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.
3,903
Population of young children (under age 6)
28%
Percentage of young children living in poverty
Priorities
The Graham/Greenlee 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 voluntary home visiting
- Supporting literacy opportunities through book distribution and literacy activities
Regional Key Impact Highlights
[State Fiscal Year 2024]
Strengthening Families and Early Literacy
- 2487 books distributed to infants, toddlers and preschoolers to help start a home library
- 3679 parents participated in a workshop to increase their understanding of early language and literacy
- 48 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
- 53 children birth to age 5 received a Quality First scholarship to attend high-quality preschools and child care programs
- 355 children attended preschools and child care programs participating in Quality First
State Fiscal Year 2024 Total Regional Program Expenditures
| Quality and Access | $437,645 |
| Family Support | $213,828 |
| Health | $45,411 |
| Evaluation | $23,304 |
| Community Awareness | $21,421 |
| Total | $741,610 |
First Things First Staff
Lacie Crandell
Administrative Specialist II, Graham/Greenlee
