What is Thrive by 5?
Thrive by 5 is a countywide, cross-sector initiative dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of pregnant and parenting families with children, birth to age 5, so that:
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Children and families are healthy.
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Children and families are ready for kindergarten.
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Children live in safe and nurturing families.
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Families have the resources thy need to support children's optimal development.
The History of Thrive by 5
The initiative was launched in January 2017 when the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors (Board) established the Thrive by Three Early Childhood Fund (the Fund) as a dedicated funding source to improve outcomes for pregnant and parenting families with young children and strengthen the prenatal-3 system of care. In May 2022, the Board approved expanding the scope and purpose of Thrive by Three to Thrive by 5 in order to create greater alignment with other early childhood initiatives and funding streams.
Each fiscal year since its inception, the Board has allocated $350,000 of County General Funds to the Thrive by Three/Thrive by 5 Early Childhood Fund for early childhood services and system-building activities. Additional public and private funds contributed by the Health Services Agency (HSA), Human Services Department (HSD), First 5 Santa Cruz County (First 5), and other partners have supported a broader range of service coordination and capacity building, beyond the County’s direct investments. First 5 leads the coordination and evaluation of this countywide initiative in partnership with HSD and HSA, with guidance from an Advisory Committee.
Theory of Change
In recent years, Thrive by 5 partners developed this theory of change, which articulates a shared vision of thriving children and families in a resilient, just community and acknowledges that achieving this requires addressing the root causes of the “Pair of ACEs” —Adverse Childhood Experiences that occur in Adverse Community Environments.
Thrive by 5 Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee is an advisory body of the First 5 Santa Cruz County Commission, and it also serves as the Community Advisory Board for the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) and Trauma Informed Approach Field Nursing programs operated by the County’s Public Health Department.
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Julio Andrade, Parent Leader / Community Member
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Priscila Bacio, Health Improvement Partnership
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Maria Cadenas, Santa Cruz Community Ventures
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Jessica Carreno, Parent Leader / Community Member
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Gloria Carroll, County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department
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Juana Chavez, Parent Leader / Community Member
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Katy Chevalier, County of Santa Cruz Human Services Department
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Karen Rito Cortes, Parent Leader / Community Member
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Dianna Diallo, Central Coast Alliance for Health
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Jennifer Herrera, County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency
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Diane Munoz, Santa Cruz County Office of Education
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Marcela Pinto, Parent Leader / Community Member
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Mariah Roberts, Santa Cruz County Parks Friends
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Sheree Storm, Dientes Community Dental
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Gabriela Trigueiro, City of Santa Cruz
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Lisa Guitierrez-Wang, County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency
The Advisory Committee provides strategic, non-binding advice and guidance about the Thrive by 5 initiative to First 5 and the County. Members contribute ideas, data, connections to other people, and other resources to help continuously improve and enhance the Prenatal-5 (PN-5) System of Care.
Our Partners on the Thrive by 5 Leadership Team
