Why the First 5 Years?

Prenatal through the first five years of a child's life are the foundation for their future physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Through a body of multidisciplinary studies over the course of more than a decade, there is now a consensus among clinicians and researchers that prenatal through the first 5 years of a child’s development are crucial to determining wellness, future health outcomes, and even lifespan. This brief developmental period will determine their baseline ability to cope with stress, how well a person can focus their attention, regulate their emotions, plan for the future, and have empathy for others.

When children are raised in a well-resourced family and community, these early experiences interact with genetics to provide the best opportunity for them to thrive, first in school and then in life.

At F5 Mendocino we advocate for the healthy birth, growth, and development of all children. This means we must strive to support parents and families to have what they need for optimal development, family strengthening, and resilience.