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.

Mesa Quality First center helps Gilbert girl improve communication skills

July 22, 2025
Quality First East Maricopa Southeast Maricopa Quality First Scholarships

Because of a Quality First Scholarship, Amaya is learning, while her mother is able to work for a local HVAC business. Read More

Phoenix boy gets strong foundation from home visitation program

11/7/2017
home visitation

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

11/2/2017
tribal

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

11/2/2017
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

11/2/2017
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…

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

8/17/2017
tribal

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…

Pinal grandparents find help to overcome toddler’s learning delays

8/17/2017
Pinal

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 rise to the challenge

8/17/2017
grandparents

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,…

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

8/15/2017
tribal

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…

District preschool helps prepare Tohono O’odham children for kindergarten

8/14/2017
Quality First

A preschool program at Indian Oasis Elementary School in Sells is providing quality early learning to children living on the Tohono O’odham Nation.In…

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