Skip to content

Sign up for the newsletter »

First Things First First Things First

Region Stories

These stories illustrate how early childhood programs and services funded by First Things First make a difference for young children and families in communities across Arizona.

Honoring Carolyn Haro

Carolyn Mawson Haro, of Globe, passed away on July 24, 2025, in Tucson, after living with cancer. Fittingly born on Independence Day, Carolyn was known for her spirited personality and was often described as a firecracker.She was a… Read More

Mom and dad reading with son

Quality First scholarship helps Coolidge boy become more independent

  • Pinal

Quality First scholarships help eligible families afford to send their child to quality child care centers and preschools.

family in front of a Christmas tree

Quality First scholarship helps Tucson boy find a consistent daily routine

  • Quality First Scholarships

Quality First preschool shows parents the importance of daily structure, such as nap schedules, meal times, reading daily.

Mom reading with two daughters

Lake Havasu City mom finds quality child care makes big difference in preparing her daughters for…

  • La Paz/Mohave

The preschool offers half-day sessions to help ease the transition for young kids with no formal schedule at home to a full-day schedule at school.

Mom and son near sunflowers

Quality First center in Fort Defiance helps 2-year-old with conversation and healthy eating habits

  • Navajo Nation

Quality First center in Fort Defiance helps 2-year-old with conversation and healthy eating habits

Family standing next to Christmas tree

Home-based Quality First center helps Show Low child be ready for kindergarten

  • Navajo/Apache

A Show Low mom was looking for full-time child care for her newborn son. After some research, she found Tracy’s Child Care Center, through Quality First.

Pascua Yaqui teachers create adaptable learning environments for young children

  • Pascua Yaqui Tribe

More professional development opportunities were provided to the teachers working with young students at the Pacua Yaqui Head Start.

Young boy pointing to numbers

Quality First center in Peach Springs preserving native language for next generation

  • language preservation

The Hualapai Day Care center teachers in Peach Springs focus on preserving the region’s native language by teaching it to the next generation of young…
Daughter and mother playing with blocks

On-campus child care center helps Safford girl be ready for kindergarten

  • Graham/Greenlee

Family and friends encouraged teen mom to enroll at an alternative high school with an on-campus child care center, so she could continue her education.
Mother and daughter

Quality First preschool helps Phoenix preschooler grow socially and emotionally

  • Phoenix North

Phoenix mother finds Quality First preschool for her daughter to have the best opportunity to develop and gain the needed skills for kindergarten.

Stay Up To Date.

Join our email list to keep up with the latest news and information from FTF

Send me:

© First Things First. All Rights Reserved. • Privacy Policy • Accessibility • Website Feedback • Ombudsman-Citizens Aide