First 5 Commission of San Diego

Public Health / Early Childhood Development Servicesfirst5sandiego.org

First 5 Commission of San Diego is a public county advisory board funded by California Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues that funds and coordinates free early childhood development programs — including developmental screenings, oral health, home visiting, and parent education — for children ages 0–5 and their families across San Diego County through a contracted six-region partner network.

Company typePublic
Founded1999
HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What First 5 Commission of San Diego does

First 5 Commission of San Diego is a public citizens advisory board to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, established in 1999 following voter approval of California Proposition 10 in November 1998. The Commission administers the county's portion of a 50-cent tobacco tax surcharge to fund programs for children prenatal through age five and their families. It functions as a payer and coordinator rather than a direct service provider, disbursing funds through contracted regional partners (Family Health Centers of San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital, Palomar Health, South Bay Community Services, and others) across six geographic service areas that cover the entire county.

Its service portfolio centers on the Healthy Development Services (HDS) system of developmental screenings and speech/occupational therapy, an Oral Health Initiative delivered through FQHC clinic partners, the First 5 First Steps home visiting program (using the Healthy Families America model), and parent education products including the multilingual Kit for New Parents, the Talk Read Sing campaign, and HOORAY! For Reading. Access is provided through a toll-free warm line (1-888-5 FIRST 5), 2-1-1 San Diego referrals, and an online Parent Portal, with all services delivered at no cost to families regardless of insurance or income status.

The Commission's revenue model is essentially tax-funded rather than commercial: Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues flow through First 5 California to the county commission, which then contracts with delivery partners. Governance is statutorily defined, with the Board of Supervisors Chair and the HHSA Director serving on the Commission by mandate. Internal staffing is intentionally lean (1–10 administrative employees), while program delivery is executed through the multi-agency contractor network.

First 5 Commission of San Diego firmographics

Firmographics

Name: First 5 Commission of San Diego
Legal name: First 5 Commission Of San Diego
Website: https://first5sandiego.org
Company type: Public
Founded year: 1999
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: First 5 Commission of San Diego is a public county advisory board funded by California Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues that funds and coordinates free early childhood development programs — including developmental screenings, oral health, home visiting, and parent education — for children ages 0–5 and their families across San Diego County through a contracted six-region partner network.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

First 5 Commission of San Diego industry classification

Industry

Product category: Public Health / Early Childhood Development Services
NAICS: Educational Services (611), Child and Youth Services (62411)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200)
akta.pro primary industry: Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5) (EDACAFAA)
akta.pro secondary industries: Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK), Early Head Start & Publicly Funded Infant/Toddler Programs (EDACAGAH), Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

Keywords

Early childhood development
Children's health services
Developmental screening
Parent education programs
Preschool quality initiatives

Where First 5 Commission of San Diego is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: San Diego
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

First 5 Commission of San Diego business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

Proposition 10 Tobacco Tax Revenue: California voters approved Proposition 10 in November 1998, which allows First 5 San Diego and other county First 5 Commissions to use a 50-cent tax on tobacco products to fund programs for children ages 5 and under. This is the primary funding source for all First 5 San Diego programs and services.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Other	Other	Free no-cost services for all San Diego County families

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

First 5 Commission of San Diego product offering

Product offering

Core offering

First 5 San Diego is a county government advisory commission that funds and coordinates free early childhood development programs for children ages 0-5 in San Diego County. Programs are funded through California's Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues and delivered at no cost through contracted regional partners across six geographic service areas, including developmental screenings and treatment, oral health services, home visiting, parent education resources, and quality preschool support.

Product overview

First 5 San Diego is a county commission providing a coordinated suite of early childhood development programs and services for children prenatal through age 5 and their families. The core offerings include: Healthy Development Services (HDS) for developmental screenings and treatment; the Oral Health Initiative for dental care; First 5 First Steps home visiting program; Kit for New Parents; and public awareness campaigns including Talk Read Sing and HOORAY! For Reading. The organization operates through community partnerships with healthcare providers, hospitals, and family service agencies across six geographic regions of San Diego County, funded primarily through California's Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues. Services are delivered at no cost to families and include care coordination to help navigate the system of support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Healthy Development Services (HDS)

Quantifiable outcome

Over 352,800 children and families served through the Healthy Development Services (HDS) program, with the majority of children showing measurable improvement after treatment.
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use First 5 Commission of San Diego

Customer profile

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

First 5 Commission of San Diego technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

First 5 Commission of San Diego partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

Dr. Seuss FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerDr. Seuss Foundation and First 5 San Diego have partnered on the 'Talk, Read, Sing with Dr. Seuss' campaign, celebrating the magic of words, stories, and songs in early childhood development. The campaign leverages Dr. Seuss's beloved storytelling to encourage parents and caregivers to talk, read, and sing with their children every day. The partnership includes campaign activities, resources, and access to Seussville and Dr. Seuss YouTube channel content.
First 5 Association of CaliforniacoreOthersFirst 5 San Diego is a member of the First 5 Association of California, which advocates for strong, effective, stable systems serving California's youngest children. The statewide association supports local commissions in their advocacy efforts and promotes a unified voice for early childhood policy.
American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3 (San Diego and Imperial Counties)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAP Chapter 3 serves as the countywide coordinator for the Healthy Development Services (HDS) program and the First 5 First Steps home visiting program. The partnership involves program administration, care coordination, and co-development of early intervention service models. AAP Chapter 3 also co-authored policy briefs with ZERO TO THREE sharing lessons from HDS implementation.
ZERO TO THREEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZERO TO THREE, a national nonprofit of pediatric and child development experts, co-authored a policy brief with AAP Chapter 3 and First 5 San Diego titled 'Building a Developmental System of Care Puts All Children on Track for Success,' sharing lessons from the HDS implementation over ten years.
Family Health Centers of San DiegocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFamily Health Centers of San Diego is a key regional service provider delivering Healthy Development Services (HDS) in Central and East San Diego County, as well as oral health initiative services at multiple clinic locations including Hillcrest, City Heights, Downtown, Logan Heights, Grossmont Spring Valley, and El Cajon.
Rady Children's Hospital of San DiegocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRady Children's Hospital serves as a key regional provider for Healthy Development Services (HDS), delivering speech and language services, developmental assessments, and care coordination in North Central and North Coastal San Diego County areas.
Palomar HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPalomar Health provides Healthy Development Services in the North Inland region and First 5 First Steps home visiting services in the North Coastal and North Inland regions of San Diego County. The partnership includes regional coordinator Shirin Strauss serving zip codes across inland and coastal north areas.
South Bay Community Services (SBCS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth Bay Community Services delivers Healthy Development Services (HDS) in the South region of San Diego County, serving zip codes in Chula Vista, National City, San Ysidro, and surrounding areas.
Home-Start Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHome-Start Inc. is a regional coordinator for the First 5 First Steps home visiting program in the East region of San Diego County, providing family support services to high-risk target populations including CalWORKs families.
San Ysidro Health CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSan Ysidro Health Center provides Oral Health Initiative services at multiple locations including the Comprehensive Health Center (Central), Maternal and Child Health Center (South), King-Chavez Health Center, and Chula Vista Medical Plaza, offering dental screenings, exams, and treatment for children ages 0–5.
La Maestra Community Health CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Maestra Community Health Center delivers Oral Health Initiative services at multiple clinic locations in City Heights, El Cajon, and National City, providing dental screenings, exams, and treatment for young children.
Neighborhood HealthcareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNeighborhood Healthcare is an oral health initiative provider in the East and North Inland regions of San Diego County, offering dental services for children ages 0–5 at Lakeside, Escondido, and Pauma Valley locations.
North County Health ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorth County Health Services (now part of True Care) provides oral health services in the North Coastal and North Inland regions at San Marcos, Oceanside, and Ramona locations.
Southern Indian Health CouncilminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouthern Indian Health Council provides oral health services for children ages 0–5 at Alpine and Campo locations in East San Diego County.
Vista Community ClinicminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVista Community Clinic provides oral health services for children ages 0–5 at Oceanside and Vista locations in the North Coastal region of San Diego County.
First 5 CaliforniacoreOthersFirst 5 California is the statewide parent organization that funds and supports county First 5 commissions. First 5 San Diego distributes the Kit for New Parents (a First 5 California resource) countywide in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean, and participates in the Talk, Read, Sing statewide campaign.
County of San Diego, Health and Human Services AgencycoreOthersThe County of San Diego HHSA is a legislatively mandated component of the First 5 Commission (the Director of HHSA serves on the Commission by legislative mandate) and a key strategic partner contributing to the Live Well San Diego initiative. HHSA supports program coordination, data sharing, and policy alignment for early childhood services.
Live Well San DiegominorOthersLive Well San Diego is a County of San Diego initiative to build better health, living safely, and thriving. First 5 San Diego's vision aligns with Live Well San Diego's goals, contributing to service delivery improvements, positive choices, policy change, and organizational culture enhancement.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

First 5 Commission of San Diego competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

First 5 Orange County: First 5 Orange County is a Southern California First 5 commission operating the same Prop 10-funded early childhood development programs in a similarly large, diverse urban-suburban county. Its mission, service mix, and partnership-driven delivery model are directly comparable.
First 5 Los Angeles: First 5 LA is the largest of California's 58 county First 5 commissions, serving Los Angeles County with the same Proposition 10-funded model focused on early childhood development ages 0-5. It is the most directly comparable organization in terms of mission, structure, funding base, and service portfolio (HDS-equivalent, home visiting, oral health, parent education).
First 5 Santa Clara County: First 5 Santa Clara County operates the same Prop 10-funded early childhood model in Silicon Valley, providing comparable services such as developmental screening, oral health, home visiting, and family support to children 0-5. It is structurally and operationally analogous to First 5 San Diego.
First 5 Sacramento County: First 5 Sacramento is a regional First 5 commission that follows the same Prop 10 model, providing early childhood development, health, and family support services in California's capital region. It shares the same regulatory framework and service categories as First 5 San Diego.
First 5 Alameda County: First 5 Alameda County is another California county-level First 5 commission funded by Prop 10, operating a similar portfolio of early childhood development, health, and family support programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. It mirrors First 5 San Diego in governance structure, funding source, and core service mix.
First 5 San Bernardino County: First 5 San Bernardino is a neighboring Southern California First 5 commission with the same mandate, Prop 10 funding base, and county commission structure. It serves a similarly large and diverse geography, making it a close operational and demographic peer.
First 5 Contra Costa County: First 5 Contra Costa is a Bay Area First 5 commission operating the same Prop 10-funded early childhood programs for children 0-5 and their families. It follows the same statewide commission framework and service categories as First 5 San Diego.

Broad incumbents

First 5 California: First 5 California is the statewide organization that funds, supports, and provides shared resources (Kit for New Parents, Talk Read Sing campaign) to all county First 5 commissions including First 5 San Diego. It shares the same Prop 10 funding base and early childhood development mission, but operates at statewide scale rather than a single county.

Others

San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency: HHSA is the legislatively mandated partner whose director serves on the First 5 Commission, coordinating broader health and human services in San Diego County. It is a closely related government entity that shares the early childhood and family support mission but is not a First 5 peer.
ZERO TO THREE: ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit that co-authored a policy brief with First 5 San Diego and AAP Chapter 3 on building developmental systems of care. It is an adjacent peer in the early childhood policy and practice space, operating nationally and as a nonprofit rather than a public county commission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

First 5 Commission of San Diego financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

First 5 Commission of San Diego leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

First 5 Commission of San Diego funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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First 5 Commission of San Diego M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about First 5 Commission of San Diego

What does First 5 Commission of San Diego do?

Is First 5 Commission of San Diego a public or private company?

First 5 Commission of San Diego is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was First 5 Commission of San Diego founded?

First 5 Commission of San Diego was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is First 5 Commission of San Diego based?

First 5 Commission of San Diego is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.

How does First 5 Commission of San Diego make money?

One revenue line is on record: proposition 10 Tobacco Tax Revenue.

Who are First 5 Commission of San Diego's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are First 5 Orange County, First 5 Los Angeles, First 5 Santa Clara County, First 5 Sacramento County, First 5 Alameda County, First 5 San Bernardino County and First 5 Contra Costa County. First 5 California is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency and ZERO TO THREE.

Does First 5 Commission of San Diego have an API?

No public API is recorded for First 5 Commission of San Diego.

What industry is First 5 Commission of San Diego in?

First 5 Commission of San Diego's product category is Public Health / Early Childhood Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAFAA, Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5), with a secondary code of EDACABAK, Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.