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California’s early identification and intervention (EII) system is complicated. Many players are responsible for supporting young children’s development and mental health. This flowchart describes the system as it is intended to work for children 0 to 3 years old with Medi-Cal insurance.
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Brief
Mar 4, 2026
First 5s and their community partners are not peripheral to Medi-Cal transformation - they are foundational to reaching California’s most vulnerable families. They bring cultural relevance, trust, community embeddedness, and the ability to bridge clinical systems to populations that have historically experienced barriers to healthcare access.
Brief
Apr 3, 2025
This brief presents the findings from our landscape analysis of the prenatal to three serving community health worker, promotora, and community health representative (CHW/P/R) workforce in California’s Central Valley. Our work around CHW/P/Rs in the Central Valley is done in collaboration with the Whole Child Equity Partnership. The WCEP is a multi-sector coalition of statewide organizations, advocates, and direct service providers working across multiple disciplines to make California the best state to have, raise, and be a child.
Brief
Mar 17, 2025
California has made significant strides to increase access to multigenerational, whole-family supports during the prenatal and postpartum period. However, significant gaps remain in access.
Brief
Mar 17, 2025
This brief is the second in a series about home and community-based perinatal supports for California families.
Brief
Aug 4, 2024
The first five years of life mark a critical time for early childhood development. Early experiences and relationships with caregivers shape the architecture of a developing brain and lay the foundation for mental health across an individual’s life.
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