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.
17,983
Population of young children (under age 6)
29%
Percentage of young children living in poverty
Priorities
The Yuma 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, parenting education and supporting children with special needs
- Improving the quality of family, friend and neighbor care
Regional Key Impact Highlights
[State Fiscal Year 2024]
Strengthening Families and Early Literacy
- 206 parents and caregivers attended community-based language and literacy workshops. This number includes parents and caregivers who may have attended more than one workshop
- 284 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
- 95 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
- 371 children birth to age 5 received a Quality First scholarship to attend high-quality preschools and child care programs
- 77 child care and preschool providers were committed to continuous quality improvement of their early learning programs through Quality First
- 118 relatives and other community caregivers attended educational sessions and received support and resources to increase their understanding of children’s development and strategies to promote young children’s health and learning
- 53 early childhood educators attended a training or session to improve their skills in working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers in child care programs
- 2453 children attended preschools and child care programs participating in Quality First
Preventive Health
- 67 families were provided with knowledge, strategies, supports and services to nurture children who have not reached age-specific developmental milestones
- 1008 children received a screening to detect tooth decay, which when left undetected and untreated could cause learning challenges later on
State Fiscal Year 2024 Total Regional Program Expenditures
| Quality and Access | $2,620,860 |
| Family Support | $1,292,472 |
| Health | $581,426 |
| Evaluation | $138,065 |
| Professional Development | $131,061 |
| Community Awareness | $12,946 |
| Total | $4,776,829 |
First Things First Staff
Zahid Plantillas
Community Engagement Coordinator - Yuma
Kim Corbin
Administrative Specialist III - West Regional Area & La Paz/Mohave
Maricela Rogers
Administrative Specialist II, Yuma & Cocopah Tribe Regions
Regional Office
