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Children &
Families
Commission
OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
STRATEGIC PLAN 2002-2005

Commissioners
Naomi Schwartz (Chair)
Rita Madden (Vice Chair)
Mary P. Cederberg, MD
Charlene Chase
Bill Cirone
Vincent Martinez
Mary K. Ray
Elliot Schulman, MD
James Broderick, Ph.D.
Alternates
Hugo Lara (Community)
Patty Moore (Community)
Patti Stewart (County-Probation)
Tom Urbanske (Board of Supervisors)
Advisory Board
John H. Paine (Chair)
Susan R. Walsh, M.A (Vice Chair)
Celina Andrade
Nancy L. Camp
Mark Campbell
Maria E. Garcia
Leigh Anna Groshart
Debra Hosseini
Robert Hubbell
Mary Beth Kerr
Kelly O. Lake (Commission Liaison)
Cynthia Maez
Jose Moctezuma
Greg Nims
Rosalina L. Veloz
Karie Whitford
Sharol Viker (Commission Liaison)
Nancy Weiss
Results for Children Initiative Team
Hector Gonzales
Hugo Lara
Hedy Damery
Michael P. Bates, Ph.D.
Patricia Wheatley
Wendy Sims-Moten
Edna Phinney
John H. Paine
Hilda Zacarías
Kelly O. Lake
Naomi Schwartz
Nicole Oriana Singer, Ph.D. (facilitator)
Commission Staff
Patricia Wheatley, Executive Director
Edna Phinney, Program Analyst
Wendy Sims-Moten, Financial Analyst
Marita L. Bisquera, Administrative Secretary
Irene Robles, Senior Office Assistant
Additional Support
Jerry Czuleger, Legal Advisor
County Counsel
Nicole Oriana Singer, Ph.D.
Community Relations Coordinator
Michael P. Bates, Ph.D.
Evaluation Coordinator

Children &
Families
Commission O F S A N T A B A R B A R A C O U N T Y
Santa Barbara Office
1 East Anapamu Street, Suite 200
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: 805-884-8085
Fax: 805-564-8586
Santa Maria Office
218 West Carmen Lane, Suite 208
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: 805-614-1944
Fax: 805-346-8366
Website: www.sbccfc.org

Children &
Families
Commission
OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Strategic Plan
2002-2005

Special Thanks
The Commission would like to thank the par
ents and community-based providers who
shared their dreams for children in Santa
County during the development of this strategic plan.
Thanks to the following organizations that hosted
community conversations: Healthy Starts in
Lompoc, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Los Alamos
and Guadalupe, Shelter Services For Women, IV
Youth Projects, Catholic Charities, Starr-King and
Families First. And to Hilda Zacharias for coordinating
the conversations.
The Commission acknowledges the work of the
many organizations who provide support to children
and families and work in active partnership
with the Commission to make its work possible.
Special thanks to the Kids Network, Child Care
Planning Council, the Center for Health Improvement
and the Foundation Consortium for their
support in making the 2002-2005 Strategic Plan
possible.

Table of Contents
Welcome 5
Overview: Proposition 10 7
The California Children
and Families Act
A Vision for Santa Barbara 9
County’s Youngest Children
The Strategic Planning Process 13
Results: Hopes and Dreams for 17
Santa Barbara County’s
Young Children
Indicators: Measuring Our Success 19
Strategies and Funding Priorities 21
Fiscal Strategies and Allocations 27
Accountability and Evaluation 31
A Call to Action 33
Appendices 35
Commission Highlights 37
Local Data 43
Resources 47

Welcome
A child’s brain develops most dramatically during the first three years of
life, and what parents and caregivers do during those early years makes
a profound difference for the rest of their children’s lives.
—Rob Reiner, Chair
California Children and Families Commission
Santa Barbara County is home to
26,008 children ages 0-5 years old.
Each year approximately 6,000 new babies
are born in the County. They represent the
growing diversity of California. More than 50%
are of Hispanic/Latino descent, nearly 40% are
White and the remaining 8% are Asian-Pacific
Islander, African American and American Indian/Alaska
Native. They are growing up in
urban communities, small towns and the rural
areas throughout the County. They come from
different cultures and backgrounds. Some live
in houses or apartments, others live in shelters
or on the streets. But, for every one of these
children, their earliest experiences will lay the
emotional, physical and intellectual foundation
that influences the rest of their lives.
Giving every child the best possible start in
life is the overriding goal of Proposition 10 and
the work of Children and Families Commission’s
across California. The Children and Families
Commission of Santa Barbara County’s 2002-
2005 Strategic Plan is an invitation to all individuals
who are concerned about the well-being
of children to join in making a difference at
the most critical period of their development.
The 2002-2005 Strategic Plan presents the
Children and Families Commission’s vision for
all children. Included is our role in making this
vision a reality, the key results we are working
towards, strategies we think will work and how
we will measure our success. It represents the
voices of hundreds of parents and dedicated
providers of services for families—each committed
to supporting the children in their lives and
their communities.
We invite you to join us in building a community
of support for our youngest children.
It’s all about the children!
Chair, Children and Families Commission
of Santa Barbara County

Overview:
Proposition 10—The California
Children & Families Act
About Proposition 10—
The California Children
and Families Act
In November 1998, California voters passed
Proposition 10—the California Children and
Families Act, to help make sure that our youngest
children get the best possible start in life.
The Proposition increased the tax on tobacco
products by 50 cents to fund early childhood
development, heath care and parent education
and support programs targeting children from
prenatal to age five and their families. Specifically,
the purpose of the Act is to:
• promote, support and improve the early
development of children, prenatal to age
five;
• establish and coordinate comprehensive,
integrated programs emphasizing community
awareness, education, nurturing, child
care, social services, health care and
research; and
• provide for greater local flexibility in
designing effective service delivery systems
and eliminating duplication
Focus of the Act
The Children and Families Act focuses on four
areas critical to the healthy development of
children:
• Improved Child Health: Healthy Children
• Improved Child Development: Children
Learning and Ready for School
• Improved Family Functioning: Strong
Families
• Improved Systems for Families: Integrated,
Accessible, Inclusive, and Culturally
Appropriate Services
State and Local Governance
A state commission and local commissions in
each of California’s 58 counties were created to
administer the approximately $700 million
generated annually through the tobacco tax.
State Commission: The California Children
and Families Commission is responsible for the
state-level administration of the Act, which includes
developing program guidelines, reviewing
county strategic plans and conducting an
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 7

annual program review and evaluation. In addition,
20 percent of the overall revenue is administered
by the State Commission to fund
mass media communications, parent and provider
education, child care, research and administration.
County Commissions: Eighty percent of the
revenues collected annually are allocated to local
communities by commissions in each county
based on the live birth rate. Each 5 to 9 member
commission is responsible for developing a
strategic plan to guide local funding decisions
that are consistent with the intent of the Children
and Families Act.
Proposition 10 in
Santa Barbara County
The Children and Families Commission of
Santa Barbara County was established in February
1999 to plan and oversee the estimated
$5.5 million in Proposition 10 funds that come
into the county each year. The 13-member
Commission (9 commissioners and 4 alternates)
works closely with an Advisory Board, families,
local community based organizations, public
agencies and the community-at-large to set local
priorities that support the optimal development
of Santa Barbara County’s young children.
The Commission serves as a grant-maker
responsible for allocating Proposition 10 resources
in Santa Barbara County. It has also established
its role as:
• A community partner working with
existing public and private organizations
for the benefit of children
• A catalyst to promote community support
for young children and families
• A convener and facilitator to bring
together individuals and agencies with
common goals
The Commission is locally focused on the
children and families of Santa Barbara County
and an active partner with the State and other
County Commissions on issues and areas of
common concern.
Proposition 10 in Action
The Children and Families Commission of
Santa Barbara County was among the first Commissions
to adopt a strategic plan—a legislative
requirement for receiving Proposition 10 funds.
This allowed the Commission to move quickly
in allocating resources to community programs
that support young children and their families.
Since the passage of the 2000-2003 Strategic
Plan, the Commission has hired staff, released
over $10 million in funds over two
funding cycles, and worked extensively with local
and statewide organizations to move Proposition
10 from a vision to a reality. What has
been accomplished extends far beyond the dollars
allocated. The Commission’s commitment
to building on existing services, working with
families and local community based organizations
and leveraging resources has had a direct
impact on the lives of children and families.
(For more information about the Commission’s
major accomplishments please refer to the section
included in the appendices)
8 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

A Vision for Santa
Barbara County’s
Youngest Children
We hope that when our children grow up they will be confident, successful and
healthy; that they are accepted and supported by their community; that they
have strong morals and serve their communities.
—Santa Barbara County parent
Today we know more than ever
about the influence of a child’s ear
liest experiences on his or her long-term
development, physical health and educational
success. We know that in the first years of a
child’s life, critical connections are made in the
brain that impact lifelong learning. These new
findings present our communities with an opportunity
and a responsibility to work together
to nurture and support our youngest
children.
The work of the Children and Families
Commission is guided by The Vision that…
All children in every community of Santa
Barbara County will thrive in safe, supportive,
nurturing, and loving environments;
enter school as healthy, active learners;
develop resilience; and become productive,
well-adjusted members of society.
The Commission is committed to making a
difference by fulfilling the following Mission…
The Children and Families Commission of
Santa Barbara County is committed to
working with families and communities to
improve the lives of young children and
their families through a countywide comprehensive,
integrated and sustainable system
of support and services that promotes
optimal childhood development.
Guiding Principles
The Children and Families Commission’s work
and decision making are guided by mutually
agreed upon principles. They are committed to:
1. Developing a county-wide environment
where children are safe
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 9

12. Supporting prevention efforts to reduce
the use of tobacco and the effects of
secondhand smoke on infants and young
children
13. Defining desired results for children and
families and documenting the progress
towards achieving them to ensure
accountability and effectiveness
14. Engaging in an ongoing dynamic and
evolving strategic planning process to
meet the changing needs of our
communities
2. Providing support to parents and all
other caregivers to help children achieve
their greatest potential
3. Honoring and supporting families as
their children’s first teachers and
strongest advocates
4. Respecting the social, cultural and ethnic
diversity of families and communities
5. Strengthening opportunities for children
and families by facilitating community
involvement in identifying needs and
innovative solutions
6. Encouraging and supporting the
development of each community’s
capacity to provide and sustain
integrated services
7. Supporting and encouraging outreach to
geographically and socially isolated
families
8. Supporting access to services for all
families in an environment of support
and respect
9. Maximizing the percentage of dollars
going to direct services and funding
community programs in a timely manner
10. Developing and maintaining a system of
countywide equitable funding consistent
with the Commission’s strategic goals
11. Utilizing Commission funds to leverage
additional local, state and federal
resources to support program
enhancement and sustainability
A Commitment to Equity
and Diversity
The Commission, in fulfilling its mission, will
“take proactive steps to ensure that (Santa Barbara
County) children and their families from
diverse populations, including children with
disabilities, (homeless children and children
with) other special needs are an integral part
of the planning and implementation of Proposition
10.” 1 The Principles on Equity developed
by the State Committee on Equity will
serve as a guide throughout the work of the
Commission:
1. Inclusive Governance and Participation:
to obtain meaningful participation and
input of the families and other caregivers
of children from diverse backgrounds with
diverse abilities.
2. Access to Services: to assure that children
from diverse backgrounds and with diverse
abilities have access to high quality early
care and education/development opportunities.
3. Legislative and Regulatory Mandates:
to ensure that funded programs adhere to
all legislative, regulatory and accreditation
mandates pertinent to the provision of
services to children from diverse backgrounds
and with diverse abilities
1
Adapted from the Advisory Committee on Diversity,
California Children and Families Commission
10 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

4. Results-Based Accountability: to ensure
that Proposition 10 programs have
meaningful outcomes that benefit children
from diverse backgrounds and with diverse
abilities.
School Readiness
The intent of the Children and Families Act
was to focus attention and support for children
in the vital years prior to kindergarten. The
Commission recognizes that this will be critical
in making sure that all children have the best
possible chance of achieving their full potential
when they enter school. The Commission is
currently developing local school readiness
projects as a result of the release of the State
Commission’s School Readiness Initiative. This
will bring additional dollars for programs focused
on preparing children ages 0-5 to enter
kindergarten. In developing its School Readiness
Initiative, the State Commission adopted
the National Education Goals Panel definition
of school readiness. School readiness includes:
1) Children’s readiness for school
• physical well-being and motor development
• social and emotional development
• approaches to learning
• language development
• cognition and general knowledge
2) Schools’ readiness for children
• approaches that have been shown to
raise achievement for each student
• a willingness to alter practices and
programs if they do not benefit children
• assuring that their students have access
to services and supports in the community
3) Family and community supports and
services that contribute to children’s
readiness for school success
• access to high-quality and developmentally
appropriate early care and education
experiences
• access by parents to training and support
that allows parents to be their child’s
first teacher and promotes healthy
functioning families
• (support and encouragement for families
active involvement and participation as
partners in school readiness programs)
• prenatal care, nutrition, physical activity
and health care that children need to
arrive at school with healthy minds and
bodies and to maintain mental alertness
Santa Barbara County will utilize these principles
in structuring local school readiness programs
that build on the strength of existing child
development and family support services already
being funded by the Commission. The Commission
will continue to encourage and support
partnerships between families, schools, early
care and education and the community-at-large
through the School Readiness Project and
throughout its work in Santa Barbara County.
• a smooth transition between home and
school
• continuity between early care and
education programs and elementary
grades
• a student-centered environment focused
on helping children learn
• a commitment to the success of every
child
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 11

12 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

The Strategic
Planning Process
The reason we are working as many jobs as we are is to
create a better future for our children.
—Santa Barbara County parent
In Santa Barbara County, the Children
and Families Commission is charged
with developing, adopting and implementing
a strategic plan for spending Proposition 10
funds—an estimated $5.5 million annually—on
programs that serve young children and their
families. The Commission made a commitment
from the onset to planning that is inclusive of
the individuals and communities that have the
greatest stake in impacting the lives of children.
They have also made a commitment to a results-based
approach that focuses on the results
they wish to achieve for children.
Through the strategic planning framework,
the Commission works with families, providers
and local and statewide experts to design a results-based
plan. The planning process includes:
• Defining the vision, mission, and guiding
principles for the Commission’s work
• Assessing the needs of children and
families in Santa Barbara County and the
priorities of the community
• Establishing criteria for setting priorities at
each stage of the planning process
• Choosing desired outcomes and priority
strategies to guide Commission activities
• Defining processes for selecting programs
and services to achieve the desired outcomes
• Setting guidelines for allocating funds and
building long-term sustainability
• Building evaluation processes to ensure
accountability
The 2000-2003 Strategic Plan
To develop the first Strategic Plan (Fiscal Year
2000-2003), the Commission hosted a series of
community forums throughout the county to
gather input from families, caregivers and service
providers on the strengths and weaknesses
of existing services, and desired services currently
unavailable. In a series of town meetings,
470 families were surveyed (266 in English and
204 in Spanish).
Eighty-three service providers submitted
questionnaires with feedback on local services.
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 13

Data related to the status and needs of children
prenatal to age five and their families were
gathered from partner organizations. Specific
categories of information included: demographics,
economic security, wellness/health, education,
child care and children and families with
challenges. The Commission utilized the
community input and additional statistical information
to determine local needs, community
assets and to set priorities for the focus of their
work in the first three years.
The Children and Families Commission of
Santa Barbara County has completed two grant
making cycles, established the infrastructure
of the Commission, participated as one of four
counties in the Results for Children Initiative
and been actively involved locally and statewide
in supporting the improvement of the system
of support for young children and their
families. The intent of updating the initial strategic
plan is to:
• reflect on the accomplishments since the
Commission was formed in 1999;
• update the plan with new data and
information;
• refine the focus on the results that families,
providers and the Commission want to see
for children and families in Santa Barbara
County;
• prioritize the strategies that will lead to the
desired results for children;
• incorporate the Commission’s progress
and commitment to fiscal and programmatic
sustainability
• adjust for projected decrease in revenue
The 2002-2005
Updated Strategic Plan
The 2002-2005 Strategic Plan builds on the
foundation of the initial plan. The first strategic
plan was developed when the State and local
Children and Families Commissions were in
their infancy. Since the first plan was approved
in January 2000, the State Commission has
launched statewide initiatives and educational
campaigns, established an Advisory Committee
on Diversity and developed its own strategic plan.
Community Input
and Engagement
The Plan for 2002-2005 is the result of extensive
dialogue among Commissioners, the Advisory
Board, families, community members,
service providers and content experts. It reflects
the Commission’s commitment to working with
its community partners to ensure that the Strategic
Plan is focused on jointly developed results
and priorities.
The Results for Children
Initiative
One of the major influences on the development
of the 2002-2005 Strategic Plan was the
Commission’s participation in the Results for
Children Initiative (RCI). The Initiative, funded
by the Foundation Consortium, a group of
California foundations, is providing four
14 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Proposition 10 Commissions with technical
assistance aimed at increasing community involvement
and decision making to meet the
goals of Proposition 10. Each County Commission
participating in RCI has worked to
expand the involvement of families, providers
and the community-at-large in being a voice for
the children and families in their communities.
Community Conversations
Families who raise children and individuals who
spend their professional lives supporting young
children and families are the true experts on
what children need. During the months of August
and September 2001, the Commission
worked with partner organizations to hold a series
of focused community conversations with
families and service providers. The goals of the
Community Conversations were to:
• Bring the voices of families into the
strategic planning process
• Build a culture of inclusive governance
• Identify the results that matter to families
For the 2002-2005 strategic planning process,
smaller, focus groups were held in communities
across Santa Barbara County. The Community
Conversations were scheduled around
convenient times for families—evenings, lunch
hours and weekends were optimal. Child care,
transportation and food were provided. Conversations
were held in English and Spanish.
Groups of 15 to 30 participants met to discuss
what they see as the priorities for their children.
Parents were asked to respond to the following
questions:
• What do you hope and dream for your
children when they grow up?
• What do you want most for the children in
your community?
• Who would make their dreams come true
in your community?
• What do you want to see when your
children enter school?
• What works for you as a parent?
• How can you be a partner in this work?
• How can we invest these dollars that
belong to all of us?
Families brought a diversity of backgrounds
and experiences and yet shared common dreams
for their children:
• Educational and professional success
• Confidence and self-sufficiency
• Strong values and moral character
• Serving their communities
• Healthy
• Living in safe communities
They see themselves as responsible for making
these dreams come true for their children
in partnership with the Commission, schools,
community organizations, elected officials, businesses
and the community-at-large.
Parents saw the need to invest Proposition
10 resources in the services and support that
enables them to provide support their children:
• Access to Health Services
• Parent Education
• Resource Centers for Families
• School-Home Communication (in their
primary language)
• Child Care Center Capacity
• Advocacy and Education
• Transportation Services
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 15

In October 2001, a Community Conversation
was also held with approximately 80 community
service providers. Providers were asked
to respond to the same questions as the families
and additional questions about more effectively
reaching families and prioritizing funding in the
event of declining revenue.
The voices of the families and community
service providers who participated in the Community
Conversations guided the 2002-2005
strategic planning process. The outcomes and
strategies that are presented in the plan are a
direct result of what was heard from families of
young children in communities across Santa
Barbara County.
conversations; 3) the Results Based Accountability
framework and; 4) fiscal projections. The
information was then used to formulate the desired
outcomes and priorities into what would
become the 2002-2005 Strategic Plan.
The Commission sees its strategic planning
as ongoing and open to review and changes as
new needs and priorities emerge. The State requirement
of annually reviewing and updating
the strategic plan is an opportunity to build
relationships and communication between the
Commission and the community.
Developing the Strategic Plan
In October and November 2001, the Commission,
Advisory Board, Results for Children
Leadership Team and community participants
participated in two strategic planning sessions.
The purpose of the sessions was to integrate:
1) new local data; 2) results from the community
16 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Results: Hopes and
Dreams for Santa
Barbara County’s
Young Children
Creating a community that strives
to give all children the best possible
start in life requires the commitment
and involvement of each parent, each service
provider and anyone who cares for and about
children. The Children and Families Commission
believes that only by working with its community
partners and hearing the voices of the
community can it really make a difference for
children.
The Commission has committed to utilizing
Inclusive Governance to ensure that people with
the greatest stake in what happens to children
have an active role in the design and evaluation
of the programs affecting them. They have
adopted a Results Based Accountability approach
that focuses on results—defining what
we want to see for children and families, choosing
strategies that we think will work and measuring
the progress we are making towards these
desired results.
Priority Results have been selected to guide
local decision making and serve as a reminder
that the dream for all children in Santa Barbara
County is that they:
• are born and remain physically and
mentally healthy;
• are learning and prepared to succeed in
kindergarten;
• live in safe, supportive and nurturing
environments;
• and live in communities where services and
supports for families are comprehensive,
integrated, non-duplicative, accessible and
culturally responsive.
Within the Four Result Areas defined by the
Children and Families Act, the Commission’s
planning process led to the selection of Desired
Outcomes that will guide the Commission’s
work over the next three years.
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 17

Improved Child Health: Healthy Children
Children are born and remain physically and mentally healthy
Desired Outcomes
1. Families have access to and utilize comprehensive, preventative and primary health care.
2. Children are born healthy and ready to develop to their full potential.
3. Families are aware of the importance of child health and development.
Improved Child Development:
Children Learning and Ready for School
Children are learning and prepared to succeed in school
Desired Outcomes
1. Families have access to and are receiving high quality early care and education.
2. Children enter kindergarten emotionally, physically and developmentally prepared to
succeed.
Improved Family Functioning: Strong Families
Children live in safe, supportive, and nurturing environments
Desired Outcomes
1. Parents, including those with children with special needs, have access to services and
resources to support optimal child development and healthy parenting.
2. Children live in stable and nurturing family environments free from family violence and
exposure to tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse.
Improved Systems for Families:
Integrated, Accessible, Inclusive, and Culturally
Appropriate Services
Services are comprehensive, integrated, non-duplicative, and culturally responsive
Desired Outcomes
1. Services are consumer-oriented, accessible, locally available and geographically equitable.
2. Communities have adequate service capacity, which is effective, coordinated, integrated,
non-duplicative and sustainable to address the needs of families.
18 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Indicators:
Measuring Our Success
The Children and Families Commission
is committed to measuring the
progress towards achieving the desired
results for children. Prior to the formation of
the Children and Families Commission, the
KIDS Network and the UCSB Gevirtz Graduate
School of Education had established an annual
Children’s Scorecard. The Commission has
joined as a partner in the development of the
Scorecard, to bring special focus on the status
of children prenatal to age five. Within the
Scorecard, four new indicators have been added:
1. Access to Prenatal Care: Percent of expecting
mothers receiving prenatal care beginning
in the first trimester of pregnancy. Early
access to high-quality prenatal care services
is an important predictor of children’s
health and development during infancy
and early childhood.
2. Infant Mortality Rate: Yearly rate of deaths
for children less than 1-year-old. Infant
mortality is generally considered a key
public health indicator that reflects the
general health status of a community, as
well as equity and quality of health
services.
3. Child Care Supply: Total number of spaces
in licensed early care and education centers
and family homes. Access to high quality,
developmentally appropriate early care and
education, provides early socialization and
learning experiences that help children
prepare for success in elementary school.
4. Reading Achievement: Percent scoring above
the 50 th percentile on reading, language,
and math assessments. Broad measurement
of reading ability in early elementary
school is an indicator of how well children
0-5 are being prepared to succeed in
school.
Additionally, five existing indicators have
been reanalyzed to provide information specific
to the 0-5 age group:
1. Child Population
2. Families and children living in poverty
3. Children in families in the CalWORKS
progam
4. Children receiving special education
5. Homelessness
(Taken from the Santa Barbara County Children’s Scorecard 2001.
See the Scorecard for current data)
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 19

The Commission has a long-term commitment
to data development. Locally and
statewide, Children and Families Commissions
are setting in place systems to document program
results and community-wide changes in
outcomes for children. The Commission is
working in partnership with the KIDS Network,
the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education and
county and community partners to continuously
improve the community’s capacity to document
the progress in improving the lives of Santa Barbara
County’s children.
20 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Strategies and
Funding Priorities
All Children in every community of Santa Barbara
County will thrive in safe, supportive, nurturing,
and loving environments; enter school as healthy,
active learners; develop resilience; and become
productive, well-adjusted members of society.
—Children & Families Commission Vision
Proposition 10 has given communities
an opportunity to make an investment
in young children at the time most critical
to their development. In the 2000-2003 Strategic
Plan, the Commission identified seven
strategic objectives and a set of strategic activities
to achieve these objectives. The update of
the strategic plan is an opportunity to 1) refine
the focus on the desired results for children and
2) prioritize the strategies and activities that
are likely to achieve progress towards these
results. Strategies were assessed according to
the following criteria:
1. We know it works: Evidence/research
exists that documents the connection
between this program and activity and our
priority outcomes.
2. We think it works: There is anecdotal
evidence that this approach works. Experts
say they believe it works or has promise.
Common sense/logic tells us that it will
work.
3. It is popular: There is strong support in
the County for this strategy among
community residents and providers.
A set of Priority Strategies was selected for
each of the Result Areas and Desired Outcomes.
These strategies represent the work and activities
that are expected to move the Commission
and its partners towards achieving the desired
outcomes for children and families. The primary
role of the Commission, as a grant maker, is to
fund programs that provide services that fit
within these Priority Strategies.
In the initial strategic plan, the Commission
recognized that the issues facing children and
families across the County are relatively common,
however they placed additional emphasis on:
1. serving ethnically, culturally and linguistically
diverse children and families and
children with special needs
2. addressing the needs of geographically and
socially isolated communities, and
3. targeting traditionally underserved and
high need populations
The Priority Strategies, taken with these
special considerations, will guide the
Commission’s decision-making throughout the
grant-making process.
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 21

Improved Child Health:
Healthy Children
Children are born and remain physically and mentally healthy
a. Prevention based health services
including developmental, dental,
immunizations and well baby screenings.
b. Home visits by a nurse and home visitor
for all newborns.
c. Permanent and mobile health services
to reach all communities on a regular
basis for expectant parents and families
with young children.
d. On-site enrollment in insurancereimbursement
programs.
e. Support transportation services to
ensure that families have access to
programs and services.
Parent Education:
Desired Outcomes
1. Families have access to comprehensive,
preventative and primary health care.
2. Children are born healthy and ready to
develop to their full potential.
3. Families are aware of the importance of
child health and development.
Priority Strategies
Access/Capacity:
1. Develop and expand community based
access to comprehensive health care
including:
1. Inform parents of available services and
programs for healthy children prenatal to
five through:
a. Distribution of State sponsored Kits for
New Parents in collaboration with
local obstetricians.
b. Expanding educational programs on
child safety related to environmental
hazards and pesticide exposure,
substance abuse, physical abuse and
neglect, domestic violence and the
impact of trauma on child development.
c. Coordinating and supporting programs
to educate parents in the dangers of
smoking, the effects of second hand
smoke and linking parents who smoke
to existing smoking cessation support
programs.
22 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Improved Child Development:
Children Learning and Ready for School
Children are learning and prepared to succeed in school
Desired Outcomes
1. Families have access to and are receiving
high quality early care and education.
2. Children enter kindergarten emotionally,
physically and developmentally prepared to
succeed.
Priority Strategies
Access:
1. Maintain and strengthen the countywide
integrated structure that supports early
care and education through:
Kindergarten Preparation:
1. Support efforts that increase the number of
children in high quality early care and
education programs.
2. Support partnerships between preschool
programs and the public school system to
promote smooth transitions between
programs.
3. Collaborate with schools, cities and local
service providers throughout the County
to build on or develop mobile and permanent
resource centers, reaching rural and
urban areas, to provide comprehensive
services to support families of at-risk
young children.
a. Public/private partnerships
b. Business and government
involvement
c. Public policy amendments to support
early care and education
2. Increase the recruitment and retention of
well-trained child care providers.
3. Improve the quality of early care and
education services by offering support for
provider training, program quality improvement
and accreditation.
4. Support the improvement of early care and
education environments including development
and expansion of “green” child
care facilities.
5. Support and develop initiatives and
activities that expand the county’s capacity
to provide high quality, developmentally
appropriate early care and education.
6. Support the development of early care and
education funding for low and moderateincome
families.
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 23

Improved Family Functioning:
Strong Families
Children live in safe, supportive, and nurturing environments
Desired Outcomes
1. Parents, including those with children
with special needs, have access to services
and resources to support optimal child
development and healthy parenting.
2. Children live in stable and nurturing
family environments free from family
violence and exposure to tobacco, alcohol
and drug abuse.
5. Enhance and coordinate local information
and referral information to families and
professionals on community services.
Family Resource Centers:
1. Collaborate with schools, cities and local
service providers throughout the County
to build on or develop mobile and permanent
resource centers reaching rural and
urban areas.
Home Visiting/Kit for New Parents:
Priority Strategies
Outreach Activities:
1. Develop information kit/resource guide for
parents in English and Spanish on available
services for child development, parenting,
health and a well-prepared child.
2. Identify key commercial business partners
to serve as outlets for information.
3. Develop information network regarding
family resource centers.
4. Develop education and outreach programs
utilizing existing community focal points,
the media and resource centers.
1. Implement a coordinated program of
voluntary home visits for all children born
in Santa Barbara County within 2-3 weeks
of birth.
2. Distribute State sponsored Kits for New
Parents in collaboration with local obstetricians.
Transportation:
1. Support transportation services to ensure
that families have access to programs and
services.
Parent Education:
1. Increase delivery of culturally appropriate
parenting education in diverse settings.
2. Support and expand programs for parent
education on parenting skills, early childhood
development, nutrition, special needs,
literacy, ESL, and environmental and home
safety for parents who are expecting a child
or who have young children.
3. Increase the availability of programs that
include early identification and supportive
services that strengthen families and keep
children safe from abuse and neglect in the
home.
24 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Improved Systems for Families:
Integrated, Accessible, Inclusive, and
Culturally Responsive Services
Services are comprehensive, integrated, non-duplicative, and culturally responsive
Desired Outcomes
1. Services are consumer-oriented, accessible,
locally available and geographically
equitable.
2. Communities have adequate service
capacity which is effective, coordinated,
integrated, non-duplicative and sustainable
to address the needs of families.
Priority Strategies
System Integration:
1. Support collaboration among service
providers and municipalities to increase
community capacity to provide services to
young children and families.
2. Develop and sustain permanent and
mobile family resource centers reaching
families in rural and urban areas in
collaboration with schools, cities, local
providers, and families.
3. Implement a coordinated program of
voluntary home visits for all children born
in Santa Barbara County within 2-3 weeks
of birth.
Outreach/Information and Referral:
1. Support the development of localized
information for the Kit for New Parents to
be distributed through local obstetricians
in the final trimester of pregnancy.
2. Enhance and coordinate local Information
and Referral services to increase information
to families and professionals on
community resources for families with
children 0-5.
Sustainability:
1. Develop long-term funding strategies to
“plug the gap” for future service delivery
through increased funding from matching
and alternative sources.
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 25

26 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Fiscal Strategies
and Allocations
The Commission’s primary role is to
ensure that Proposition 10 resources
in Santa Barbara County are directly
supporting the healthy development of children
prenatal to age five. The Children and Families
Commission of Santa Barbara County expects
to receive approximately $5.5 million per year,
with a projected decline in future years. The
majority of these funds will be used to fund programs,
projects, services and activities that fall
within the four Result Areas and the
Commission’s Priority Strategies.
Funding Priorities
1) Support programs that fit within the
Commission’s Priority Strategies
2) Be responsive to emerging community
needs, innovative solutions and opportunities
to build local capacity
3) Maximize the resources available to
support programs over the long-term for
children ages 0-5 and their families by
leveraging public and private resources
Community Grants
The Commission allocates the majority of
Proposition 10 funds received through Request
for Proposal Process. The Commission funds
programs, projects, services and activities that
focus on the Commission’s Desired Outcomes
and fit within the Priority Strategies.
Two types of grants are available through the
Request for Proposal Process:
Two-Year Direct Service & Service
Integration Grants:
a) Direct service and service integration
grants
b) For programs having demonstrated
capacity and infrastructure
c) Grants awarded for a 2-year period
d) Previously funded and not previously
funded programs eligible to apply
One-Year Community Grants:
a) Planning, capacity building, capital
improvement and direct service support
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 27

) Grants awarded for 1-year period
c) Previously funded and not previously
funded programs eligible to apply
Mid-Year Planning and
Capacity Building Grants:
Small amounts of funding are set aside
for emerging needs outside of the Request for
Proposal process described above.
a) mid year planning projects
b) co-sponsorship
e) Evaluation: tracking results, data development
and program monitoring
Operations & Administration:
The Children and Families Commission has
offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, with
staff that oversee the operations of the Commission
and administer all community grants.
The Commission budget includes expenditures
for operations and administrative expenses.
c) community education
Spruce Up For Kids Day Mini Grants:
A fourth, community, grant program is targeted
specifically at family child care providers and
smaller center-based programs that would not
typically participate in larger grant processes.
a) short-term project funds
b) program quality improvement
Systems Improvement,
Outreach and Evaluation
Improving the system of services and supports
for children and their families, educating parents
and the community about the importance
of the first years and evaluating the success of
the Proposition 10 investment are activities that
are core components of the work of the Commission.
A portion of the Commission’s budget
will be directed towards:
a) Capacity Building: program development,
technical assistance and training for
grantees and the community at large
b) Community Outreach: importance of the
early years, information on local services
and resources
c) Community Involvement & Engagement:
parent, provider and community
participation in decision-making
d) Co-sponsorship of educational
programs and opportunities
Building Long-term
Sustainability
The passage of Proposition 10 has made over
$5.5 million additional dollars annually available
to support programs for children in Santa Barbara
County. The Commission is committed to
maximizing the dollars that are released to the
community for services, leveraging additional
resources and planning for long-term sustainability
that allow for decreasing revenue.
Fiscal Strategic Plan:
The Santa Barbara County Commission was
selected to participate with 5 counties to receive
technical assistance to develop a Fiscal
Strategic Plan. The Commission has established
a Fiscal Planning Committee that is
working with Commission staff and staff from
the County’s Auditor/Controller Department
to develop a fiscal strategic plan that will be
28 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

consistent with the priorities set forth in this
strategic plan.
Fiscal Leveraging:
Recognizing the opportunity presented by
Proposition 10 funds to leverage additional public
resources, the Commission has developed a
Fiscal Leveraging Project to work with a group
of targeted, Commission-funded programs to
draw down State and Federal resources.
Sustainable Reserve:
The Commission has established a Sustaining
Reserve Fund with revenue that was accrued before
June 2000. This fund will ensure the longterm
sustainability of strategies that are meeting
the desired outcomes for children and families.
State Initiatives:
The California Children and Families Commission
is responsible for overseeing the allocation
of 20 percent of the revenues generated by
Proposition 10 state-wide. The State Commission
has begun to release State Initiatives
that can bring additional resources into local
communities. The Santa Barbara County Commission
will be participating in a School Readiness
Initiative that will bring additional funds
in to support programs that prepare children
to succeed in kindergarten. The Commission
is also receiving matching revenue from the
State for the Program Quality Improvement
Project to support the training and retention
of child care providers. Future initiatives may
be released by the State that bring additional
support for local needs.
Funding Partnerships:
The Commission is actively partnering with local,
state and national foundations to bring additional
resources into the community and to maximize
the impact of Proposition 10 dollars.
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 29

30 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Accountability
and Evaluation
To evaluate the effectiveness of
Proposition 10 efforts in Santa
Barbara County, the Commission has
made a strong commitment to evaluation, data
collection, software support and capacity building
among service providers within a Results-
Based Accountability Framework. This will be
essential for determining the progress towards
achieving the Commission’s desired outcomes,
assessing the effectiveness of service providers
and identifying met and unmet needs.
The Commission has built a partnership with
UCSB’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education
and a private contractor to design an evaluation
and software system that will support the measurement
of outcomes and program performance.
The Commission is providing extensive
support to Commission-funded programs to
enhance their technical and evaluation capabilities
and increase their ability to document
positive outcomes for children and their families.
The Results Based Accountability Framework
is used throughout the Commission’s work
in:
• Strategic Planning: selecting desired
outcomes and priority strategies
• Allocations: linking results to Request for
Proposal and application review process
• Contracting: working with funded
agencies to set performance targets that
link to the Commission’s desired outcomes
• Program Monitoring and Accountability:
assessing program effectiveness in
service delivery
• Evaluation: Assessing progress in achieving
the desired results for children
The Commission will continue to focus on
Results Based Accountability with a high degree
of community participation, participation from
the research community and statewide partners.
The State Children and Families Commission
will be evaluating the effects of County
Commissions’ efforts across the state. Counties
will be required to report on indicators addressed
through their local activities. The Santa
Barbara County Commission has taken an active
lead in the development of the State’s evaluation
system to ensure that it is developed in
coordination with local evaluation activities and
data.
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 31

32 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

A Call to Action
Make time, stay informed and take action! The entire community should
work to make our dreams come true for our children.
—Santa Barbara County Parents
The 2002-2005 Children and Families
Commission of Santa Barbara
County’s Strategic Plan represents the
voices of hundreds of parents, professionals and
community members. The financial resources
brought into Santa Barbara County through
Proposition 10 will not be what make the difference
for children. It will be the outreach
worker who finds a way to get diapers across a
flooded road or a parent who works three jobs
and comes home to make dinner and read to
their child. It will be the parents who decide to
form a parent advisory group to create a new
community center. It will be the contractor who
donates his time to build a new playground at a
family child care home. It will be you!
• Learn how to support children’s optimal
development in the early years.
• Be involved in your child’s education.
• Donate your time, resources or in-kind
services to support a local children’s
program in our community.
• Contact the Children and Families
Commission to learn more about the
programs and projects that it supports.
Join us in making sure that…
. . . all children in every community of
Santa Barbara County thrive in safe,
supportive, nurturing, and loving environments;
enter school as healthy, active
learners; develop resilience; and become
productive, well-adjusted members of
society.
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 33

34 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Appendices
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 35

36 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Commission
Highlights
Community Grants
Since the Children and Families Commission
was formed, it has completed two
rounds of funding of community
grants.
Fiscal Year 2000-2001
In its first year of funding community programs
the Commission awarded:
• $4,838,866 in Direct Service grants to 38
agencies;
• $335,733 in Capacity Building & Planning
grants to 9 agencies;
• $64,267 in Midyear Planning grants and;
• $267,872 for Spruce up For Kids Day
mini-grants to early care providers.
Fiscal Year 2001-2002
In January, the Commission released its second
round of Requests for Proposals for community
grants. For the 2001-2002 fiscal year the
Commission awarded:
• $7,189,789 in Direct Service Grants to 49
agencies;
• $359,733 in Capacity Building and
Planning Grants to 9 agencies and;
• $250,000 has been allocated for 2002
Spruce Up for Kids Day with additional
private foundation support.
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 37

• Pediatric and obstetric services were
expanded to reach underserved
communities.
• A pre-school-linked health program was
established to link families with children in
State Pre-Schools to primary medical care
and to increase early care and education
providers knowledge of health issues.
• Outreach and education to support the
identification of children at risk of asthma
was made available to families enrolled in
45 child care centers and 5 Healthy Start
programs.
• 30 health professionals became Certified
Lactation Educators (CLEs) and an
outreach campaign was launched to
encourage businesses to adopt
breastfeeding friendly workplace policies.
Improved Child Development:
Children Learning and Ready
for School
Program Highligthts
2000-2001
In its first year of funding programs with
Proposition 10 funding in Santa Barbara
County, the commission was able to support
services that truly fit within the strategic objectives
identified in its first strategic polanning
process. Below are some of the highlights from
Fiscal Year 2000-2001.
Improved Child Health:
Healthy Children
• 1,477 children 0-5 and 453 family members
received dental screenings and treatment.
• 124 children and 115 family members
received mental health services.
• A new preschool program was opened that
provided $20,180 in scholarships to 10 low
and moderate income families.
• 18 new child care spaces, with comprehensive
services for families, were created for
homeless children.
• A new infant care component for a local
Community College was developed. The
new Children’s Lab School offered services
to 20-30 infants.
• Capital improvements grants totaling
$133,201.71 improved program quality
and the safety of child care programs and
facilitated program expansion to increase
children’s access to high quality care.
• The Migrant and Seasonal Head Start
Program was extended by three months to
enable farm-worker families to avoid
disruption of services.
• 91 mini-grants totaling $267,872 were
awarded to family child care home
38 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

providers and centers for site improvements
for a Spruce Up For Kids Day.
Program improvements impacted 1,906
children and mobilized over 1,000
volunteers and generated an additional
$128,634.21 in volunteer labor and
supplies.
• An Office of Early Care and Education
was established to serve as an integrated
countywide structure for early care and
education, with sites in north and south
county.
• Training and Retention Stipends totaling
$260,270 were awarded to 308 center
based and family child care providers. An
additional 104 stipends were awarded using
California Children and Families Commission
matching funds of $100,698 for
Training and Retention.
• The Program Quality Improvement
Project was established to increase the
number of accredited early care programs
and to promote quality improvement.
• 42 new child care providers were licensed,
or are pending licensure, to provide child
care services for children 0-5. Nineteen
providers received Commission support to
complete 26-32 hours of advanced professional
training.
ImprovedFamilyFunctioning:
Strong Families
and the Cuyama Valley including increased
access to medical and dental services, case
management, transportation assistance,
rent and utility assistance, food, clothing,
infant formula and diapers.
• Services and support for families of
children with special needs were expanded.
Seven hundred seventy nine children and
871 family members received services
including: parent education, resources
through mobile libraries, parent support
groups, a bilingual newsletter and a toy
lending library.
• 171 parents of children ages 0-5 learned to
read, write, and speak English through a
volunteer, literacy program.
• 41 social service workers received training
in using a museum as a therapeutic tool
with families. One hundred seventy-one
family members then were able to visit the
museum as part of their family counseling.
• Commission support enabled 12 children
to live in safe and stable housing with their
mothers, while their mothers underwent
substance abuse treatment.
• 81 teen parents in Santa Maria received job
training, non-violent parenting skills
training and family living skills training
and supportive services aimed at giving
them the skills for self-sufficiency and
successful parenting.
• 7,536 children ages 0-5 and 4,026 family
members received comprehensive services
through the expansion of existing Healthy
Start programs to include children under
five. Services include: parent education,
health care, child care, transportation,
early academic mentoring through Pre-
Kindergarten programs, case management
and emergency assistance.
• New support services for families were
brought to the geographically isolated and
underserved communities of Guadalupe
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 39

Inclusive Governance:
Community Involvement
• A 20-member Advisory Board to the
Commission was established with
representation from parents, early care
and education, health care, family
support, and programs serving children
with special needs.
• The Commission was selected to participate
as one of four County Commissions
in the Results for Children Initiative
funded by the Foundation Consortium.
The goal of the Initiative is to increase
community involvement in setting priorities
and measuring the success of Proposition 10.
Accountability/Evaluation
Improved Systems for
Families: Integrated,
Accessible, Inclusive, and
Culturally Appropriate
Services
• Expansion of transportation services in the
North County enabled 706 children ages
0-5 and 625 family members to have access
to Commission funded programs.
• Extensive planning, resulted in the development
of a universal home visiting
program for newborns.
• The Commission actively facilitated
communication and coordination between
dental service providers and Early Healthy
Start Programs and service providers in
geographically isolated communities.
• The Commission set a high priority to
funding services that provide service
integration. Seventeen grants, for a total
of $3,683,782.00 were directed toward
improving system integration.
(Note: Detailed program information is available
through the Commission)
• Staff provided technical assistance to all
funded programs during the contracting
phase to assist them in developing performance
measures to document their
progress.
• The Commission in partnership with the
University of California, Santa Barbara
developed an evaluation plan for tracking
the long-term impact of Proposition 10 in
Santa Barbara County.
• A customized software program was
developed to track program data, monitor
contracts and facilitate payments to
grantees.
Media/Community Outreach
• The Commission and its funded programs
received consistent coverage in the local
media for Request for Proposal announcements,
program specific stories and the
Spruce Up For Kids Day event.
• The Commission actively participated in
and supported a number of community
outreach events sponsored by funded
agencies.
40 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

• A Commission website, www.sbccfc.org was
launched.
• An informational video about the Children
and Families was developed in English and
Spanish and used extensively for community
outreach.
Administration/Fiscal
Leveraging/Program
Sustainability
• The Commission contracted with a
leveraging specialist to develop and
implement a fiscal leveraging plan to
leverage State and federal dollars.
• Commission offices were established in
Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.
Commission Focus
2001-2002
In 2001, the Children and Families Commission
began its second year of funding of community
programs. In 2001-2002, the Commission has
been working extensively with local community
partners to improve service coordination and
build local capacity. Statewide, the Santa Barbara
County Commission has been an active
partner in charting the direction of statewide
activities and programs.
As the 2002-2005 Strategic Plan goes to press,
the Commission is in the middle of its second
year of funding. What follows are some of highlights
of the Commission ongoing work to help
improvem services for children and families.
Improved Systems for
Families: Integrated,
Accessible, Inclusive, and
Culturally Responsive Services
• The Commission continues to work with
Commission-funded service providers, local
public and private organizations and
statewide organizations to improve the
delivery of services for families and children.
Locally, the Commission has continued to
support coordination between service
providers to reduce duplication of services,
fill the gaps in services and be responsive to
emerging needs.
Building and Supporting Local
Capacity in Support of Children
• In its second year of funding, the Commission
increased the amount of technical
assistance provided to grant applicants and
grant awardees during the allocations
process. The Commission has relied on its
partnership with funded programs to move
towards a Results Based Accountability
system, to assess local needs and to reach
and involve families served by their
programs in the work of Proposition 10.
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 41

Fiscal Leveraging for
Sustainability
• The Commission has launched the Fiscal
Leveraging Project with pilot agencies to
use Proposition 10 dollars to leverage State
and Federal resources.
The California Children
and Families Association
• Commission staff is actively participating
in the California Children and Families
Association, a coordinating body of the 58
California County Commissions.
Community Outreach
and Education
• The Commission launched, Raising Our
Children, a 13-part television show in
English and Spanish for parents and
caregivers on caring for young children.
The show airs nightly for 15 days in
English and 15 days in Spanish.
Information about the programs and
projects funded by the Commission is
available through the Children and Families
Commission office and on the
Commission’s website.
42 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

1. Population and Demographics
Local Data
Population by Age (2000)
Age
Population
Under 1 4,974
1 Year 5,145
2 Years 5,086
3 Years 5,312
4 Years 5,509
5 Years 5,538
Total 0-5 31,546
Source: Census 2000, U.S. Census Bureau
Race/Ethnicity by Age (2000)
Under 5
All Ages
Race/Ethnicity Number Percent Number Percent
Hispanic/Latino 14,257 54.8 136,668 34.2
Single Race, Non-Hispanic/Latino
White 9,479 36.4 227,083 56.9
Black/African-American 424 1.6 8,385 2.1
American Indian /Alaska Native 127 0.5 2,135 0.5
Asian 741 2.8 15,713 3.9
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Isl. 41 0.2 589 0.1
Some Other Race 47 0.2 585 0.1
Multirace 892 3.4 8,189 2.1
Total 26,008 100.0 399,347 100.0
Source: Census 2000, U.S. Census Bureau
Family Type by Age (2000)
Presence of
Age of Own Children
Children Under 6 (# of Children)
(# of Families)
Family Type Own Related Under 3 3-4 Years 5 Years
Married Couple 7,413 7,821 10,302 7,640 3,860
Male Householder, No Spouse 705 843 782 484 247
Female Householder, No Spouse 1,285 1,613 1,400 1,256 713
Source: Census 2000, U.S. Census Bureau
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 43

2. Early Care and Education
Licensed Care Capacity (2001)
Type of Care
Slots
Centers
Infant-Toddler 233
Preschool 5,867
Family Child Care Homes 5,096
Source: S.B. Children’s Resource & Referral
Program
Cost of Child Care (2001)
Type of Care Monthly Cost
Infant-Toddler $787
Preschool $488
Source: CA County Data Book 2001,
Children Now
3. Health and Safety
Health Indicators (1997-1999)
Prenatal Care
(Percent receiving care in the first trimester) 1997 1998 1999
Black/African-American 79.8 71.4 82.3
Asian/Pacific Islande 83.3 74.4 77.9
Hispanic/Latino 73.8 86.4 71.7
American Indian/Alaska Native 91.7 89.9 66.7
White 89.4 80.9 90.0
Total 80.1 80.6 78.8
Infants with Low Birth Weights
(Percent of births weighing < 2,500 grams) 1997 1998 1999
Black/African-American 8.7 8.2 13.4
Asian/Pacific Islander 6.7 6.2 5.0
Hispanic/Latino 5.8 6.0 5.2
American Indian/Alaska Native 4.2 0.0 0.0
White 5.6 6.0 5.6
Total 5.8 6.0 5.5
Infant Mortality
(Rate of deaths per 1,000 to children < 12 mos.) 1997 1998 1999
Black/African-American 0.0 18.2 10.3
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.0 8.2 0.0
Hispanic/Latino 5.4 5.6 4.4
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.0 0.0 0.0
White 3.8 5.1 5.5
Total 4.5 5.7 4.7
Source: CA County Data Book 2001, Children Now
44 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

4. Family Support
Quick Facts
Percent of Children Ages 0 to 4 Living in Poverty (1997) . . . . . . . .22.7%
Number of Children in Families Receiving CalWORKs Assistance
(as of 4/03/01)
Ages 0 to 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,436
Ages 3 to 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,362
Children and Infants Receiving WIC Assistance
Number of Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,640
Percent of Eligible Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68.8%
Children Served by Head Start
Number of Participants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 856
Est. Number of Children Ages 3-4 in Poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,713
Babies Born to Mothers with Less Than 12 Years Education (1999)
Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,452
Percent of All Births. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36.6%
Change in Number since 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -304
Family Economics
Median Household Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $43,156
State Rank (Out of 58 Counties; 1 = Highest $) . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Fair Market Rent (2 Bedroom) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$878
State Rank (Out of 58 Counties; 1 = Lowest $) . . . . . . . . . . . .49
As Percent of Minimum Wage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84%
Sources: CA County Data Book 2001, Children Now; S.B. Dept. of Social Services
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 45

46 Children & Families Commission of Santa Barbara County

Additional Resources
Children and Families Commission of Santa
Barbara County Strategic Plan 2000-2003,
January 2000
Santa Barbara County Children’s Scorecard 2001
Kids Network, (805) 614-1990
Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning
Council Strategic Plan for Early Care and
Education 2000-2005
Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning
Council, (805) 964-4710 ext. 4473
California Children and Families Commission,
Advisory Committee on Diversity Principles of
Equity
California Children and Families Commission
School Readiness Program
California Children and Families Commission
(916) 323-0056, www.ccfc.ca.gov
Photography by Djamel E. Ramoul
Pages: 5, 7, 13, 16, 19, 21, 25, 27, 28, 31, 38, 40, 41
Strategic Plan 2002–2005 47

It’s all about the children.