First 5 Napa is establishing the First 5 Napa Network (F5NN) to focus on long-term community change for young children and families. Several research-supported assumptions were made in designing the Network.
Assumption #1
A systems-level approach is necessary to change community level indicators. Program or service level efforts are not enough. Children and families need support at the policy and community levels.
Assumption #2
Families’ needs are complex and require comprehensive and integrated systems of care.
Assumption #3
For families to thrive, we need to prevent, identify, and address the “Pair of ACEs” – adverse childhood experiences in the context of adverse community environments.
Assumption #4
Respect, Social Inclusion, and Equity are important “social determinants of health” for children 0-5 and families, and we cannot achieve equity without explicitly addressing respect and social inclusion for marginalized children 0-5 and families.
Assumption #5
In order to make systems level change, we need to build connectivity and collaboration between cross-sector leaders working within the broad system impacting children and families.
Assumption #6
In order to make meaningful change for children 0-5 and families, we need to use human-centered design to see the challenges at both the human and systems levels and to engage the people whom we are trying to serve.
The First 5 Napa Network is using a systems-level, human centered design approach to increase collective capacity, integrate systems, and identify and implement creative solutions to the challenges that continue to face Napa County children 0-5 and families. Using a human centered design and systems thinking approach, our challenges and strategies are identified as part of the process. The First 5 Napa Commission has identified our key goals (e.g., Collective Capacity, Integrated Systems, Healthy Children, Quality Early Learning, and Strong Families) and is strongly committed to addressing all of these goals using a lens of equity, respect, and social inclusion.