Thrive by Three: In January of 2017, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved Supervisor Ryan Coonerty’s request to establish the Thrive by Three Early Childhood Fund. Thrive by Three was established to invest in the earliest years of childhood, support evidence-based two-generation approaches, and develop an integrated and comprehensive prenatal – 3 system of care. The outcomes of this approach is to ensure that babies are born healthy, families have the resources they need to support children’s optimal development, young children live in safe, nurturing families, and children are happy, healthy, and thriving by age 3.

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Using a systems of care approach, Thrive by Three partners representing home visiting, health care, early care and education, County Health and Human Services, and City government have leveraged resources, increased capacity and coordination, implemented innovative approaches, and supported local and state policies that address and link the CORE Conditions for Health & Well-being for young children and their families. First 5 provides backbone support for this initiative, coordinating the Thrive by Three Advisory Committee, administering the Early Learning Scholarship program, and overseeing the initiative’s evaluation.

 

In the coming year, the Thrive by Three Advisory Committee and Leadership Team will work with First 5 on expanding the Thrive by Three framework to “Thrive by Five,” in order to create greater alignment with other existing early childhood systems and initiatives that focus on the first 5 years of life.