Taking the Initiative for Kids

The California Children and Families First Initiative would generate an estimated $700 million annually by adding 50 cents to a pack of cigarettes to pay for an integrated system of community-based social services for families with children younger than 5.

The programs would supplement current parent-education programs, child care, health care for all families and intervention services for at-risk families. Specific services would include prenatal care, immunizations and domestic-violence prevention and treatment, as well as stop-smoking programs for pregnant women and parents of young children. The funds would be disbursed by commissions in each county and overseen by a volunteer seven-member oversight commission.

Working with a budget of $1.5 million, raised through private donations, proponents have already gathered about 200,000 signatures toward a total 770,000 needed by April 17 to qualify the measure for the November ballot.