Navajo/Apache Region

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.

6,166

Population of young children (under age 6)

30%

Percentage of young children living in poverty

(Click for a detailed map.)

Priorities

The Navajo/Apache 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:

Supporting access to healthcare for children
Scholarships for children to access high-quality early learning
Improving the quality of child care and preschool programs

Early Childhood Matters.

90% of a child’s brain grows before kindergarten.

Learn why

Regional Key Impact Highlights
[State Fiscal Year 2024]

Quality Preschool and Child Care

35 children birth to age 5 received a Quality First scholarship to attend high-quality preschools and child care programs
434 children attended preschools and child care programs participating in Quality First

Preventive Health

1890 children received screenings to detect vision, hearing and developmental issues and prevent learning challenges later on
568 children monitored to receive appropriate screenings to detect oral health issues to prevent learning challenges later on

Programs Our Region Funds

First Things First supports early childhood programs in Arizona through grants to community organizations that provide services—at no cost—for young children from birth to age 5 (before kindergarten) and their families.

Find Programs