Whether you're a parent, educator, policymaker, or community member, there are various ways you can contribute to shaping and improving Nevada’s Early Childhood System.
We encourage you to contact First 5 Nevada if:
Why Your Involvement Matters
First 5 Nevada strives for a family-centered early childhood system - a circle of support where families are right in the center.
This means everything is designed with families to help them give their children the best start in life and to make it easier for parents and families to take care of young children.
The system includes programs, resources, and services that focus on the needs and well-being of the whole family.
It's all about enabling families to help their children grow and learn in a loving and supportive environment.
Policy and Advocacy – Why it Matters
Children need caring adults in their life to help make decisions that will help them grow, be healthy and safe.
Those adults include parents, child care providers, teachers, health care providers, community partners, and elected officials.
Parents and families can, and should, be involved in selecting elected officials – who determine what programs are available and how they are funded - that support improving access to the early childhood programs and services that young children and families need.
Parents and families can also be advocates to influence public policies and encourage positive programming that support children in many ways.
You can get involved by learning about the legislative process and identifying the issues that are important to you, your family, and your community, then contacting policy makers to share your voice.
Click here to learn more about the legislative process.
See the resources below for additional ways you can get involved.
First 5 Nevada Family Leadership Council (formerly the Nevada Early Childhood Family Leadership Council) helps parents and families of young children have both leadership and decision-making roles in the early childhood system.
The Child Advocacy Ambassador program brings together parents, caregivers and other early childhood champions across Nevada that believe in the value of quality early childhood experiences for ALL children.
The Governor is responsible for appointing citizens to approximately 250 boards and commissions representing various areas. Boards and commissions are created to provide citizens a voice in their government and influence decisions that shape the quality of life for the residents of the Silver State. Members are responsible for advising the Governor, the Legislature and state agencies. Serving on a board or commission is a privilege and one of the most effective ways citizens can take in becoming an active voice in state government.
The Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions maintains a list of open positions. Applications for open positions are completed through an online application. NOTE: All applicants must complete an “Authorization for Release of Personal Information and Waiver” which must be notarized and mailed (or hand-delivered) to the Governor’s Office.
For more information, including links to the open positions list and the online application, visit: gov.nv.gov/Boards/Boards_Home/. Or contact the Office of Boards and Commissions at 775-684-5670 or [email protected].
To see a list of all public meetings, visit the Nevada Public Notice Website at notice.nv.gov.
Below are a few of the state level boards and commissions that support Nevada’s early childhood system. All state boards and commissions are subject to Nevada Open Meeting Law, meaning that even if you are not a member, you are able to attend meetings and provide public comment, as appropriate.
The Nevada Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) works to strengthen state-level coordination and collaboration among the various sectors and settings of early childhood programs.
The Nevada Early Intervention Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) brings policy makers, service providers, and parents together.
The Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (NGCDD) is a federally funded, self-governing organization within the State of Nevada.
The Nevada Institute for Children’s Research and Policy (NICRP), located within the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the lives of children through research, advocacy, and other specialized services.
The Children’s Advocacy Alliance advocates in the areas of health, child welfare and equitable access, school readiness and early childhood systems, and economic well-being.
Clark County Foster Care is hosting its annual Give Joy event now through December 19 to benefit the children in foster care, where they can enjoy photos and time with Santa, gifts, and an amazing day of fun! Read more to see how you can be involved.
One of the most powerful lessons we can share with our kids is the importance of participating in our democracy through voting. For families with young children, this article will explain why voting matters and how you can involve your kids in the process, even before they reach voting age.
Meet Ana Elizabeth Saucedo Gutierrez, a single mother with a two-and-a-half-year-old son with special needs. Ana is a leader for her family and her community.
This campaign is supported with funding from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Child Care and Development Fund through the America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) administered by the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services Child Care and Development Program (Federal Grant #2021, G990232) and the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDG B-5) (Federal Grant #90TP099) administered by the Nevada Department of Education, Office of Early Learning and Development, subawarded to The Children’s Cabinet. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Departments, Division, Office nor ACF.
