LOS ANGELES PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTERSHIP FOR INFANTS & TODDLERS
2355 Westwood Blvd, Suite 114
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Tel: (310) 735-6501
Gwen Walden, Executive Director
It is widely recognized that the early years of a child's life are a critical period for growth. To this end, the foundation set during this time directly affects the development of social, emotional and physical skills and influences one's ability to engage, contribute to, and survive in society. Furthermore, all children, and the parents/caregivers who raise them, must have equal access to and benefit from the types of environments and resources, which will foster optimal development.
Our Trustees and Executive Director, have long shared the belief that the early years are decisively formative and that proactive intervention programs have proved increasingly successful. However, it was during our journey to learn more about investing in early childhood, that we discovered the public and private agencies in Los Angeles County were communicating with each other in a limited and sporadic way. We felt strongly that collaborative communication would in turn lead to more powerful investments in the children of LA County. In our vision, The Los Angeles Public/Private Funders Partnership for Infants and Toddlers was formed and we invited members to meet based on their own interest, goodwill and with a joint commitment to:
- Learn about, support and promote the importance of the prenatal to five years for the health and well being of children and their families.
- Promote the alignment and coordination of resources to advance best practices and innovations in the field.
- Support and encourage meaningful collaboration that respects diversity, exhibits compassion and values honesty.
Grounded in our vision and the emerging operational structure, this is the first time that the greatest influencers of Los Angeles County in the Prenatal to Five funding field have joined forces to create change on multiple levels. Through the joint efforts and collective will of Los Angeles County's public and private leaders, our youngest children will thrive in a healthy, safe and nurturing environment. The group came together to create impactful collaboration and we believe that our ability to both educate and co-invest will have far-reaching and long-term impact on the youngest children in our community to the ultimate benefit of our community at-large.
This grant will enable the Partnership to strategize for its future through a facilitated planning process while maintaining current, and developing new, opportunities for education, leadership, convening, and advocacy among its members.
Recent AFF grant:
$25,000, October 2009
