Birth through age 5

The First 5 Years Shape Everything

We're here to build strong foundations from the start for every family.

A young child exploring an early-learning classroom
Early learning in Orange County
Five years
One strong start

Find a starting point

What would help today?

Choose a child's age and one need. We'll point you to a few useful places to begin.

Prefer to explore? Browse every family resource.

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What would help most?
Two young children reading together beside a classroom bookshelf
Children reading together in an Orange County early-learning setting

For parents

Make the most of every moment

One million neural connections every second. That’s how rapidly a young child’s brain develops in the first few years of life. These early moments shape everything that follows, laying the foundation for health, learning, and well-being.

Explore family resources

For partners and the public

Investing in Orange County children

Explore First 5 OC investments, neighborhood data, public meetings, and opportunities to support young children.

Find reports and data

Annual Report 2024–2025

A plain-language view of investments, partnerships, and results.

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Early Development Index

Neighborhood-level insight into how children are doing before kindergarten.

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Agendas and statutory postings

Direct access to the Commission's public meeting records.

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Coming up

Upcoming around Orange County

CUSD Early Childhood Programs and Family Resource Center

9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Ready to Learn

11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Grant Writing Made Simple for Child Care Providers

6:30–7:00 p.m.