Latest UpdatesPosted on March 20, 2026
First 5 California is excited to invite our partners, colleagues, and champions for children and families to join us August 31 – September 2, 2026, in Anaheim, for our biennial Summit.
Posted on March 3, 2026
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is pleased to announce the release of the new California Framework for Infant-Toddler Learning and Development (IT Framework). The IT Framework, replaces the California Infant-Toddler Curriculum Framework, represents part of the CDSS comprehensive effort to strengthen young children’s …
Posted on February 3, 2026
The California Department of Social Services is pleased to announce that a new module series, Creating Brave Spaces: Working with Adults to Disrupt Implicit Bias in Early Care and Education, is now available! This new module series expands upon the 3.5-hour series Disrupting Implicit Bias: The Power of Awareness, Understanding, and Love and …
Posted on January 27, 2026
These virtual sessions are designed for professional development providers, facilitators, teachers, administrators, and coaches who support or assist with the DRDP assessment. DRDP (2025) for Teachers Implementation Trainings Registration Link DRDP (2025) for Administrators Implementation Webinars – These 1-hour sessions are for …
Posted on January 27, 2026
The California Department of Social Services is pleased to announce that a new module series, Trauma-Informed Practice: Culturally Responsive Strategies for Working with Adults, is now available! This new module series expands upon the 2-hour module Safe Spaces: Foundations of Trauma-Informed Practice for Educational and Care Settings (0–5), …
Posted on January 27, 2026
The ASPIRE program builds upon over a decade of investments in early care and education quality improvement, from state, federal and local sources, under Quality Counts California (QCC), California’s existing Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS). This work has included many years of investment to support CLASS observations in early care …
Posted on October 27, 2025
The Strong Start Index standardizes and summarizes the conditions into which children are born. Comprising twelve indicators that are universally measured, the California Strong Start Index can be used to better, more holistically characterize children across (and within) California communities, providing a tool that can help First 5s and …
Posted on October 27, 2025
This page on the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) website provides an index of child care and development quality initiatives, projects, programs and resources to support the early learning and care workforce and the early learning community.
Posted on October 27, 2025
This policy brief published in April 2025 uses data from the 2019–2023 California Health Interview Surveys to describe the child care experiences of households with young children ages 0–5.
Posted on August 14, 2025
The California Department of Social Services is pleased to announce the seventh convening of the Equity-Centered QRIS Advisory Panel. The seventh Panel meeting will be September 25, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. All meetings are open to the public so that community members can participate […]
Posted on January 23, 2025
The California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division, is excited to announce the upcoming Beginning Together Institute for Inclusion Facilitators beginning in March 2025. This Institute will host Training-of-Trainers virtual sessions offered as a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities on Thursday …
Posted on August 5, 2024
The Early Learning and Care Trainer Reflection Tool outlines evidence-based practices grounded in research on equitable approaches to adult learning, professional ethics, and trainer competencies. It complements and expands on information in California Early Childhood Educator Competencies—Supplemental Performance Area: Adult Learning and …
Posted on February 8, 2024
The California Department of Education, the California Department of Social Services, and First 5 California are pleased to share School Readiness Consulting’s (SRC) community report, Re-imagining a More Equitable QRIS: The Quality Counts California (QCC) Equity Project. The QCC Equity Project research study was designed to identify inequities …
Posted on July 4, 2023
Please spread the word and share these series of learning experiences with your colleagues. In January 2023, California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) and California Department of Social Services (CDSS), in partnership with WestEd, announced the launch of a comprehensive suite of 12 new series of online professional development …
Posted on July 25, 2022
This brief summarizes the key successes of the First 5 California (F5CA) investment in Quality Counts California (QCC). The brief begins by chronicling the historical and current contexts of QCC, including F5CA’s Improve and Maximize Programs so All Children Thrive (IMPACT). The brief then focuses on the unique aspects of IMPACT funding: (1) …
Posted on August 18, 2021
The California Department of Education, in partnership with WestEd, is proud to announce the launch of a new and innovative online health and safety course for family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) providers. The online course, available in English and Spanish, titled Health and Safety for Family, Friend, and Neighbor Providers …
Posted on July 15, 2021
The California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP) is a valuable quality service to the early learning and care field. Read this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for updated information about the renewed CECMP contract and transition to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Check back to view this FAQ on the QCC …
Posted on June 17, 2021
First 5 California (F5CA) is pleased to announce the release of the Shared Services Alliance (SSA) Pilot for Early Learning and Care (ELC) Request for Applications (RFA) funding opportunity. On August 19, 2020, the F5CA Commission approved $1,500,000 from IMPACT 2020 for the startup of SSA Networks to build capacity in ELC settings by …
Posted on May 13, 2021
QCC Consortium Meeting May 14, 2021 Please join the QCC State Team for a Consortium meeting on May 14, 2021, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time. During this meeting, we will continue our equity conversations, provide state updates, and have an opportunity to connect with one another and share resources and ideas. Zoom URL: …
Posted on February 26, 2021
First 5 California is pleased to announce the release of modules 3,4, and 5 of the Quality Counts California Family Engagement Toolkit (Toolkit). The Toolkit was designed and developed in partnership with Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, WestEd, and the California Department of Education. The Toolkit was designed under …
