Meet David Brody: New Executive Director of First 5 Santa Cruz County

By Toni Campbell, Chair of the First 5 Santa Cruz County Commission

Big news from First 5 Santa Cruz County (the folks who bring us programs like Triple P Positive Parenting and Healthy Kids insurance): they have hired a new executive director, David Brody. David will start in the position October 21.

David comes to First 5 Santa Cruz County after a 10-year tenure in leadership capacities at First 5 Santa Clara County. He succeeds Susan True, who served as executive director for nine years before obtaining a Masters degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and accepting new positions leading the Bay Area Council's early childhood messaging campaign and the Kenneth Rainin Foundation's literacy initiative. The executive director of First 5 Santa Cruz County is responsible for the administration of nearly $3 million dollars in annual revenues from Proposition 10, the tobacco tax passed by the voters in 1998, and other local and state funding sources. David will be responsible for the administration of local programs that help children succeed in school and in life.

David is excited to take on this new leadership role.  He is a firm believer that "Proposition 10, and the First 5 Commissions that were born from it, represent a tremendous opportunity to prove that we can act collectively and effectively to change children’s lives for the better.”  He is looking forward to joining the First 5 team and getting to know Santa Cruz County’s amazing community of providers.

First 5 was established by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on December 8, 1998 to ensure that all young children in the county enter kindergarten ready to achieve to their greatest potential.  First 5 invests in a comprehensive web of research-based programs and services that are specifically designed to make sure that all children will have the early experiences they need to succeed.

First 5's four major goal areas are:

·      Children are Healthy

·      Children are Learning and Ready for School

·      Families are Strong

·      Services are Family Friendly

As a parent in Santa Cruz County, there are many resources available to you. At some point, you may seek one or more of the services offered by First 5. Here’s an overview of a few of the programs First 5 invests in:

Triple P (Positive Parenting Program): This program improves parent-child relationships through skills training and education. Through workshops and classes, Triple P helps parents, grandparents and caregivers build warm, nurturing relationships with their children; encourage positive behaviors; teach children new skills and behaviors; handle disruptive or problematic behaviors with greater confidence; and become more confident as parents. Visit http://www.triplep.first5scc.org to find a Triple P class or provider.

Early Language & Literacy Foundations Initiative: This program builds the foundation for later reading success by training early childhood educators to enhance language-rich practices in the classroom, encouraging families to read together and investing in activities, assessments and the development of new instruction practices to better prepare children for kindergarten.

Families Together Differential Response Initiative: This program prevents child maltreatment by responding early to reports of abuse and neglect. For more information visit http://www.first5scc.org/families-are-strong/families-together

Healthy Kids: This program ensures children have medical insurance, a medical home, preventive care and dental care. Visit http://www.schealthykids.org for more information.

Bringing David on board as executive director is a major win for Santa Cruz County.

The weeks and months ahead will no doubt be exciting for David and the team at First 5. With Santa Cruz County’s small town vibe, there’s a good chance you’ll meet him out and about one day soon, since he lives locally with his wife and their two young daughters.

To learn more about First 5 Santa Cruz County, visit www.First5SCC.org or www.facebook.com/First5SantaCruzCounty.