Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Strategic Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
First 5 Merced adopts 2026–2031 strategic plan after community outreach
Summary
First 5 Merced adopted a 2026–2031 strategic plan after community focus groups and a survey of about 150 respondents; the plan emphasizes transparency, inclusion and partner coordination. Commissioners approved the plan 6–0 following a public hearing.
First 5 Merced commissioners adopted a new strategic plan covering 2026–2031 after staff presented findings from focus groups and a community survey. Executive Director Scott Waite told the commission the outreach included focus groups in Dos Palos and a Hmong community group and “got back like 150 responses,” which informed six major activities in the plan. The commission voted to adopt the plan 6–0.
Waite read the plan’s vision as: “Children 0 to 5 and their families in Merced County will have a strong foundation to learn and develop in safe, supportive, and nurturing communities.” Commissioners asked how First 5 is coordinating with other local partners; Waite said the agency has an MLU with Central California Alliance for Health and that United Way/2-1-1 could be a source of needs-assessment data. Commissioner Kimiko Vang suggested publishing a community report to share assessment results; Waite agreed that an infographic or social post could summarize findings.
