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© Contra Costa Children and Families Commission

Frequently Asked Questions about the Contra Costa Children and Families Commission

What is Proposition 10?
California voters passed Proposition 10 in 1998. It increased the price of cigarette packs by 50 cents. This money will be used to fund local programs, services and activities to improve the lives of children age 0 to 5 and their families.

How much money will come to Contra Costa?
Approximately 13 million dollars annually. However the amount will decrease as more and more people quit smoking.

How is the money administered?
The funds are administered by the Contra Costa Children and Families Commission, which is made up of nine members appointed by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and nine alternates. The Commission must submit a local strategic plan to the state Proposition 10 Commission.

What results will be targeted with Proposition 10 funding?
The Commission has selected four strategic result areas that define its long-range goals and desired future for children and their families in Contra Costa. They are:

1. Improved child health: Healthy children
2. Improved child development: Children learning and ready for school
3. Improved family functioning: Safe, nurturing families and communities
4. Improved systems for families: integrated, accessible and culturally appropriate services

What strategies will help us achieve these results?
The twelve priority strategies selected to address the primary concerns of families are:

1. Countywide Information and Referral System: A resource information system (program and services database) with easy access (e.g., website and telephone) for service providers and people-friendly access for parents (e.g., telephone warm-line) with consultants and immediate referral available.
   
   
2. Home Visitation: Expand and coordinate existing and new home visiting programs for all families prenatal to five years of age, with increased intervention for families where additional support is required to mitigate risks that may affect children’s health and development and appropriate family functioning. Focus on family support, parent education, child health and development, early identification of family and child problems, infant-parent bonding, and connecting to services.
   
   
3. Prenatal Substance Abuse Screening, Referral and Services and substance abuse services for families with children 0 to 5, including tobacco cessation and family-centered treatment.
   
   
4. Mental Health and Special Needs Early Screening and Services: Consultation by specialists to childcare and in-home care programs, family resource centers and home visiting programs to provide early identification and assessment of children with potential developmental, emotional or physical problems. Consultation may include provider training and technical assistance, and parent-child support.
   
   
5. Family-friendly Community Grants: Small grants to communities for community-based health promotion, injury prevention, family support/parenting education, recreation and social enrichment and literacy promotion. These local mini-grants would be community-driven.

6. Compensation Incentives for Early Childhood Educators: Financial support for early childhood educators linked to education and longevity in position.
   
   
7. Mini-grants to Improve Childcare and Preschool Facilities and Programs including accreditation and licensing, facilities development and improvement for special needs children, safety, and equipment and materials especially to develop infant care.
   
   
8. Neighborhood Family Resource Centers: Neighborhood resource centers linking medical homes and other existing resources (e.g., through schools and community health centers), providing multiple services, educational opportunities and resources for parents, social and peer support; special childcare, early intervention screening services, neighborhood capacity-building and family literacy promotion.
   
   
9. Parents as First Educators and Family Literacy: English as Second Language and reading development for parents of young children with focus on reading to and teaching their children. Programs promoted through home visitation, family resource centers and child care/preschool programs.
   
   
10. Parent and Public Education: Multilingual, multi-media education and awareness campaigns to increase knowledge of issues related to child health and safety, community safety, child development, parent-child bonding, parenting practices, early learning and public policy. Parent education classes and peer support programs linked to home visitation, family resource centers and childcare programs.
    
    
11. Cross Disciplinary Training: Cross training of professionals serving families with children 0 to 5 on effective family support; substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health screening, referral and intervention among other issues.
    
    
12. Policy Development and Advocacy: Promoting child and family-friendly local, state and federal policies and legislation to support achievement of strategic results.

How is the money being divided up?

• 75.5% - Strategic results areas/Twelve priority strategies
  1. Healthy children
  2. Children ready to learn
  3. Safe nurturing families and communities
  4. Integrated systems for families
• 10% - Long-term sustainability and financial investment
• 5% - Research and evaluation
• 3% - Civic engagement, public education and policy advocacy
• 1.5% - Program technical assistance and support
• 5% - Administration and operations

How was the strategic plan developed?
The Commission held 20 community input groups, three provider input groups for organizations which provide services and activities, and three professional advisory work groups on:

1. health and wellness
2. early education and childcare
3. parent education and family support. In addition to listening to the hopes and ideas presented in these forums, the Commission reviewed best practices research and existing community assessments and data. A two-day planning retreat to formulate the draft strategic plan culminated the five months of community input and research.

What are the next steps?

1. Implement the plan
2. Begin funding for programs, services and activities
3. Revise strategic plan annually based on evaluation
4. Continue civic engagement and ongoing activities through community input groups

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