What is the Pomona Kids First Initiative?

It is a community-led emergency response to the current public health and economic crisis impacting our kids and families. 

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the parents and adult family members of Black, Native American, and Latinx youth have and continue to experience the highest rates of illness and death from COVID-19. This pandemic has thus resulted in the exacerbation of the systematic inequities present in our communities that predominantly impact the City’s underserved communities. Given the significant impact on the stability of youth’s mental, physical, and emotional wellness, now more than ever, youth need structural support from their city. The Pomona Kids First Initiative aims to ensure that the children, youth, and young adults of Pomona have the resources they need to thrive and excel.

The passing of this initiative will result in the allocation of an initial 2% from the City annual actual unrestricted general purpose revenues that will be transferred into the Children and Youth Fund established by this initiative. Following the initial year of the implementation of this initiative, 5% of the City’s annual actual unrestricted general purpose revenues will be allocated towards this fund with an increase of 1% in the years proceeding until 10% is set aside for this fund. Along with establishing this fund, the initiative will establish the Department of Children and Youth whose primary function will be to oversee the implementation of the Children and Youth Fund and ensure that the Children and Youth Fund meets the goals and requirements outlined in the initiative. 

The Pomona Kids First Initiative will combat the continuing legacy of systemic racism and the damaging effects of the pandemic by establishing a sustainable funding stream that will address the structural and environmental conditions that drive harmful behavior in children, youth and families; supplement rather than supplant existing funding or programs; and form coalitions among public agencies and community non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting children and youth. If approved by voters, the fund will be used for programs and services that promote health and well-being, provide youth development and leadership opportunities, offer alternatives to youth incarceration, and help strengthen Pomona’s families and communities.