report and Phase 1 findings. - December: Present Phase 2 findings and staff recommendations on strategy prioritization. - February: Present staff recommendations for funding allocations (rubric/scoring will be provided to commissioners to support decisions).

Commissioner input: Commissioners urged retaining and strengthening existing trusted service sites (family resource centers, community incubator leads) while allowing for strategic pivots; they recommended exploring cross‑sector partnerships (health systems, managed care plans) and using existing tools such as Sac Family Connect to assess where families already get services. Several commissioners called for reserving a portion of funds for experimentation or reinvention to adapt to a smaller fiscal envelope.

Next steps: Staff will refine the prioritization rubric, continue community engagement and present updated data and recommendations at the October and December commission meetings.