First Things First partners with families and communities to help our state’s youngest children prepare for kindergarten and beyond.
Many young children in Arizona face challenges that threaten their healthy development and learning. In the Colorado River Indian Tribes Region, there are 739 children (under age 6) with 57% living in poverty.
Here is how FTF is working to support young children and their families in this region.
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“In the FTF Colorado River Indian Tribes region, high-quality child care is a critical need, especially for children from six weeks old to 3 years old. Influencing the literacy and learning of our most vulnerable little ones, while they are in a safe and caring environment, will give each child a good start to succeed in school and life.” Norma Ray |
Colorado River Indian Tribes Regional Key Impact Highlights
[Fiscal Year 2020]
379 Books getting into the homes of infants, toddlers and preschoolers through a local distribution program.
145 Adults who attended parenting activities to help support children.
207 Children attended preschools and child care programs participating in Quality First.
24 Children participated in a summer transition program to prepare to be successful in kindergarten.
Colorado River Indian Tribes Family Story
New grant provides quality early learning to kids of working families living in Parker
When the only child care center serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old closed, it left a child care desert in western Arizona, Parker Valley. Local families faced the stress of working and caring for their children without child care.
For Irma Alvarado, and her daughter, Susy Alvarado, the closing sparked the realization of a dream that had been in preparation for 25 years.
“My mom was a teacher at Head Start for 25 years. I worked at Head Start for 12 years,” said Susy Alvarado. “Our dream was to open up our own child care center to provide high-quality care. When Sonshine Daycare closed, we inquired about it. We didn’t think we’d be able to get the building, but then we found out about the grant through First Things First. We were in tears because our dream could come true.”
Read moreFTF Colorado River Indian Tribes Regional Partnership Council
SFY20 Total Regional Program Expenditures
The FTF Colorado River Indian Tribes Regional Partnership Council is made up of volunteers who study the unique needs of the local community and decide how funds should be used to best support the healthy development and early learning of young children birth to age 5. FTF invests in proven programs and innovative strategies through grants to community organizations that provide services to children and families. Some of the programs in this region include Colorado River Indian Tribes Early Literacy, Transition to Kindergarten and Start-up, Expansion and Learning Lab (Early Learning Academy).
| Quality Child Care and Preschool | $178,580 | 53% |
| Strengthening Families | $73,353 | 21% |
| Preventive Health | $46,972 | 14% |
| Coordination | $28,470 | 8% |
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Research and Evaluation |
$8,006 | 2% |
| TOTAL |
$335,381 |
The FTF Colorado River Indian Tribes Region is defined as the Arizona part of the Colorado River Reservation, including the town of Parker. The region lies entirely in La Paz County. The FTF Colorado River Indian Tribes Region includes Legislative District 4. Legislative districts are not necessarily congruent with regional boundaries.