FAQs

We are Ventura County’s early childhood experts! From Parent and Child Together (PACT) classes to preschool to developmental screenings, we invest in early childhood so that all children can enter school prepared and eager to learn.

NfL sites are family resource centers located at 12 places throughout Ventura County. At our NfL sites, families can participate in Parent and Child Together (PACT) classes, complete developmental screenings, meet other families, attend family-friendly events, receive resources, referrals, and support in a nurturing environment. Visit our NfL webpage for more information.

PACT classes introduce children and families to the experiences and routines that are common in preschool settings, including free play, Circle Time (music and movement, books, group games), as well as small and whole group activities. Classes are 15-weeks long, held in English and Spanish, and focus on parent education in the form of modeling/coaching, weekly handouts/resources, and group/individual conversations. Visit our NfL webpage for more information.

Welcome EVERY Baby is a short-term home visiting program that provides free, personalized support to expecting and new parents in the comfort and convenience of their home in English and Spanish. For Mixteco-speaking families needing support, we refer to our partners at MICOP.  Families receive 6 to 8 visits to learn about child development, early literacy, nutrition, child safety, and receive referrals to needed services. Learn more on our Welcome EVERY Baby webpage.

Help Me Grow Ventura County works to ensure a child’s optimal development by offering screenings for children to identify developmental delays, connecting parents with services, and educating local medical providers and childcare providers. Visit our Help Me Grow VC website to learn more.

Home Visiting Connections is an online resource tool that connects pregnant individuals and families with children from newborn to age 5 to free, helpful home visiting programs.

The tool asks a few simple questions to learn what kind of support your family might need. Based on your answers, a list of free home visiting programs that might be a good fit will be displayed.

Learn more about local home visiting programs at the Ventura County Home Visiting Connections webpage.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful events in a child’s life that can include things like abuse, neglect, and other major stressors such as divorce, caregiver mental illness, and household violence. The science tells us that the more ACEs a child experiences or the longer they experience them, these ACEs can lead to toxic stress which can have a negative long-term impact on children’s brains and bodies. But the good news is we can reduce the effects of ACEs and toxic stress by providing children with loving, consistent support. We work with families and community partners to prevent and reduce the effects of these experiences.

Talk! Read! Sing! Is a campaign to remind families to talk, read, and sing with their child – from day one. This will fill your child’s brain with words, sounds, and emotions that help make brain cells build connections and grow stronger. This will have a lifelong effect on a child’s ability to learn language and communicate with others.

F5VC does not currently have volunteer opportunities. Consider www.volunteerventuracounty.org for current opportunities.

Preschool is the start of your child’s school success. Children who attend a quality preschool are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. 

First 5 invests in a quality system to support preschools through the Ventura County Office of Education. Visit the VCOE website to learn more.

Child Development Resources (CDR) provides subsidized childcare through State or Federally funded programs that help pay for childcare costs. For more information visit CDRV.org or call (805) 485-7878 ext. 1484

I want to open a new preschool. Can you help me? 

The Community Investment Loan Fund (CILF) provides below-market financing for developing licensed quality childcare and preschool facilities for Ventura County children. The CILF is a partnership between First 5 Ventura County and the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC). Loans may be used for the planning, construction, expansion, and rehabilitation of new or existing licensed childcare and preschool centers.

For more information about the EDCs loan programs, please contact Vicki Meraz at (805) 409-9497 or Loans@EDCollaborative.com.

F5VC sponsors events that benefit children under five and/or expectant families. For more information, please read our Community Event Sponsorship Fact Sheet.

Materials that we are most likely to have in stock are on our First 5 Ventura County Community Outreach Materials list here.

If you are interested in picking up these materials, please complete our Community Outreach Materials Request Form.