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.
55,078
Population of young children (under age 6)
20%
Percentage of young children living in poverty
Priorities
The Northwest Maricopa 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 family resource centers and voluntary home visitation programs
- Improving the quality of child care and preschool programs
Regional Key Impact Highlights
[State Fiscal Year 2024]
Strengthening Families and Early Literacy
- 2832 families or caregivers served by receiving referrals or by participating in activities at family resource centers
Quality Preschool and Child Care
- 1095 children birth to age 5 received a Quality First scholarship to attend high-quality preschools and child care programs
- 7447 children attended preschools and child care programs participating in Quality First
Preventive Health
- 36 families were provided with knowledge, strategies, supports and services to nurture children who have not reached age-specific developmental milestones
State Fiscal Year 2024 Total Regional Program Expenditures
| Quality and Access | $6,088,275 |
| Family Support | $1,252,589 |
| Health | $848,304 |
| Evaluation | $279,804 |
| Community Awareness | $91,550 |
| Professional Development | $83,887 |
| Total | $8,644,409 |
First Things First Staff
Amber Martin
Administrative Specialist III - Maricopa Region
Cynthia Gandara
Administrative Specialist II - NW & SW Maricopa
Francis Pacaja
Program Coordination Specialist - NW & SW Maricopa
Regional Office
