Arizona’s early childhood agency represents a commitment Arizonans made to our youngest children – that they would have the support they need to start school healthy and ready to succeed. Many young children in Arizona face significant barriers to their success, including poverty, trauma and lack of access to needed resources.
9,652
Population of young children (under age 6)
16%
Percentage of young children living in poverty
Priorities
The Coconino Regional Partnership Council makes strategic investments to support the healthy development and learning of young children in the region. The regional council’s priorities include:
- Scholarships for children to access high-quality early learning
- Improving the quality of child care and preschool programs
- Strengthening families through parenting education and voluntary home visiting
- Supporting access to healthcare for children
Regional Key Impact Highlights
[State Fiscal Year 2024]
Strengthening Families and Early Literacy
- 65 families with young children participated in voluntary home visiting programs proven to reduce parental stress levels, increase connections to community supports, and improve children’s cognitive, motor, behavioral and social-emotional development
Quality Preschool and Child Care
- 155 children birth to age 5 received a Quality First scholarship to attend high-quality preschools and child care programs
- 30 child care and preschool providers were committed to continuous quality improvement of their early learning programs through Quality First
Preventive Health
- 23 child care and preschool providers received child care health consultation or support in maintaining health and safety standards in early learning settings
State Fiscal Year 2024 Total Regional Program Expenditures
| Quality and Access | $1,114,22 |
| Family Support | $410,865 |
| Health | $195,614 |
| Evaluation | $46,155 |
| Total | $1,766,859 |
First Things First Staff
Jacqueline Gencarelle
Program Coordination Specialist
Regional Office
405 N Beaver StFlagstaff, AZ 86001
