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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

Healthy and ready for school

  • tribal

A child’s most important developmental years are those leading up to kindergarten. Good nutrition is vital to healthy development in young children, and poor…
boy-in-chair

Phoenix boy gets strong foundation from home visitation program

  • family support

After Porsche Brown gave birth to her first child, Zaire, she remembered taking him home and being extremely nervous about being a first-time parent. Even the…

Pascua Yaqui Tribe library literacy workshops enhance skills and tribal way of life

  • Pascua Yaqui Tribe

​​Amalia A.M. Reyes always knows when the literacy workshops for parents are working. Reyes, who supervises the Dr. Fernando Escalante Community Library…

Weekly storytime helps shy Parker boy socialize and build reading skills

  • school readiness

​​Chase Nelson started kindergarten with a bigger vocabulary and more self-confidence thanks to the Tuesdays he spent at the library with his mom.Andrea…

Quality First preschool in Goodyear prepares boy with foundational skills

  • Quality First

​​For Warner D’Cunah of Goodyear, the cost of enrolling his three children in West Valley Christian School is an investment in quality education. His…
sisters-reading-book

Bilingual books build early literacy and cultural knowledge for Peach Springs sisters

  • Hualapai Tribe

​​​After almost two years, 7-year-old Lena Montana and her little sister, Alyssa, 5, still carry around their bilingual children’s books filled with…
mom-and-son-smiling

Pinal grandparents find help to overcome toddler’s learning delays

  • school readiness

Carla Jones of Maricopa suspected that something was wrong when her grandson was just 2 years old. Little Kémon showed signs of learning delays, and mumbled…
grandparents-with-granddaughter

Grandparents rise to the challenge

  • Pinal

Proud parents of two young girls, Katelyn Redlin and her husband live in Maricopa but work during the day in Chandler. Soon after their second child,…
girls-with-food

Healthy Beginnings help Navajo Nation family meal plan and prepare healthy meals

  • health & nutrition

When an injury forced Crystal Begay’s husband to leave his job, the stay-at-home mom began looking for programs and support that could help get their family…

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