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Week of the Young Child Proclamations 2026

First Things First recently teamed with the Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children (AzAEYC) to celebrate the Week of the Young Child, which highlights the importance of early learning and the educators who support the… Read More

Steve Lynn, Awarded the 2024 Business Champion for Early Education Award at the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona Women United Business Breakfast in Tucson

FTF State Board Vice Chair honored as business champion for early education

  • Pima North

The award recognizes someone who has significantly contributed to the quality and access of early education in Tucson and southern Arizona. 
Globe/Payson Community Forums

Community forums explore child care solutions for Gila County

  • Gila

The FTF Gila Region and partnered with local chambers of commerce in Globe-Miami and Payson to talk about the child care crisis.
Group of people gathered at Early Childhood Day.

Early childhood supporters show up in force at the Arizona Capitol

Early Childhood Day gathered supporters to raise awareness of the importance of early childhood education with state lawmakers. 
young children smiling, volunteer in your community

Volunteer to be a voice for young children in your Arizona community

  • AZ communities

FTF is looking for volunteers who will collaborate with other dedicated community members in local communities across the state.

Quality First provider says loss of the program will be a detriment to families with young children

  • Quality First

Little Giants is one of about 400 child care providers scheduled to lose access to Quality First professional development and other benefits.

FTF report details challenges facing Arizona’s youngest children

  • early childhood

Building Bright Futures, 2023 Statewide Needs and Assets Annual Report is FTF’s biennial assessment of the status of young children.
Woman wearing a red tshirt is in a classroom working with small chlidren gathered around a table with shapes. Child care shortages in Arizona.

Child care shortages cost Arizona $4.7 billion every year

  • AZ communities

A newly released report says Arizona loses $4.7 billion each year because of the lack of availability of child care for children under age 5.

Arizona survey shows child care challenges impacting working families and their jobs

  • child care

A recent survey of Arizona’s working parents shows that 35% said they have left a job in the past year due to child care issues.

More than 400 Arizona child care programs benefited from emergency investment in quality child…

  • Quality First

Over the past 3 years, using federal funds, 413 child care providers were able to join the Quality First program.

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