Reflecting on First 5 LA’s 15 Year Best Start Investment: Lessons for Place-Based Change
March 12, 2026
On February 12, 2026, Juanita Gallion and Liz Squibb presented key findings to the First 5 LA Board of Commissioners, sharing insights from our assessment of Best Start—one of Los Angeles County’s largest and longest-running place-based investments. They represented a team at CSSP, including Esi Hutchful, Danielle Sherman and Arthur Argomaniz, each of whom brought their expertise and national perspectives to developing the key findings and reflections report. The report drew on a review of hundreds of documents and over ten stakeholder interviews, anchoring our reflections in thorough analysis and community-informed insights.
For over 15 years, First 5 LA has been a driving force in supporting young children and families by investing in place-based work that is rare for both its longevity and ambition. Our report highlighted how Best Start evolved from coordination and direct service investments to a regional, systems-change approach rooted in equity. We saw firsthand how empowering local leadership, building authentic partnerships, and centering community voice have driven meaningful progress, especially when challenges like COVID-19, immigration raids, devastating wildfires, or declining revenues deeply impacted communities and tested the approach.
Our team’s deep ties in Los Angeles, especially through Arthur’s long-standing relationships with local leaders and organizations, were instrumental in grounding our analysis in the realities of community experience. Having staff who are not only knowledgeable about place-based strategies but also deeply embedded in local contexts makes all the difference when it comes to understanding what truly works for children and families.
The impact of Best Start was vividly demonstrated at the Board meeting itself, where more than 90 community members joined virtually and over 50 members in a standing room only space were prepared to give public comment (one of the largest turnouts the Commission has ever seen). Regional organizations, community leaders, mothers, and even a 4th grader spoke, sharing firsthand how the support they received, and the work done through Best Start helped shape their lives. Their stories brought to life the real impact of First 5 LA’s long-term investment through Best Start.
From piloting participatory grantmaking to strengthening the early care and education workforce, Best Start’s journey mirrors the lessons of other national place-based models that were rooted in building local capacity. The initiative’s focus on “learning while doing” and nurturing trust, across neighborhoods, sectors and regions, is a roadmap for funders and policy makers everywhere.
The questions facing First 5 LA now are familiar to many working in placed-based change; How do we sustain momentum with fewer resources? How do we balance urgent needs with the long game of systems transformation? Our national perspective tells us that the answers lie in continuing to invest in relationships, capacity and clear metrics, lifting the voices of those most impacted by systems.
We are grateful for the partnership with First 5 LA and proud to bring CSSP’s national lens to this milestone moment. The lessons from Best Start are not just for Los Angeles; they’re for anyone committed to building more equitable, resilient communities and families nationwide.
Want to learn more? Read the full report.
