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.
2,688
Population of young children (under age 6)
35%
Percentage of young children living in poverty
Priorities
The Gila Regional Partnership Council makes strategic investments to support the healthy development and learning of the young children in the region. The regional council’s priorities include:
- Scholarships for children to access high-quality early learning
- Strengthening families through parenting education
- Improving the quality of child care and preschool programs
Regional Key Impact Highlights
[State Fiscal Year 2024]
Strengthening Families and Early Literacy
- 1023 books distributed to infants, toddlers and preschoolers to help start a home library.
- 100 parents and other caregivers participated in evidence-based trainings designed to improve knowledge of parenting practices and children’s development.
Quality Preschool and Child Care
- 87 children birth to age 5 received a Quality First scholarship to attend high-quality preschools and child care programs.
- 330 children attended preschools and child care programs participating in Quality First.
Preventive Health
- 677 children monitored to receive appropriate screenings to detect vision, hearing and developmental issues to prevent learning challenges later on.
State Fiscal Year 2024 Total Regional Program Expenditures
| Quality and Access | $457,042 |
| Family Support | $136,133 |
| Health | $63,358 |
| Evaluation | $20,355 |
| Community Awareness | $16,192 |
| Total | $693,060 |
First Things First Staff
Victoria Marin
Administrative Specialist II - Gila & San Carlos Apache Tribe Regions
Regional Office
134 S Broad St
Globe, AZ 85501
