First 5 California Kit for New Parents Study
The First 5 California (F5CA) Kit for New Parents provides resources and information to new parents and caregivers throughout California. These resources include information on child health and development, parenting, children’s books, and other flyers and supports for families.
The F5CA Kit for New Parents Study evaluated the distribution of the Kits to families across the state and explored the experiences and outcomes of families that receive the Kit. The evaluation was organized into three sub-studies:
- The Kit Distribution Study examined data from the statewide Kit distributor as well as from local agencies that work directly with families to understand how Kits are delivered and how effective the distribution system is at putting Kits into the hands of families that need resources the most.
- The Parent Experiences Study used in-depth interviews with parents to explore parent experiences with the Kit, given the language and delivery mode of the Kit, and perceptions of how useful the Kit materials are.
- The Parent and Family Outcomes Study assessed change in parent knowledge and behavior through a parent survey and explored statewide impacts on families using data from the statewide California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), which is an annual, statewide survey of families that asks about the Kit for New Parents.
The information gathered from the study was designed to help F5CA better support families by understanding the Kit’s reach and impact on families. Specifically, the study explored whether the Kits reach the parents and children they are intended for, how they are used and appreciated, how families benefit from the Kits, and how their design and distribution could be improved.
Study Findings
The evaluation produced a brief for each of the three sub-studies, an infographic summarizing the findings for all three sub-studies, and an infographic of the number of Kits distributed to families and family-serving agencies across the state in 2021-22. The links for each are:
- First 5 California’s Kit for New Parents: A Snapshot of the Distribution, Use, and Benefits of the Kit for New Parents (June 2024) presents the findings from all three sub-studies. It includes an overview of how Kits are distributed, promising approaches to Kit distribution, who receives the Kit, and the benefits from receiving the Kit.
- First 5 California’s Kit for New Parents Access and Benefits for Families (June 2024) describes who receives the Kit, how they receive it, how useful they found the Kit’s resources, and the effects receiving the Kit had on parents’ knowledge, beliefs, and practices. This brief draws on data from a survey parents and caregivers completed when they received a new Kit and again three months later, as well as the CHIS.
- Parent Experiences With the First 5 California Kit for New Parents: Research Brief (June 2024) explores parents’ experiences with the Kit and their perceptions of its benefits. Findings highlighted in this brief draw on interviews with 119 parents at the time they received the Kit and again two months later for 90 of those parents.
- First 5 California’s Kit for New Parents: Lessons Learned About the Distribution of Kits Across the State (March 2024) describes the distribution of the Kits to families across the state. It highlights findings from surveys and interviews with partner agencies, organizations distributing Kits, and First 5 County Commissions.
- First 5 California’s Kit for new Parents: A Look at the Distribution of Kits Across California, 2021-22 (March 2023) gives an overview of the distribution of the Kits across California using CHIS data.
