Children’s Program Marks Five Years in Fresno County
First 5 Fresno County has funded more than $100 million worth of programs for nearly 109,000 children and 104,148 families with children younger than five years old since the program was launched five years ago, the Fresno Bee reports. First 5 administers proceeds of a state tax to fund children's health care and education programs.
Fresno County receives about $12 million to $13 million annually for the program, according to First 5 Fresno County executive director Steve Gordon.
Last month, Fresno County officials unveiled a $6.4-million Healthy Kids initiative, funded by First 5, to provide health insurance to children five years old or younger who do not qualify for other state or federal programs. An estimated 8,000 to 9,000 children in the county would qualify for insurance under Healthy Kids (Nax, Fresno Bee, 4/3).