1st 5 Mono outlines early‑childhood priorities and warns of a looming funding cliff

Molly De Baillier, executive director of 1st 5 Mono, told the Mono County Board of Supervisors on May 5 that the commission’s 2026 policy platform centers on sustaining early‑childhood systems, expanding economic supports for families, and increasing access to high‑quality child care and home visiting services.

De Baillier described four focus areas — thriving commissions and systems of care; economic supports; access to early care and education; and scaling early care and education — and reviewed recent local investments and outcomes. She said the county contributes roughly $370,000 that flows through the health and human services channels for a home‑visiting program funded by the California Department of Public Health; other revenue sources listed in her presentation included $87,406 tied to the Families First Services Prevention Act, a $45,000 home‑visiting investment, and a $35,000 Raising a Reader grant. De Baillier said 1st 5 Mono serves about 90 percent of the county’s birth‑to‑5 population.

De Baillier also described the stipend structure for participating child‑care providers: individual stipends typically range from about $1,200 to $2,000, and site stipends vary by number of children, staffing, and participation in coaching. She said some site stipends can reach $1,000–$4,000 in addition to the individual provider payments.

The presentation included a warning about statewide funding changes: De Baillier said First 5 California appears to be reducing county investments, creating "a fiscal cliff" that will require local planning and the search for alternative funding streams. She said the commission is exploring options, including a potential local ballot initiative in 2028, and is obtaining consultant estimates about campaign design and funding models used by other California counties.

Supervisors pressed for clarity on which funds are county controlled and which are state grants routed through county departments. Supervisor Salcedo emphasized that the $370,000 described in the presentation is state funding that channels through the county and is earmarked for home visiting. De Baillier acknowledged that some major revenue lines are state‑administered and said she is actively seeking additional funding sources and would keep the board informed.

The board thanked De Baillier for the report and asked 1st 5 Mono to return with updates on any ballot planning or funding alternatives.

Ending: The presentation concluded with the board expressing support for continued local investment and asking 1st 5 Mono to brief the board as funding discussions progress.