See how we partner with community and make investments to help young children prosper.
Check out our resource hub for information on your growing child.
Join us in making a difference for San Mateo County families.
First 5 is leading an exciting pilot program in San Mateo County. The Baby Bonus Pilot Program is an innovative, locally focused demonstration project focused on understanding the value of cash aid and early childhood supports for new parents.
Working to counteract racism, create opportunity for all children, and promote equity has been integral to the work of First 5 San Mateo County from our beginning more than 25 years ago. Our work is about seeing inequity in the lives of children and families and doing something about it. We partner with parents and leaders throughout San Mateo County and at the state to change conditions that affect child development and family well-being.
Explore the latest news and updates from First 5 San Mateo County, including a celebration of Executive Director Kitty Lopez’s 13 years of leadership and the Week of the Young Child. Learn about free Play & Learn drop-in events at local libraries, Earth Day climate resources for child care providers,
First 5 San Mateo County mourns the tragic loss of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. Rob’s vision and leadership, through his advocacy for Proposition 10, made our work possible, supporting young children and families in San Mateo County for over 25 years. He’s pictured above in 2002 with the
Explore the latest news and updates from First 5 San Mateo County, including mental health support through Big Feelings. Take our 5-minute family survey, and learn more about San Mateo County Emergency Safety Net Assistance resources.
First 5 San Mateo County Commissioners meet monthly to discuss First 5 San Mateo County programming, policy, and initiative advancements. Meetings are open to the public and packets are posted 72 hours in advance. Join us to listen in or provide public comment.
See the links below for upcoming meetings agendas and past meeting documents.
© 2026 First 5 San Mateo County
Kitty Lopez has served as the Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo County since 2013, focusing on strategic investing, community leadership, policy and advocacy development for young children, 0-5, and their families.
Kitty has served as Co-Chair of the Advisory Body for Build Up for San Mateo County Children’s Initiative, with Board of Supervisor, Dave Pine, since 2018. Congressman Kevin Mullin is Honorary Co-Chair. This initiative was established to preserve, grow, and increase the number of early care sites in San Mateo County.
Kitty previously served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House, one of San Mateo County’s leading Core Service Agencies and safety-net nonprofits serving low-income families and individuals with food, shelter, clothing, health care, counseling, education classes, and holiday assistance from 2002 to 2013.
Kitty taught kindergarten, second grade, and high school in southern California and San Francisco and was a consultant in schools with children who have autism and special needs. Additionally, Kitty worked in a residential substance abuse treatment center in San Francisco and psychiatric hospital for children and youth in San Diego. Kitty’s roots in supporting children began as a 16-year-old volunteer at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles where she taught swimming to children and adults with visual impairments.
She attended University of California Santa Barbara earning a California Teaching Credential and B.A in Psychology. Kitty is active in her community serving as Vice Chair of the San Mateo County Event Center, and Past President and Current Member of the San Mateo Rotary Club. She is currently serving as Past President of the First 5 Association of California. On March 2022, Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin selected Kitty Lopez as the 2022 Assembly District 22 Woman of the Year.
