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.

Mother with a green shirt playing with her son in blue shirt at a family resource center.

Youngtown mother finds community among moms at FRC

July 28, 2026

Family resource centers provide parents and caregivers with resources to help them create a nurturing environment for children. Read More

Susan Elsberry is Graham/Greenlee’s 2018 Champion for Young Children

5/10/2018
champion

Susan Elsberry has been selected as the 2018 Graham/Greenlee First Things First Champion for Young Children.The award is given to local champions who actively…

Kerlissa Bitah is Navajo Nation’s 2018 Champion for Young Children

5/10/2018
tribal

Kerlissa Bitah has been selected as the 2018 Navajo Nation First Things First Champion for Young Children.The award is given to local champions who actively…

Carolyn Shelley is Yavapai’s 2018 Champion for Young Children

5/9/2018
champion

Caroyln Shelley has been selected as the 2018 First Things First Champion for Young Children in the Yavapai Region.The award is given to local champions who…

New Phoenix mom finds support to prepare her children to succeed in school

1/12/2018
family resource centers

When Elizabeth Goings first moved to Phoenix with her husband, she did not have a lot of options for her young son, Joshua. With limited ability to speak…

College scholarship helps Pascua Yaqui teacher give her students a strong educational foundation

1/12/2018
professional development

After working for about a decade as an early childhood teacher at the Pascua Yaqui Head Start, Maria Jones had a decision to make.New regulations require…

Becoming kindergarten ready through pediatric care coordination in El Mirage

1/12/2018
Northwest Maricopa

You may look at Gianna Cota today and see that she is a self-assured, motivated first grader who loves math and science, meeting new friends and learning new…

Good oral health becomes family tradition for Heber family

1/12/2018
Navajo/Apache

For Tiffany Western and her five children, oral health has become a family tradition.First Things First funds the oral health program in the Navajo/Apache…

Four Peach Springs mothers, all sisters, find support for their young children through home…

1/12/2018
Hualapai Tribe

Rochelle Kennedy enrolled in the Maternal Child Health program two years ago when she was pregnant with her daughter, Mia. Kennedy learned so much from her…

Quality First program helps Whiteriver child with speech difficulties find her voice

1/12/2018
White Mountain Apache Tribe

Military families face many challenges. From moving to a new town every two to four years to adjusting to the deployment of a family member, military…

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