November marks the 25th anniversary of the passing of Proposition 10, a groundbreaking initiative that uses revenues from a tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products as a lifeline for early childhood development programs in California. However, the future of these vital programs is now in jeopardy due to a sharp decline in smoking rates and recent bans on flavored tobacco products.
Locally, First 5 San Diego has been working diligently on alternate funding sources and advocating for policy changes to strengthen the early childhood education systems of care but the programs that serve our youngest population during the most critical years of their lives will be impacted as funding from Prop 10 continues to decline.
ABC checked in with First 5 San Diego and a local family to discuss this issue.