Information about our organization

In November 1998, California voters passed Proposition 10, the California Children & Families Act. The unprecedented statewide ballot initiative levied a 50 cent tax on cigarettes to fund early childhood development from the prenatal stage to age five and anti-tobacco education. The state expects 600 million dollars to be collected every year from the tobacco tax.

On December 8, 1998, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors established the Stanislaus County Children & Families Commission. The County Commission is responsible for administering Prop 10 monies in the form of grants to the community. Funding to County Commissions is based upon county birth rates. Stanislaus County has an estimated 8,000 births a year and expects to receive around 6 million dollars each year.

Prop 10 money can only be used to augment existing programs or to create new ones. All programs funded by Prop. 10 must also focus on preparing children to enter school healthy and ready to learn. Prop 10 money cannot be used to replace existing funding for services or programs

Commission Membership

The membership of the Commission consists of nine (9) members as established pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 130140 and Stanislaus County Ordinance 687, as may be amended from time to time.

• 1 Member of the Commission shall be a member of the Board of Supervisors
• 1 Member of the Commission shall be a County Health Officer
• 2 Members of the Commission shall be two of the following County Department Heads: Health Services Agency Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Director, Community Services Agency Director
• 1 Member shall be a representative of a local school district
• 4 Members shall be community representatives who are:
  1. recipients of project services included in the county strategic plan or
  2. representatives of a local child care resource or referral agency or a local child care coordinating group or
  3. representatives of a local organization for prevention or early intervention for families at risk or
  4. representatives of community-based organizations that have the goal of promoting nurturing and early childhood development or
  5. representatives of local school districts or
  6. representatives of local medical, pediatric or obstetric associations or societies.

Commission Ethics

Reflecting the commitment of the Commission to operate in a transparent and responsible manner, a Code of Ethics has been adopted by the Commission as Section 204 of its Policies and Procedures Manual. Additionally, a Supplemental Ethics Policy has been adopted by the Commission to impose ethics requirements on Commissioners and staff that exceed minimum requirements established by the State of California.