About the Commission
The California Children and Families First Act of 1998 provided for the creation of a county Commission charged with promoting, supporting and improving the early development of children from the prenatal stage through five years of age. The Commission, now called First 5 Sonoma County Commission, was established by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors in December 1998.
The Commission is comprised of three ex-officio members and six representatives from the following seven categories:
- Recipients of the project services included in the county strategic plan
- Educators specializing in early childhood development
- Representatives of a local childhood care resource or referral agency or a local childhood care coordinating group
- Representatives of a local organization for prevention or early intervention for families at risk
- Representatives of community-based organizations that have the goal of promoting nurturing and early childhood development
- Representatives of local school districts
- Representatives of local medical, pediatric, or obstetric associations or societies
Current Commissioners
- Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, Board of Supervisors, Ex-Officio member
- Barbie Robinson, Director, Ex-Officio member, Sonoma County Department of Health Services
- Oscar Chavez, Assistant Department Director, Sonoma County Human Services Department
- Kelly Bass Seibel, Vice President of Public Policy for the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce
- Dr. Jeff Miller, Pediatrician
- Cynthia Murray, President/ CEO of North Bay Leadership Council (NBLC)
- Michele Rogers, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Early Learning Institute
- Jennielynn Holmes, Director of Shelter and Housing, Catholic Charities
- Socorro Shiels, Director of Education, California Collaborative for Educational Excellence