If you are a licensed family child care provider, preschool staff, and Family, Friend, or Neighbor caring for children other than your own, this program is for you!

We invite you to participate in Strong Start Calaveras and receive monetary incentives and support as you grow in the field of early childhood education.

Receive money for completing:

• Annual Quality Improvement Plan Goals
• Early childhood education (ECE) and safety classes
• ECE educational units

Additional supports include:

• Learning opportunities online and in-person
• Family, Friend, & Neighbor (FFN) caregiver Engagement Activity kits
• Toolkits for Dual Language Learners (DLL) or children with disabilities
• And more!!

Learn more:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• 2025-26 Strong Start Calaveras Incentive Guidelines

Application Forms:

• Strong Start Enrollment Fact Sheet
• Enroll online!
• Strong Start Calaveras Program Application 2025-26
• SSC Participant Agreement 2025-26
• QIP goals 2025-26

August 1, 2025 - First 5 Calaveras and Prevent Child Abuse Calaveras (PCAC) announced the availability of $13,000 for community mini-grant opportunities to sponsor public events or activities consistent with their Strategic Plan goals and objectives. Individuals, public agencies, and private organizations in need of funding to improve the lives of children in Calaveras are encouraged to apply. 

Available Mini-Grants:

First 5 Calaveras funding is available to support activities for Calaveras children ages 0 to 5 and their parents/caregivers in the following categories: 

• Playgroups – up to $2,000 each.
• No-Cost Community Events – up to $1,000 each.
• Calaveras County Libraries – up to $500 each. 

Prevent Child Abuse Calaveras has funding of $1,000 for projects supporting Calaveras children up to 18 years old and their parents/caregivers.

The application period closed on September 5, 2025. Applications are currently under review. 

Guidelines and Report Forms:

• Mini-Grant Guidelines
• Mini-Grant Final Report Form
• Public Acknowledgement/Nutrition Guidelines
• Photograph Release
• Playgroup Guidelines

First 5 Calaveras and the Prevent Child Abuse Calaveras (PCAC) are pleased to announce the following FY 2024-25 Mini-Grant recipients:

Community Mini-Grants 

• UC Extension Master Gardeners - $1,000 for Kid’s Day in the Garden
• Amador Calaveras Breastfeeding Coalition - $250 for Nursing Nook at 2025 Calaveras County Fair 

Library Mini-Grants 

• Angels Camp Library (Story Time) $500
• Arnold Library (Story Time) $500
• Copperopolis (Story Time) $500
• San Andreas Library (Story Time) $500
• Valley Springs Library (Story Time) $500

Play Groups 

• Blue Mountain Coalition for Youth & Families - West Point Playgroup $2,000
• Blue Mountain Community Renewal Council - Rail Road Flat Playgroup $2,000
• San Andreas Library - Little Leapers San Andreas Playgroup $2,000

First 5 Calaveras funding is available for activities promoting the health, safety, development, and well-being of Calaveras children from birth through 5 years old and their families. The funding request must support one of the following First 5 Calaveras priority areas:

• Strong families
• Children are learning and ready for school
• Healthy children
• Systems integration and collaboration

Prevent Child Abuse Council Calaveras Mini-Grants 

• UC Extension Master Gardeners - $500 for Kid's Day in the Garden
• Blue Mountain Community Renewal Council - $500 for ASQ's 

Prevent Child Abuse funding is for birth to 18 years and must support one or more of the following Strengthening Families Protective Factors, which guide the Council’s Strategic Plan: 

• Parental Resilience (or Youth Resilience)
• Social Connections
• Knowledge of Parenting, Child/ Adolescent Development
• Concrete Support in Times of Need
• Social-Emotional Competence of Children and Youth

Visit our Little Free Libraries throughout Calaveras!

This section is under construction but will be updated soon!
 

The CASA program provided by Nexus Youth and Family Services trains advocates for children 0-5 years old who are dependents of the Court.

The Calaveras County Library offers the Little Leapers Early Literacy Program at library branches throughout the county. The goal of this program is to expand the message of early literacy; expand library use by families with young children; promote daily talking, reading, and singing to young children; and promote reading aloud to children for 15 minutes a day. Seven of the eight library branches’ on-site library activities offer weekly Little Leapers Storytime events. 

To get your FREE New Baby Kit, call (209)754-6914 or Download the Sign-Up Sheet and return to First 5 Calaveras.

Receive a FREE book every month until your child's 5th Birthday!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Promoting early literacy and books for young children through community partnerships. 

Our Mission

• Enhance quality interactions between parent and child.
• Increase the number of quality, age-appropriate books in young children’s homes.
• Encourage parents and older siblings to read to their child/sibling 15 minutes per day.

The Resource Connection Prevention Team visits local preschools to educate young children in regard to personal safety. Puppets, stories, songs, and art are used to engage children in lessons such as car and street safety, safe touch, feelings, kindness, assertiveness, stranger danger, household safety, and getting an adult for help and support. Parents learn safety skills and strategies to use with their child.