Regional Network & Best Start
We envision a future where every child is born healthy and thrives in a nurturing, safe and loving community.
El Nido’s Best Start community is funded by First 5 LA to work alongside our parents and families in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Our Best Start network brings together parents, community members, local organizations, families and elected officials, working together to create safe and healthy communities for children 0-5 and their families. El Nido works with numerous schools, local nonprofits, civic departments and businesses at a regional level to support capacity building, advocacy initiatives that support long term systems change, and mobilize resources to address issues affecting families.
Together, we can co-create solutions that address community priorities, fostering a sense of ownership, that is essential for impactful opportunities and services in our community.
Our Community-Driven Initiatives
Regional Networks - Our Regional Networks focus on family engagement, empowering and supporting parent and community-based organizations. Through this regional approach, Best Start San Fernando Valley strengthens relationships among all community stakeholders, with the aim of building community power to influence systemic and policy changes.
Leadership Opportunities - Provide parents with opportunities to lead in roles as communication workgroup leaders, regional council members, and community identified project. These roles empower parents to work collaboratively with the Best Start team, actively participating in decision-making and driving impactful change within their communities.
Regional Initiatives - Empower families with children ages 0 to 5 in the San Fernando Valley through multi-level coordination such as partnerships, grants, capacity building, and community-driven projects that prioritize Family engagement, workforce development, legal services. We have a strong partnership with LA Mission College.
Collective Healing - Through con Alliance United is a safe space that allows communities of different backgrounds connection and healing, to come together through Nahuatl philosophies and teachings to exchange ideas on topics such as healing, sustainability, advocacy.
Tracking Our Impact - Best Start San Fernando Valley has empowered thousands of families to build leadership skills, advocate for change, and strengthen their roles as parents. These efforts have resulted in meaningful improvements in both family well-being and community impact. We would like to share our progress and celebrate the contributions of our dedicated leaders.
BS-SFV works to empower the families and residents who live, work and are invested in our Northeast San Fernando community. Our team accomplishes this by unifying community members and having them identify important issue areas for community advocacy and grant-making, community participatory leadership programs, hosting resource events, and providing families with timely supports they request. Most of the decisions made by our network, come from our community leaders, parents, and residents.
The monthly meetings take place on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 5:45 to 8:00 pm. If you would like to learn more, please contact: Sandra Sanchez, Community Engagement Liaison, ssanchez @ elnidofamilycenters.org
You can find community resources on our Facebook and Instagram pages!
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Empowering Families, Building Communities - Our Strategic Pillars 2025-27
Workforce Development
Promote community-focused economic development by supporting local businesses, creating job opportunities, and partnering with workforce development organizations and agencies. Enhance our staff’s capacity through targeted training to better serve and uplift families in San Fernando, ensuring sustainable economic growth and prosperity for the entire community.
Family Engagement
Strengthen and expand family engagement activities by improving communication strategies, expanding support services for families and children, and fostering collaboration among community organizations. This will ensure that the diverse needs of families in the Northeast San Fernando Valley are actively addressed and sustainably met.
Community Advocacy
Creating economic mobility, supportive services and supportive services and advocacy for Best Start families and leaders by building internal capacity and leveraging partnerships with local organizations. This will ensure that the legal needs of families are effectively supported, and their voices are empowered within the community.