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 Graham/Greenlee Region, there are 3,903 children (under age 6) with 25% living in poverty.
Here is how FTF is working to support young children and their families in this region.
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“The good majority of a person’s life trajectory is set within the first few years of their life. If a child is loved, nurtured and cared for when he or she is young, the likelihood of a well-adjusted adolescence and adulthood is much greater. If a child has a true sense of his or her infinite potential, there is no limit on what that child can accomplish throughout their life.” Michael Peterson |
Graham/Greenlee Regional Key Impact Highlights
[Fiscal Year 2020]
25,854 Books were given to families with children ages birth to 5 years to encourage parent-child interaction and reading
574 Families of newborns received the Arizona Parent Kit, filled with tips and tools to help support their child’s healthy development.
339 Children attended preschools and child care programs participating in Quality First.
68 Children birth to age 5 received a Quality First scholarship to attend high-quality preschools and child care programs.
14 Early childhood educators received a financial incentive for continuing employment with the same program for at least 12 months and advancing their education and credentials.
41 Children monitored to receive appropriate screenings to detect vision, hearing and developmental issues to prevent learning challenges later on.
2,064 Adults attended parenting activities to learn how about early child care development in a fun setting.
7 Early childhood educators received college scholarships to improve their qualifications for working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Graham/Greenlee Family Story
Home visitation program helps Duncan mom pass on self-regulation skills to kids
Karl Lunt was born at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford, and his mom, Katrina Lunt was worried.
Although the labor and delivery were smooth, Lunt is a veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and general anxiety and depression. She also had a 17-month-old daughter Klaura at home, and was unsure of her ability to care for two young children.
Read moreFTF Graham/Greenlee Regional Partnership Council
SFY20 Total Regional Program Expenditures
The FTF Graham/Greenlee 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 Healthy Families, Quality First, Parenting Outreach and Awareness and Literacy Programs.
| Quality Child Care and Preschool | $484,006 | 59% |
| Strengthening Families | $229,595 | 28% |
| Preventive Health | $52,977 | 6% |
| Parent and Community Awareness | $33,963 | 4% |
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Research and Evaluation |
$25,029 | 2% |
| Workforce Development and Training | $18,961 | 1% |
| TOTAL |
$844,531 |
The FTF Graham/Greenlee Region is defined as the combined area of the two counties, not including the lands belonging to the San Carlos Apache Tribe within Graham County. Legislative districts include: 14. (Legislative districts are not necessarily congruent with regional boundaries.)