Our Board of Commissioners, leadership and committed employees work as one to ensure Tehama counties children have the best start in their first 5 years of life.
Our Mission:
Through partnerships and innovative leadership First 5 Tehama promotes, facilitates and supports 0-5 systems that improve inclusive access to high-quality early education, health and family support resources.
Vision:
Tehama County is a community where families and young children are hopeful, resilient, healthy, and thriving.
Staff Leadership
Heidi, Executive Director
Heidi is has spent the last 15 plus years in a wide variety of child development settings throughout her career that have included preschool teacher, manager of research and development for statewide training organizations, and co-directing of the Cal-Pro Net project, a state-wide early childhood obesity prevention program supporting family childcare providers and teachers. She holds a master’s degree in child development from Sacramento State University, California and a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from University California, Davis. In her free time Heidi can usually be found playing with slime, paint or glitter with her two children and any other neighbor kids she can!
Angela Brinkman, Community Capacity Coordinator
Angela has spent the last twenty years of her professional career working with programs and creating systems that support children, families, and early childhood educators throughout California. She holds a bachelors degree in Child Development from Chico State University and has been recognized for developing and administering innovative programs as well as improving positive outcomes for children ages 0-5. In her free time, Angela will likely be found exploring our regions variety of water venues, beaches, rivers, and lakes with her husband Rory and her fur baby Pearl.
Katie O’Shea, Finance and Contracts Manager
Katie has spent the last twenty years of her professional career working in the north state supporting county programs and private businesses through fiscal management and oversight. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business with a focus in finances and accounting. In her free time, Katie will likely be with her kids and husband in between sporting events or enjoying nature.
Our Commissioners
| First name | Last name | Email address |
|---|---|---|
| Pati | Nolen | pnolen@co.tehama.ca.us |
| Laura | Hawkins | lhawkins@tcdss.org |
| Jayme | Bottke | jayme.bottke@tchsa.net |
| Rich | DuVarney | duvarney@tehamaschools.org |
| Jennifer | Torres | JTorres@nccdi.com |
| Delcie | Strahan | Delcie.Strahan@dignityhealth.org |
| Michelle | Kinner | mkinner@antelopeschools.org |
| Tiffany | Dietz | tdietz@cuesd.net |
The First 20 Years in Tehama:
Learn More Information about Prop 10 inception and funding for First 5 Tehama:
In November 1998, California voters passed Proposition 10, the “Children and Families Act of 1998″ initiative. The act levies a tax on tobacco products to provide funding for early childhood development programs. Revenues generated from the tobacco tax must be used to enhance the early growth experiences of children, enabling them to be more successful in school and ultimately to give them an equal opportunity to succeed in life. Revenues must be used for the following specific purposes:
- To create a comprehensive and integrated delivery system of information and services to promote early childhood development;
- To support parenting education, child health and wellness, early child care and education, and family support services; and
- To educate Californians on the importance of early childhood development and smoking cessation.
Tobacco tax revenues are collected at the state level. Eighty percent of these funds are then allocated to the 58 counties according to annual birth rates. The remaining 20 percent of the money is allocated to First 5 California to support statewide programs, research, and media campaigns. Statewide First 5’s are the largest investor in early childhood programs ($2 billion in 20 years). However due to smoking prevention efforts, this tobacco tax is a declining source of revenue and therefore the Prop 10 allocation diminishes each year.